Summary
Obesity is a major health burden worldwide. Although bariatric surgery (BS) is recognized as an effective strategy for weight loss and comorbidities improvement, its impact on muscle strength ...and quality is still unclear. We aimed to examine postoperative changes in muscle strength and quality and their relationship with body mass index (BMI) changes among adults undergoing BS. To this end, we systematically searched the WoS, PubMed, EBSCO, and Scopus databases. The meta‐analyses, which included 24 articles (666 participants), showed that BS reduces absolute lower‐limb isometric strength (ES = −0.599; 95% CI = ‐0.972, −0.226; p = 0.002). Subjects who experienced a more significant reduction in BMI after BS also suffered a higher loss of absolute muscle strength. Similarly, absolute handgrip strength showed a significant decrease (ES = −0.376; 95% CI = −0.630, −0.121; p = 0.004). We found insufficient studies investigating medium‐ and long‐term changes in muscle strength and/or quality after BS. This study provides moderate‐quality evidence that BS‐induced weight loss can reduce the strength of appendicular muscles in the short term, which should be addressed in management these subjects. More high‐quality studies are needed to evaluate the impact of BS on muscle strength and the different domains of muscle quality in the medium and long term (registered on PROSPERO CRD42022332581).
Summary
Although bariatric surgery (BS) is recognized as an effective strategy for body weight loss, its impact on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is still unclear. We aimed to examine postoperative ...changes in CRF (VO2max/peak) and its relationship with weight loss among adults undergoing BS. We systematically searched the WoS, PubMed, MEDLINE, and Scopus databases. Observational and intervention studies were selected reporting the presurgery and postsurgery CRF, measured by breath‐by‐breath VO2 or its estimation. Eleven articles (312 patients) revealed that BS leads to a reduction in absolute VO2max/peak in the short term (effect size, ES = −0.539; 95%CI = −0.708, −0.369; p < 0.001), and those patients who suffered a more significant decrease in BMI after BS also had a greater loss of absolute VO2max/peak. However, VO2max/peak relative to body weight increased after surgery (ES = 0.658; 95%CI = 0.473, 0.842; p < 0.001). An insufficient number of studies were found investigating medium and long‐term changes in CRF after BS. This study provides moderate‐quality evidence that the weight loss induced by BS can reduce CRF in the short term, which represents a therapeutic target to optimize BS outcomes. More high‐quality studies are needed to evaluate the impact of BS on VO2max/peak in the short, medium, and long term including normalized values for fat‐free mass.
Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was (I) to determine the quality of evidence from studies evaluating the effects of strength training on the incidence of ankle injuries in soccer and ...(II) to determine the effectiveness of strength training on the incidence of ankle injuries in soccer. Methods: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) statements were considered using keywords associated with ankle injuries, strength training, and soccer. The following four databases were used: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus. The quality of evidence for the articles included in this review was assessed using the PEDro scale. Results: Of the 721 articles retrieved, two were included in this study. The total population included in the review was 132 male participants, including professional soccer players and youth players. Strength training in young soccer players could reduce the risk of injury and improve parameters related to sports performance; however, the two articles included in this review found no statistically significant differences in injury incidence between the proprioceptive training and control groups. Conclusions: The articles included in this review had a high risk of bias, indicating low quality of evidence. In addition, it was impossible to determine whether strength training effectively reduced ankle injuries in the soccer players.
Keywords: Sports, ankle sprains, athletic injuries, resistance training
The purpose of this systematic review was: a) to determine the quality of evidence from studies assessing the effects of different lower limb strengthening protocols on muscle activity, strength, and ...power in sedentary and/or physically inactive subjects; and b) to determine the effectiveness of lower extremity strengthening protocols on muscle activity, strength, and power in sedentary and/or physically inactive subjects. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statements were followed using keywords associated with strength training, lower limb, sedentary, and physical inactivity. Four databases were used: Medline via PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and SPORTDiscus. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. A total of 164 articles were retrieved, six included in this review. Four studies were classified as fair methodological quality, and two were considered of good methodological quality. Due to the heterogeneity in methodological aspects and the limited number of articles including the variables under study, it was not possible to establish a measure of effectiveness of lower limb strengthening protocols on muscle activity, strength, or power. In conclusion, strength training in the lower limb seems to improve the levels of strength, power, and muscular activity in sedentary subjects. However, due to the limited number of articles, methodological variability, and training methods used, it is necessary to conduct new studies that control these variables.
