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The anatomical connection between latissimus dorsi (LD), thoracolumbar fascia, and contralateral gluteus maximus (GM) enables myofascial force transmission (MFT) between the shoulder, trunk, and hip. This study investigates whether regular sports practice, specifically running, influences this MFT pathway. Given the potential changes in tissue stiffness from sports practice and the importance of this property for MFT, we hypothesize that runners may exhibit greater MFT between the LD and GM, resulting in altered passive properties of the lumbar and hip regions during LD contraction. This study aimed to investigate whether runners present a higher modification in lumbar stiffness and passive properties of the contralateral hip due to LD contraction than sedentary individuals. The lumbar stiffness, hip resting position, passive hip torque, and stiffness of fifty-four individuals were assessed using an indentometer and an isokinetic dynamometer, respectively, in two conditions: LD relaxed, and LD contracted. The main and interaction effects were assessed using a two-way ANOVA. The LD contraction increased lumbar stiffness (p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.50), externally rotated the hip resting position and increased the passive hip torque and stiffness (p < 0.05; ηp2 > 0.1) in both groups. In addition, runners presented higher lumbar stiffness compared to sedentary in the LD contracted condition (p = 0.017, ESd = 0.54). Although runners exhibited increased lumbar stiffness during LD contraction, the MFT from the shoulder to the hip joint occurred similarly in both groups.

BackgroundLower limb muscle strain is also a common injury in elite volleyball athletes and lead to sport absence. A proper assessment is crucial to understand injury risk and which factors we should modify to prevent it.ObjectiveTo identify the contribution of lower limb strength, range of motion (ROM), alignment and functional stability on lower limb muscle strain in elite volleyball athletes.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingOne volleyball team facility.Patients (or Participants)Twenty-five male elite volleyball athletes.Interventions (or Assessment of Risk Factors)All data were collected before the beginning of the competitive season. Athletes were aleatory selected in some stations with physiotherapists previously trained to apply the following tests: Shank-forefoot alignment, passive hip internal rotation ROM, Y-Test, hip extensors strength, knee flexors and extensors strength. Injuries were collected from the historic of past seasons.Main Outcome MeasurementsInjuries were considered when the athlete had any muscle complaint and stayed absent from the sport for at least one training or match sessions.Results9 muscle strains were found, which represents 41% of all injuries on the team. The regression model revealed that hip extensor strength was associated with muscle strain in elite volleyball athletes (F= 8.050; r = 0.518; R2= 0.235; p= 0.010). Specifically, weakness of hip extensors increases the chance of lower limb muscle strain in elite volleyball athletes (B= -0.250).ConclusionsHip extensor weakness explains 23% of lower limb muscle strains in elite volleyball athletes. Prevention programs should include hip extensor strengthening to decrease the chance of lower limb muscle strain in elite volleyball athletes.

BackgroundPreseason assessment is common in sports teams and aims to analyze athletes’ physical and functional parameters. These data assist physical therapists to develop global and individualized injury prevention programs and to identify any improvement throughout the season.ObjectiveTo determine predictors for musculoskeletal injuries in youth male soccer athletes.DesignCohort study.SettingOne youth soccer team facility.Patients (or Participants)One hundred sixteen young male soccer athletes.Interventions (or Assessment of Risk Factors)All data were collected in two days. Athletes were aleatory selected to perform the tests and the physical therapists, previously trained, applied the following tests: single leg hamstring bridge (SLHB), bridge test with unilateral knee extension, passive hip internal rotation (IR) range of motion (ROM), hip abductor strength, hamstring flexibility and composite score of Y-Test. Considering it could have an interference in other tests, Y-Test were the last measure in all athletes. Injuries were collected throughout the season.Main Outcome Measurements any lower limb (LL) injury occurring during scheduled games or practices that cause an athlete to miss a subsequent game or practice session.ResultsThe Classification and Regression Trees (CART) model identified as predictors of LL injuries in youth soccer athletes: SLHB, bridge test with unilateral knee extension, passive hip internal rotation ROM, hip abductors strength, hamstrings flexibility and composite score of Y-Test result. The model had an accuracy of 76% (p< .0001) and the correct classification was 88.6% for injury and 56.6% for non-injury.ConclusionsThe SLHB, bridge test with unilateral knee extension, passive hip internal rotation ROM, hip abductors strength, hamstrings flexibility and composite score of Y-Test should be included in pre-season assessment in youth soccer athletes. The results of these tests could be used as parameters to develop a prevention program in soccer.

