The Effect of Proprioceptive Training upon the Upper Limbs Strength on Posttraumatic Shoulder Recovery in Weightlifter Women

This paper aims to examine the effects of proprioceptive training upon upper limbs force in the case of female weightlifters. 10 weightlifters from CSS N. Rotaru in Constanța, Romania, took part in an experiment specially designed for this purpose. The experimental group was assigned a proprioceptive training programme of 15 minutes two times per week, for a period of 20 weeks. The tests administered for the assessment of their upper limbs force were push-ups, push-ups on the Bosu ball, and dynamometry testing. Data analysis shows that no significant differences between the experimental group and the control group are visible at the initial test (p> 0.05). In the final evaluation, however, the experimental group obtained better scores than the control group in all tests. These findings indicate that the proprioceptive programme proposed has lead to the enhancement of female weightlifters’ muscular force. In conclusion, the programme is an efficient training tool that can be integrated with the sportswomen’s exercise routine.

Diabetic Foot: The Role of Fasciae, a Narrative Review

Wound healing is an intricate, dynamic process, in which various elements such as hyperglycemia, neuropathy, blood supply, matrix turnover, wound contraction, and the microbiome all have a role in this “out of tune” diabetic complex symphony, particularly noticeable in the complications of diabetic foot. Recently it was demonstrated that the fasciae have a crucial role in proprioception, muscular force transmission, skin vascularization and tropism, and wound healing. Indeed, the fasciae are a dynamic multifaceted meshwork of connective tissue comprised of diverse cells settled down in the extracellular matrix and nervous fibers; each constituent plays a particular role in the fasciae adapting in various ways to the diverse stimuli. This review intends to deepen the discussion on the possible fascial role in diabetic wounds. In diabetes, the thickening of collagen, the fragmentation of elastic fibers, and the changes in glycosaminoglycans, in particular hyaluronan, leads to changes in the stiffness, gliding, and the distribution of force transmission in the fasciae, with cascading repercussions at the cellular and molecular levels, consequently feeding a vicious pathophysiological circle. A clear scientific perception of fascial role from microscopic and macroscopic points of view can facilitate the identification of appropriate treatment strategies for wounds in diabetes and create new perspectives of treatment.

Direct and indirect methods to optimize the muscular force response to a pulse train of electrical stimulation

Recent force-fatigue mathematical models in biomechanics [7] allow to predict the muscular force response to functional electrical stimulation (FES) and leads to the optimal control problem of maximizing the force. The stimulations are Dirac pulses and the control parameters are the pulses amplitudes and times of application, the number of pulses is physically limited and the model leads to a sampled data control problem. The aim of this article is to present and compare two methods. The first method is a direct optimization scheme where a further refined numerical discretization is applied on the dynamics. The second method is an indirect scheme: first-order Pontryagin type necessary conditions are derived and used to compute the optimal sampling times.