Objective: to determine lifestyle changes, such as physical activity, nutrition, and sleep in an Argentinean university population, caused by confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: ...Cross-sectional study via web survey. 1021 the Argentinean university population (women, n = 645 and men, n = 376) aged between 18–70 years old was participate. Survey was utilized to measure participant physical activity behavior, nutrition, and sleep April to May 2020. Results: the main findings revealed that 4.3% of the sample showed obesity; the highest proportion of the sample stayed more than 6 hours in a sedentary status; 21.74% reported bad sleep quality; a reduction in good feeding pattern; and an increase in subjects who do not perform physical activity. According to socio-demographic and anthropometric factors, being a student (OR 2.19, CI95% 1.18 - 4, p= .012), overweight (OR 1.71, CI95% 1.19 – 2.44, p= .003), obesity (OR 4.45, CI95% 2.27 – 8.7, p< .001), and have been confined more than 45 days was associated with bad feeding. Likewise, low physical activity levels were associated with obesity (OR 3.2 CI95% 1.66 – 6.18, p= .001), being female (OR 1.61, CI95% 1.14 –2.28, p= .006) and get married (OR 1.72, CI95% 1.14 – 2.61, p= .009). Moreover, being a student was associated with poor sleep quality (OR 43.6, CI95%5.4 – 350, p< .001). Conclusion: This study suggests that confinement decreased healthy living habits such as good nutrition and physical activity and affected the quality of sleep in young subjects.
Objetivo: determinar los cambios en el estilo de vida, como la actividad física, la nutrición y el sueño en una población universitaria argentina, causados por el confinamiento durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Métodos: Estudio transversal mediante encuesta por Internet. Participaron 1021 personas de la población universitaria argentina (mujeres, n = 645 y hombres, n = 376) de entre 18 y 70 años de edad. La encuesta fue utilizada para medir el comportamiento de la actividad física, la nutrición y el sueño de los participantes de abril a mayo de 2020.Resultados: los principales hallazgos mostraron que el 4,3% de la muestra presentaba obesidad; la mayor proporción de la muestra permaneció más de 6 horas en estado sedentario; el 21,74% informó sobre la mala calidad del sueño; una reducción de los hábitos correctos de alimentación; y un aumento de los participantes que no realizan actividad física. De acuerdo con factores socio-demográficos y antropométricos, ser estudiante (OR 2.19, CI95% 1.18 - 4, p= .012), el sobrepeso (OR 1.71, CI95% 1.19 - 2.44, p= .003), la obesidad (OR 4.45, CI95% 2.27 - 8.7, p< .001), y haber estado confinado más de 45 días se asoció con una mala alimentación. Asimismo, los bajos niveles de actividad física se asociaron con la obesidad (OR 3,2; IC95% 1,66 - 6,18, p= .001), ser mujer (OR 1,61; IC95% 1,14 -2,28, p= .006) y estar casado (OR 1,72; IC95% 1,14 - 2,61, p= .009). Además, ser estudiante se asoció con una mala calidad de sueño (OR 43,6, CI95% 5,4 - 350, p< .001). Conclusión: Este estudio sugiere que el confinamiento disminuyó los hábitos de vida saludables como la buena nutrición, la actividad física, y afectó la calidad del sueño en sujetos jóvenes.
RESUMEN: La evaluación de la calidad y la arquitectura muscular son importantes para comprender y cuantificar los cambios musculares asociados con el envejecimiento y el estilo de vida sedentario, ...además nos facilita información de la capacidad del músculo para generar fuerza, potencia o funcionalidad. los objetivos del estudio fueron (I) determinar la asociación entre los parámetros de la arquitectura muscular y el índice de calidad muscular (MQI) y (II) determinar la asociación entre los parámetros de la arquitectura muscular y la potencia media relativa del sit to stand test (STS). Únicamente el grosor muscular (MT) mostró una asociación moderada con el MQI (r = 0,545). En contraste, tanto la longitud del fascículo (FL) como el ángulo de penación (PA) exhibieron asociaciones "muy bajas", las cuales no resultaron significativas con el MQI. Al examinar la relación de los parámetros de la arquitectura muscular con la potencia media relativa de STS, MT presentó una asociación "moderada" (r = 0,444). Sin embargo, tanto FL como PA mostraron asociaciones "muy bajas" y "bajas", respectivamente, con la potencia media relativa al STS. En conclusión, estos hallazgos refuerzan la idea de que MT puede ser un indicador relevante de la calidad muscular y la capacidad de generar potencia en la prueba de STS. Específicamente, se observó que un aumento en MT estaba asociado con una mejora en MQI y la potencia media relativa de STS.
The purpose of this cross-cultural study was to determine the association between the sociodemographic background of a child’s parents (i.e., their socioeconomic level, marital status, and ...educational level) with the child’s lifestyle (i.e., Mediterranean diet (MD), physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST)), and health markers. Material: This cross-sectional study included 1273 children, from Chile (n = 496), Colombia (n = 340), and Spain (n = 437). The sociodemographic information together with the lifestyle and health markers of the children were measured. There was an inverse association between a low or medium-low socioeconomic level for the parents of Chilean children and handgrip strength (β −0.61, p < 0.001); meanwhile, for Spanish children, an inverse association between a low or medium-low socioeconomic level and PA after school (β −0.58, p = 0.016), lifestyle (β −0.74, p = 0.015), and with MD adherence (β −0.86, p = 0.004) was found. The risk (i.e., by odd ratios (OR)) of being divorced/separated parents marital status showed an inverse association with abdominal obesity (OR 0.21, p = 0.045) in Spanish children; however, the parent’s marital status and a low educational level were risk factors for the suffering of a low nutritional level in Colombian children (OR 2.02, p = 0.048; OR 2.49, p < 0.001, respectively). On the other hand, a low educational level for parents reported for Chilean children had a positive association with ST of ≥4 h per day (OR 1.82, p = 0.020). In conclusion, in Spanish-speaking children, the lifestyle and health markers of the children are affected by the sociodemographic background of their parents; however, these effects could be moderated by the socio-cultural and economic status of their countries as members of the OCDE; therefore, it is essential to develop policies that decrease these gaps, so that children who are under-resourced can reach their full potential.