The thoracolumbar fascia is essential in lumbar stabilization and is considered a path of transmitting myofascial force. This study investigates whether there is a difference in the myofascial force transmission between latissimus dorsi and contralateral gluteus maximus in individuals with and without chronic low back pain (CLBP). Forty-eight individuals were divided into CLBP and control groups. Outcome variables were evaluated in two experimental conditions: relaxed and contracted latissimus dorsi. Lumbar stiffness was assessed using a non-invasive digital indentometer, and passive properties of the contralateral hip (resting position, torque and stiffness) were evaluated using an isokinetic dynamometer. Trunk and hip muscle activation was monitored with electromyography. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA. Latissimus dorsi contraction increased lumbar stiffness in both groups (p < 0.001) compared to the relaxed condition. However, only the control group showed a change in the hip resting position toward greater lateral rotation and an increase in passive hip torque with latissimus dorsi contraction compared to the relaxed condition (p < 0.001). Additionally, latissimus dorsi contraction led to a small and clinically non-relevant increase in passive hip stiffness (below the standard error of measurement) in both groups when compared to the relaxed condition. The results demonstrated that the myofascial force transmission between latissimus dorsi and contralateral gluteus maximus is reduced in individuals with CLBP, since the latissimus dorsi contraction changed the passive properties only in the adjacent tissues (lumbar region) but not in tissues more distant from the origin of the traction.

BackgroundLower limb muscle strain is also a common injury in elite volleyball athletes and lead to sport absence. A proper assessment is crucial to understand injury risk and which factors we should modify to prevent it.ObjectiveTo identify the contribution of lower limb strength, range of motion (ROM), alignment and functional stability on lower limb muscle strain in elite volleyball athletes.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingOne volleyball team facility.Patients (or Participants)Twenty-five male elite volleyball athletes.Interventions (or assessment of risk factors)All data were collected before the beginning of the competitive season. Athletes were aleatory selected in some stations with physiotherapists previously trained to apply the following tests: Shank-forefoot alignment, passive hip internal rotation ROM, Y-Test, hip extensors strength, knee flexors and extensors strength. Injuries were collected from the historic of past seasons.Main outcome measurementsInjuries were considered when the athlete had any muscle complaint and stayed absent from the sport for at least one training or match sessions.Results9 muscle strains were found, which represents 41% of all injuries on the team. The regression model revealed that hip extensor strength was associated with muscle strain in elite volleyball athletes (F=8.050; r=0.518; R2=0.235; p=0.010). Specifically, weakness of hip extensors increases the chance of lower limb muscle strain in elite volleyball athletes (B=-0.250).ConclusionsHip extensor weakness explains 23% of lower limb muscle strains in elite volleyball athletes. Prevention programs should include hip extensor strengthening to decrease the chance of lower limb muscle strain in elite volleyball athletes.

