Abstract Aims: Muscular strength (MS) and jump power (JP) tests are used to assess athletic ability and measure the effectiveness of training programs. However, their use in various sport modalities needs to be investigated further. This study aimed to explore the changes in MS and JP during three different moments of a macrocycle training session and verify the validity of the tests used to predict the effectiveness of basketball training programs. Methods: During macrocycle training (three different moments), sixteen basketball players were evaluated for MS (measured using isokinetic dynamometry at the speed of 60°/s) during concentric contraction of knee flexor and extensor muscles and JP, using countermovement vertical jump (CMVJ) on a force platform. Results: Peak torque and maximal work values for knee extension and flexion showed no differences, during the three moments analyzed. Additionally, no changes were observed for CMVJ. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the effectiveness of basketball training programs does not seem to be related to the performance achieved by athletes on the tests used. Moreover, the lack of changes in MS and JP values during the macrocycle could be related to the training structure used; volume, intensity, density and workload specificity.

BACKGROUND: Infrared thermography is recognized as a viable method for evaluation of subjects with myofascial pain. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to assess the intra- and inter-rater reliability of infrared image analysis of myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle. METHOD: A reliability study was conducted with 24 volunteers of both genders (23 females) between 18 and 30 years of age (22.12±2.54), all having cervical pain and presence of active myofascial trigger point in the upper trapezius muscle. Two trained examiners performed analysis of point, line, and area of the infrared images at two different periods with a 1-week interval. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC2,1) was used to assess the intra- and inter-rater reliability. RESULTS: With regard to the intra-rater reliability, ICC values were between 0.591 and 0.993, with temperatures between 0.13 and 1.57 °C for values of standard error of measurement (SEM) and between 0.36 and 4.35 °C for the minimal detectable change (MDC). For the inter-rater reliability, ICC ranged from 0.615 to 0.918, with temperatures between 0.43 and 1.22 °C for the SEM and between 1.19 and 3.38 °C for the MDC. CONCLUSION: The methods of infrared image analyses of myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle employed in the present study are suitable for clinical and research practices.

BACKGROUND: Cryotherapy is a widely used technique in physical therapy clinics and sports. However, the effects of cryotherapy on dynamic neuromuscular control are incompletely explained. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of cryotherapy applied to the calf, ankle and sole of the foot in healthy young adults on ground reaction forces during gait initiation. METHOD: This study evaluated the gait initiation forces, maximum propulsion, braking forces and impulses of 21 women volunteers through a force platform, which provided maximum and minimum ground reaction force values. To assess the effects of cooling, the task - gait initiation - was performed before ice application, immediately after and 30 minutes after removal of the ice pack. Ice was randomly applied on separate days to the calf, ankle and sole of the foot of the participants. RESULTS: It was demonstrated that ice application for 30 minutes to the sole of the foot and calf resulted in significant changes in the vertical force variables, which returned to their pre-application values 30 minutes after the removal of the ice pack. Ice application to the ankle only reduced propulsion impulse. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that although caution is necessary when performing activities that require good gait control, the application of ice to the ankle, sole of the foot or calf in 30-minute intervals may be safe even preceding such activities.

BACKGROUND: Cryotherapy has been associated with a significant decrease in nerve conduction velocity and muscle contraction with possible effects on exercise and physical training. OBJECTIVES: To quantify the electromyographic response of the lateral gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, fibularis longus, rectus femoris and gluteus medius to ankle inversion following cold water immersion. METHOD: The peak values of the root mean square (RMS) were obtained from 35 healthy and active university subjects after the use of a tilt platform to force the ankle into 30° of inversion before, immediately after, and 10, 20, and 30 minutes after water immersion at 4±2°C, for 20 minutes. The Shapiro-Wilk test, repeated measures analysis, Bonferroni's post-hoc, and linear regression analysis provided the results. RESULTS: Peak RMS was significantly lower at all times after cold water immersion, with residual effect of up to 30 minutes, when compared to pre-immersion for all muscles, except for immediate post-immersion for the gluteus medius. CONCLUSIONS: After cold water immersion of the ankle, special care should be taken in activities that require greater neuromuscular control.

CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: A redução da força dos músculos do assoalho pélvico (MAP) é a maior causa da incontinência urinária de estresse (IUE). OBJETIVO: Comparar as forças ativa e passiva e a abertura da cavidade vaginal em mulheres continentes e com IUE. MÉTODOS: O estudo incluiu um total de 32 mulheres, 16 mulheres continentes (grupo 1 - G1) e 16 mulheres com IUE (grupo 2 - G2). Um espéculo dinamométrico de aço inoxidável foi usado para avaliar as forças ativa e passiva dos MAP nas direções ântero-posterior (plano sagital) e látero-lateral (plano frontal). RESULTADOS: A força ativa ântero-posterior nas mulheres continentes (0,3±0,2 N) foi maior que nas mulheres com IUE (0,1±0,1 N). Não houve diferença entre o G1 e o G2 nos valores de força ativa látero-lateral (G1=0,43±0,1 N; G2=0,40±0,1 N), força passiva (G1=1,1±0,2 N; G2=1,1±0,3 N) e abertura da cavidade vaginal (G1=21±3 mm; G2=24±4 mm). CONCLUSÃO: A avaliação da função dos MAP mostrou que mulheres com IUE tiveram uma menor força ativa ântero-posterior quando comparadas com as mulheres continentes.

BACKGROUND: The reduction of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) strength is a major cause of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). OBJECTIVES: To compare active and passive forces, and vaginal cavity aperture in continent and stress urinary incontinent women. METHODS: The study included a total of thirty-two women, sixteen continent women (group 1 - G1) and sixteen women with SUI (group 2 - G2). To evaluate PFM passive and active forces in anteroposterior (sagittal plane) and left-right directions (frontal plane) a stainless steel specular dynamometer was used. RESULTS: The anteroposterior active strength for the continent women (mean±standard deviation) (0.3±0.2 N) was greater compared to the values found in the evaluation of incontinent women (0.1±0.1 N). The left-right active strength (G1=0.43±0.1 N; G2=0.40±0.1 N), the passive force (G1=1.1±0.2 N; G2=1.1±0.3 N) and the vaginal cavity aperture (G1=21±3 mm; G2=24±4 mm) did not differ between groups 1 and 2. CONCLUSION: The function evaluation of PFM showed that women with SUI had a lower anteroposterior active strength compared to continent women.

CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: Encontram-se na literatura diversos modelos experimentais de indução de escoliose em ratos, porém evidencia-se o uso de drogas ou intervenções invasivas para a geração da curvatura escoliótica. OBJETIVOS: Projetar e aplicar um modelo de imobilização não-invasiva para a indução de escoliose em ratos. MÉTODOS: Ratos Wistar machos com idade inicial de quatro semanas (85±3,3g) foram divididos nos grupos controle (GC) e escoliose (GE). Os animais do GE foram imobilizados por dois cintos (escapular e pélvico) de policloreto de vinila (PVC), interligados externamente por um limitador que regulava o ângulo da escoliose durante 12 semanas, com convexidade à esquerda. Após a imobilização, os músculos abdominais, intercostais, paravertebrais e peitorais bilateralmente foram coletados para as análises químio-metabólicas. Os registros radiológicos foram realizados a cada 30 dias, num total de 16 semanas. RESULTADOS: O modelo foi eficiente e eficaz na indução da escoliose, mesmo após 30 dias da desmobilização, mantendo um ângulo estável de 28±5 graus. Quanto às análises químio-metabólicas, observou-se diminuição (p<0,05) nas reservas glicogênicas e na relação proteína total/DNA de todos os músculos analisados do GE, sendo menores (p<0,05) no lado da convexidade. Os valores do HOMA-IR indicaram um quadro de resistência à insulina (p<0,05) no GE (0,66±0,03) quando comparado ao GC (0,81±0,02). CONCLUSÕES: A curvatura escoliótica manteve-se estável após 30 dias da desmobilização, e as alterações químio-metabólicas sugeriram a ocorrência de modificações na homeostasia muscular durante o processo indutor da escoliose.