The assessment of the strength and muscle mass of the hand-finger segment are reliable indicators of health and predictors of cardiometabolic risk in the adult population. However, there are no valid ...and reliable tests to assess the muscle power of this segment in healthy adolescents. The objective of this study was to determine the validity and inter-day reliability of a grip power test (GripW test) in healthy adolescents. Twenty-one adolescents (15.61 ± 2.20 years old) were part of the study. All participants were instructed to perform a grip with incremental load sets from 1–10 kg as fast as possible. The validity of the GripW test was determined with the load-power curve and linear regression equation. Inter-day reliability considered the coefficient of variation (CV), intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), and standard error of the mean (SEM). The significance level for all statistical analyses was p < 0.05. The parabola in the load-power curve for both hands showed normality for the GripW test. In addition, the analysis showed a CV = 4.63% and ICC = 1.00 for the right hand, while the left hand showed a CV = 3.23% and ICC = 1.00. The GripW test proved to be valid and reliable for assessing gripping muscle power functionally and unilaterally in healthy adolescents.
Most of the existing research has focused on jump plyometrics, where landing reaction forces must be dissipated among lower limb articulations. In contrast, the investigation of resisted plyometrics ...without jumping, devoid of such landing forces, remains relatively limited. This study aimed to (i) investigate the impact of resisted plyometrics without jumping at two knee flexion angles (60 and 90 degrees) on vastus muscle activity relative to limb dominance and (ii) assess strength, power, and work during the concentric-eccentric phases of these exercises. Thirty-one healthy participants underwent quantification of lower limb muscle amplitude, strength, power, and work during resisted plyometrics without jumping from both 60° and 90° knee flexion positions. After anthropometric evaluations, participants used a dynamometer with a load equal to 80% of body weight while wireless surface electromyography electrodes recorded data. Statistical analyses utilized paired t-tests or nonparametric equivalents and set significance at
≤ 0.05. Results showed significantly higher muscle activity in the vastus medialis (VM) (dominant: 47.4%,
= 0.0008,
= 0.90; nondominant: 54.8%,
= 0.047,
= 0.88) and vastus lateralis (VL) (dominant: 46.9%,
= 0.0004,
= 0.86; nondominant: 48.1%,
= 0.021,
= 0.67) muscles when exercises started at 90° knee flexion, regardless of limb dominance. Substantial intermuscle differences occurred at both 60° (50.4%,
= 0.003,
= 0.56) and 90° (54.8%,
= 0.005,
= 0.62) knee flexion, favoring VM in the nondominant leg. Concentric and eccentric strength, power, and work metrics significantly increased when initiating exercises from a 90° position. In conclusion, commencing resisted plyometrics without jumping at a 90° knee flexion position increases VM and VL muscle activity, regardless of limb dominance. Furthermore, it enhances strength, power, and work, emphasizing the importance of knee flexion position customization for optimizing muscle engagement and functional performance.
Abstract Change of directions (COD) involves multidirectional and complex actions, with performance influenced by multiple factors. As lower limb strength is one of the most determinant of COD ...performance, the present study aimed to (a) explore the differences in strength outcomes across different lower limb muscle actions between faster and slower basketball players in COD actions at different angles and (b) analyse the relationship between isometric, concentric and eccentric strength outcomes and COD performance at different cutting angles. Twenty‐five basketball players (44% female) completed a battery of tests, encompassing isokinetic and isometric squat strength assessments, along with COD tests at 45°, 90° and 180°. Players were categorised as ‘ low‐performance ’ and ‘ high‐performance ’ groups based on execution time in COD, facilitating a comparison between performance groups. Results indicated that concentric strength showed the greatest differences between performance groups at 45° COD (effect size ≥ 0.813; p ≤ 0.034). Isometric and eccentric strength demonstrated a moderate‐to‐large relationship with 90° COD performance (Rho ≥ 0.394; p ≤ 0.045), and all muscle actions exhibited a large relationship with 180° COD (Rho ≥ 0.445; p ≤ 0.030). Moreover, the fastest players showed higher levels of concentric strength relative to eccentric strength, regardless of the cutting angle. These findings hold practical applications, suggesting that basketball coaches should train a specific kind of muscle action depending on the individual players' COD demands, focusing on improving the rapid eccentric force application while striving to reduce the eccentric/concentric ratio.
Highlights Strength is undeniably a key indicator in change of directions (COD) performance. The relationship between strength outcome measures and COD proficiency depends on the cutting angle. Cutting angles below 90° emphasise concentric strength, while those above 90° exhibit a stronger reliance on isometric and eccentric strength. Rapid eccentric force production strongly correlates with COD performance across all cutting angles. However, the fastest players exhibit higher concentric strength relative to their eccentric strength.