BackgroundPreseason assessment is common in sports teams and aims to analyze athletes’ physical and functional parameters. These data assist physical therapists to develop global and individualized injury prevention programs and to identify any improvement throughout the season.ObjectiveTo determine predictors for musculoskeletal injuries in youth male soccer athletes.DesignCohort study.SettingOne youth soccer team facility.Patients (or Participants)One hundred sixteen young male soccer athletes.Interventions (or assessment of risk factors)All data were collected in two days. Athletes were aleatory selected to perform the tests and the physical therapists, previously trained, applied the following tests: single leg hamstring bridge (SLHB), bridge test with unilateral knee extension, passive hip internal rotation (IR) range of motion (ROM), hip abductor strength, hamstring flexibility and composite score of Y-Test. Considering it could have an interference in other tests, Y-Test were the last measure in all athletes. Injuries were collected throughout the season.Main outcome measurements any lower limb (LL) injury occurring during scheduled games or practices that cause an athlete to miss a subsequent game or practice session.ResultsThe Classification and Regression Trees (CART) model identified as predictors of LL injuries in youth soccer athletes: SLHB, bridge test with unilateral knee extension, passive hip internal rotation ROM, hip abductors strength, hamstrings flexibility and composite score of Y-Test result. The model had an accuracy of 76% (p<0.0001) and the correct classification was 88.6% for injury and 56.6% for non-injury.ConclusionsThe SLHB, bridge test with unilateral knee extension, passive hip internal rotation ROM, hip abductors strength, hamstrings flexibility and composite score of Y-Test should be included in pre-season assessment in youth soccer athletes. The results of these tests could be used as parameters to develop a prevention program in soccer.

Influenza A and B viruses pose significant global health threats, with substantial impacts on morbidity and mortality. Understanding their molecular epidemiology in Brazil, a key hub for the circulation and dissemination of these viruses in South America, remains limited. This study, part of the Center for Viral Surveillance and Serological Assessment (CeVIVAS) project, addresses this by analyzing data and samples from all Brazilian macroregions, along with publicly available sequences from 2021-2023. Phylogenetic analysis of the Hemagglutinin (HA) segment of Influenza A/H1N1pdm09, A/H3N2, and Influenza B/Victoria-lineage revealed the predominance of A/H3N2 2a.3 strain in 2021 and early 2022. This was succeeded by A/H3N2 2b until October 2022, after which A/H1N1pdm09 5a.2a and 5a.2a.1 lineages became prevalent, maintaining this status throughout 2023. B/Victoria circulated at low levels between December 2021 and September 2022, becoming co-prevalent with A/H1N1pdm09 5a.2a and 5a.2a.1 lineages. Comparing the vaccine strain A/Darwin/9/2021 with circulating A/H3N2 viruses from 2021-2023 revealed shared mutations to aspartic acid at residues 186 and 225, altering the RBD domain’s charge. For A/H1N1pdm09, the 2022 consensus of 5a.2a.1 and the vaccine strain A/Victoria/2570/2019 had 14 amino acid substitutions. Key residues such as H180, D187, K219, R223, E224, and T133 are involved in hydrogen interactions with sialic acids, while N130, K142, and D222 may influence distance interactions based on docking analyses. Distinct Influenza A lineage frequency patterns across Brazil’s macroregions underscore regional variations in virus circulation. This study characterizes the dynamics of Influenza A and B viruses in Brazil, offering valuable insights into their circulation patterns. These findings have significant public health implications, informing strategies to mitigate transmission risks, optimize vaccination efforts, and enhance outbreak control measures. This study investigates the molecular epidemiology of Influenza A and B viruses in Brazil from 2021 to 2023. Utilizing data from the Center for Viral Surveillance and Serological Assessment (CeVIVAS) and public databases, we performed a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the Hemagglutinin segments of Influenza A/H1N1pdm09, A/H3N2, and B/Victoria-lineage viruses across all Brazilian macroregions. Key findings reveal that the A/H3N2 2a.3 strain was predominant in 2021 and early 2022, followed by A/H3N2 2b, and later by A/H1N1pdm09 5a.2a and 5a.2a.1 lineages in late 2022 and throughout 2023. The B/Victoria strain circulated at low levels initially and later co-prevailed with A/H1N1pdm09 lineages. Comparing the vaccine strain A/Darwin/9/2021 with circulating A/H3N2 viruses from 2021-2023 and A/Victoria/2570/2019 with 5a.2a.1 of A/H1N1pdm09 circulating in 2022 revealed significant mutations which could affect the interaction of the viruses with sialic acids and potentially impact vaccine efficacy. Notably, we identified a substitution pattern among the predominant Influenza subtypes and observed distinct regional variations in Influenza A lineage frequencies across Brazil. These findings are critical for optimizing vaccination strategies and provide valuable data to inform public health policy and improve health outcomes.