The Effects of Sprint Interval Training on Physical Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Sprint interval training (SIT) performed on a cycle ergometer is a common mode of training and has become increasingly studied as an exercise intervention to improve a range of physical performance outcomes. Objectives: The primary objective was to synthesise findings from published research and through meta-analysis quantify the effect of SIT and potential moderators on physical performance outcomes with healthy adults. The secondary objective was to assess the methodological quality of included studies and the existence of small study effects. Methods: The review included studies from 2000 to 2020 based on the following criteria: 1) healthy participants 18 to 45 years; 2) minimum 2-week SIT intervention comprising “all out” sprints up to a maximum of 30 seconds on a cycle ergometer; 3) cohort or control group design; 4) pre-post intervention outcomes that could be categorised as aerobic (e.g. VO2max, incremental time); anaerobic (e.g. peak power, fatigue index); mixed aerobic/anaerobic (e.g. critical power test, peak power across repeated tests); or muscular force (e.g. maximal voluntary contraction, peak force). Methodological quality was assessed using a modified Downs and Black Checklist and a strategy based on the recommendations of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation working group. All meta-analyses were conducted within a Bayesian framework to facilitate probabilistic interpretations of mean standardised effect sizes obtained from both non-controlled and non-exercise-controlled data. Results: Fifty-five studies met the inclusion criteria, with 50% graded as moderate methodological quality and 42% graded as low methodological quality. Most studies (58%) comprised an intervention of 4 weeks or less, with the collective research featuring a wide range of training protocols. The primary meta-analysis was conducted on non-controlled effect sizes from 403 outcomes. The analysis identified a small to medium effect of improved physical performance with SIT (ES0.5 = 0.43 [95%CrI: 0.35 to 0.52]). Moderator analyses identified large differences among outcome types, with no evidence of an effect for muscular force outcomes (ES0.5 = 0.05 [95%CrI: -0.25 to 0.35]) and the largest effect estimated for anaerobic outcomes (ES0.5 = 0.57 [95%CrI: 0.33 to 0.86]). Additionally, moderation effects were identified for intervention duration, sprint length, and the number sprints performed per session, with larger effects obtained for greater values of each moderator. Many positive outliers were identified with additional evidence of extensive small study effects. Conclusion: This meta-analysis demonstrates that short-term SIT interventions are effective for developing small to moderate improvements in a range of physical performance outcomes across the aerobic to anaerobic spectrum. However, extensive small study effects, likely influenced by researchers analysing many outcomes, suggests potential overestimation of reported effects. It is recommended that future research analyse a smaller number of a priori selected outcomes and investigate models to progress SIT interventions for longer-term performance improvements.

Assessing the Validity and Reliability of A Low-Cost Microcontroller-Based Load Cell Amplifier for Measuring Lower Limb and Upper Limb Muscular Force

Lower and upper limb maximum muscular force development is an important indicator of physical capacity. Manual muscle testing, load cell coupled with a signal conditioner, and handheld dynamometry are three widely used techniques for measuring isometric muscle strength. Recently, there is a proliferation of low-cost tools that have potential to be used to measure muscle strength. This study examined both the criterion validity, inter-day reliability and intra-day reliability of a microcontroller-based load cell amplifier for quantifying muscle strength. To do so, a low-cost microcontroller-based load cell amplifier for measuring lower and upper limb maximal voluntary isometric muscular force was compared to a commercial grade signal conditioner and to a handheld dynamometer. The results showed that the microcontroller-based load cell amplifier correlated nearly perfectly (Pearson's R-values between 0.947 to 0.992) with the commercial signal conditioner and the handheld dynamometer, and showed good to excellent association when calculating ICC scores, with values of 0.9582 [95% C.I.: 0.9297–0.9752] for inter-day reliability and of 0.9269 [95% C.I.: 0.8909–0.9533] for session one, intra-day reliability. Such results may have implications for how the evaluation of muscle strength measurement is conducted in the future, particularly for offering a commercial-like grade quality, low cost, portable and flexible option.

Resistance training in stroke rehabilitation: systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the effects of resistance training in supporting the recovery in stroke patients. Data sources: PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and the PEDro databases were reviewed up to 30 April 2020. Review methods: Randomized controlled trials were included, who compared: (i) resistance training with no intervention, (ii) resistance training with other interventions and (iii) different resistance training protocols in stroke rehabilitation. Results: Overall 30 trials ( n = 1051) were enrolled. The parameters evaluated were: (1) gait, (2) muscular force and motor function, (3) mobility, balance and postural control, (4) health related quality of life, independence and reintegration, (5) spasticity and hypertonia, (6) cardiorespiratory fitness, (7) cognitive abilities and emotional state and (8) other health-relevant physiological indicators. The data indicates that: (i) resistance training is beneficial for the majority of parameters observed, (ii) resistance training is superior to other therapies on muscular force and motor function of lower and upper limbs, health related quality of life, independence and reintegration and other health-relevant physiological indicators, not significantly different from other therapies on walking ability, mobility balance and postural control and spasticity and hypertonia, and inferior to ergometer training on cardiorespiratory fitness and (iii) the type of resistance training protocol significantly impacts its effect; leg press is more efficient than knee extension and high intensity training is superior than low intensity training. Conclusion: Current data indicates that resistance training may be beneficial in supporting the recovery of stroke patients. However, the current evidence is insufficient for evidence-based rehabilitation.