BACKGROUND: In the literature, there are several experimental models that induce scoliosis in rats; however, they make use of drugs or invasive interventions to generate a scoliotic curve. OBJECTIVES: To design and apply a non-invasive immobilization model to induce scoliosis in rats. METHODS: Four-week old male Wistar rats (85±3.3g) were divided into two groups: control (CG) and scoliosis (SG). The animals in the SG were immobilized by two vests (scapular and pelvic) made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and externally attached to each other by a retainer that regulated the scoliosis angle for twelve weeks with left convexity. After immobilization, the abdominal, intercostal, paravertebral, and pectoral muscles were collected for chemical and metabolic analyses. Radiographic reports were performed every 30 days over a 16-week period. RESULTS: The model was effective in the induction of scoliosis, even 30 days after immobilization, with a stable angle of 28±5º. The chemical and metabolic analyses showed a decrease (p<0.05) in the glycogenic reserves and in the relationship between DNA and total protein reserves of all the muscles analyzed in the scoliosis group, being lower (p<0.05) in the convex side. The values for the Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance indicated a resistance condition to insulin (p<0.05) in the scoliosis group (0.66±0.03), when compared to the control group (0.81±0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The scoliosis curvature remained stable 30 days after immobilization. The chemical and metabolic analyses suggest changes in muscular homeostasis during the induced scoliosis process.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a resistência elétrica inicial e no decorrer do tempo de agentes de acoplamento utilizados na interface eletrodo-pele submetidos a estimulação elétrica com corrente bifásica e corrente contínua. MÉTODOS: A resistência elétrica foi calculada indiretamente pela Lei de Ohm, sendo a tensão elétrica gerada em um equipamento de corrente constante (10 mA, 100 Hz, 100 μs e pulso bifásico quadrado simétrico) e captada por um osciloscópio digital. Dez agentes de acoplamento (géis, n=5; líquidos, n=5) foram submetidos à eletrólise com corrente bifásica quadrática simétrica (CB), 0,0134 mA/mm², 100 Hz, 100 μs ou com corrente contínua (CC) a 0,0017 mA/mm² de densidade de corrente, durante 30 minutos, sendo reavaliados a cada 5 minutos. Para análise dos dados, aplicaram os testes de Friedman e Kruskal-Wallis, seguidos de Rank e Dunn, respectivamente, e, para a correlação, empregou-se o coeficiente de Spearman (α=0,05). RESULTADOS: Os valores iniciais de resistência dos géis variaram entre 116,00 e 146,00 Ω, e dos agentes de acoplamento líquidos, entre 106,00 e 4726,67 Ω, apresentando, em sua maioria, correlação positiva com o tempo de eletrólise. Conclusões: Conclui-se que os géis, a água potável e a solução fisiológica são os indicados para a prática da estimulação elétrica terapêutica, pois mantêm a baixa resistência durante o período de estimulação. Por outro lado, o uso de água destilada ou desionizada não é recomendado, pois apresentam alta resistência à passagem da corrente.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the initial and ongoing electrical resistance of different coupling agents used in the skin-electrode interface. The agents were submitted to electrical stimulation with biphasic and direct currents. METHODS: The electrical resistance was calculated indirectly by Ohm's Law. The tension was generated by a constant current generator (10 mA, 100 Hz, 100 µs and symmetrical biphasic square pulse) and captured by a digital oscilloscope. Ten coupling agents (gels, n=5; liquids, n=5) were submitted to electrolysis with symmetrical biphasic square current (BC), 0.0134 mA/mm², 100 Hz, 100 µs or with direct current (DC) at 0.0017 mA/mm² for 30 minutes, being reassessed every 5 minutes. For data analysis the Friedman and Kruskal-Wallis tests were applied, followed by the rank test and the Dunn test respectively. Also, Spearman's coefficient test was used for correlation analysis (α=0.05). RESULTS: The initial resistance values of the gels varied between 116.00 and 146.00 Ω and of the liquid coupling agents, between 106.00 and 4726.67 Ω, with mostly positive correlation with the time of electrolysis. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that gels, drinking water and saline solution are recommended for the practice of therapeutic electrical stimulation because they maintain low resistance during stimulation. In contrast, the use of distilled or deionized water is not recommended due to the high resistance to the passage of electrical current.