Relationship between ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and sprinting and jumping ability in young athletes.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between predicted risk of injury based on the dichotomous classification of the weight-bearing lunge (WBL) test scores and variables related to jumping and sprinting ability in young athletes. Furthermore, to compare the impact of the classical dichotomous classification versus a more specific quartile subdivision of the WBL test scores on the explored variables. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: 125 healthy athletes (mean age 10.38 (SD = 2.28) years) were recruited. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Ankle dorsiflexion was evaluated with the WBL test, jumping distance with the standing long jump (SLJ) test, and maximal running speed with the 14-m and 28-m sprint test. RESULTS: Athletes with WBL test scores lower than 10 cm exhibited significantly poorer results for the SLJ test as well as lower 14-m and 28-m sprint times than those with WBL test scores higher than 10 cm (p < 0.05). Likewise, when WBL test scores were subdivided by quartiles, a positive trend between range of motion and improved performance was shown. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced ankle dorsiflexion mobility may affect sprinting and jumping ability in young athletes. In addition, a more detailed classification of ankle restriction by quartiles is proposed in this study in order to prevent injury and enhance athletic performance.

Development and benchmarking of a Deep Learning-based MRI-guided gross tumor segmentation algorithm for Radiomics analyses in extremity soft tissue sarcomas.

BACKGROUND: Volume of interest (VOI) segmentation is a crucial step for Radiomics analyses and radiotherapy (RT) treatment planning. Because it can be time-consuming and subject to inter-observer variability, we developed and tested a Deep Learning-based automatic segmentation (DLBAS) algorithm to reproducibly predict the primary gross tumor as VOI for Radiomics analyses in extremity soft tissue sarcomas (STS). METHODS: A DLBAS algorithm was trained on a cohort of 157 patients and externally tested on an independent cohort of 87 patients using contrast-enhanced MRI. Manual tumor delineations by a radiation oncologist served as ground truths (GTs). A benchmark study with 20 cases from the test cohort compared the DLBAS predictions against manual VOI segmentations of two residents (ERs) and clinical delineations of two radiation oncologists (ROs). The ROs rated DLBAS predictions regarding their direct applicability. RESULTS: The DLBAS achieved a median dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of 0.88 against the GTs in the entire test cohort (interquartile range (IQR): 0.11) and a median DSC of 0.89 (IQR 0.07) and 0.82 (IQR 0.10) in comparison to ERs and ROs, respectively. Radiomics feature stability was high with a median intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.97, 0.95 and 0.94 for GTs, ERs, and ROs, respectively. DLBAS predictions were deemed clinically suitable by the two ROs in 35% and 20% of cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that the DLBAS algorithm provides reproducible VOI predictions for radiomics feature extraction. Variability remains regarding direct clinical applicability of predictions for RT treatment planning.

Influence of Service Conditions and Mix Design on the Physical-Mechanical Properties of Roller-Compacted Concrete for Pavement.

This research focuses on the behavior of roller-compacted concrete (RCC) used in pavements, which are prone to deterioration affecting their performance. These deteriorations result from various causes, including traffic load, errors during construction, mix design, and ambient conditions. Among these, ambient conditions could lead to a marked variable impact on material behavior and durability depending on the conditions associated with each region. Accordingly, this study aims to deepen the understanding of the effect, which a broader range of ambient conditions and different mix designs have on the physical and mechanical properties of RCC. Measurements such as the amount of water vapor per kilogram of air were used to apply the findings comprehensively. The RCC analysis encompassed experimentation with different compositions, altering the cement water ratio amount, and adding a superplasticizer. The impact of curing on the materials was evaluated before subjecting them to various humidity and temperature conditions. Laboratory tests were conducted to measure performance, including moisture, shrinkage, compressive strength, and the progression of flexural fracture resistance over curing periods of up to 90 days. The results revealed a logarithmic correlation between shrinkage and ambient humidity, which is the most determining factor in performance. Mix optimization through increased cement and reduced water enhanced the tensile strength of the material. Furthermore, the curing process was confirmed to increase resistance to shrinkage, especially in the long term, establishing it as a crucial element for the structural stability of RCC, which is relatively insensitive to variations in ambient conditions.

Prediction of the Physical-Mechanical Properties of Roller-Compacted Concrete Pavements under Different Service and Mix Conditions Based on Cement and Water Content.

Roller-compacted concrete (RCC) for pavements has experienced problems with its physical-mechanical performance over extended periods due to ambient and in situ curing conditions. Accordingly, this study aimed to present multiple regression equations for calculating the physical-mechanical properties of RCC for pavements under different service and mix conditions. For this purpose, the research included two cement and two water contents, one reduced with admixture, and four combinations of temperature and relative humidity. For model calibration and definition of the equations, cubic and beam samples were fabricated to carry out physical-mechanical tests, such as moisture content, shrinkage, and modulus of rupture. Laboratory-obtained data were studied with the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to determine the best regression equations. The main findings determined that the behavior of a mixture of RCC at a prolonged ambient exposure time is possible because the surface models and the RSM were consistent with the different service and mix conditions. The models showed an accuracy of 98.99% in detecting shrinkage changes from 12 to 16% cement with 5.65% water in dry to wet ambient conditions. Similarly, moisture content and modulus of rupture had a 98.27 to 98.88% fit. Finally, the drying shrinkage, with mixes of 12% cement and water content variations with water-reducing admixture and superplasticizer effects, had an adjustment of 94.87%.

Treatment Outcomes with Standard of Care in Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Real-World Data Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Despite new therapies for relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), treatments with chemotherapy, single-agent rituximab/obinutuzumab, single-agent lenalidomide, or combinations of these agents continue to be commonly used. METHODS: This retrospective study utilized longitudinal data from 4226 real-world electronic health records to characterize outcomes in patients with R/R DLBCL. Eligible patients were diagnosed with DLBCL between January 2010 and March 2022 and had R/R disease treated with ≥ 1 prior systemic line of therapy (LOT), including ≥ 1 anti-CD20-containing regimen. RESULTS: A total of 573 patients treated with ≥ 1 prior LOT were included (31.2% and 13.4% with ≥ 2 and ≥ 3 prior LOTs, respectively). Median duration of follow-up was 7.7 months. Most patients (57.1%) were male; mean standard deviation (SD) age was 63 (14.7) years. Overall and complete response rates (95% confidence interval (CI) were 52% (48-56) and 23% (19-27). Median duration of response and duration of complete response were 3.5 and 18.4 months. Median progression-free and overall survival (95% CI) was 3.0 (2.8-3.3) and 12.9 (10.1-16.9) months, respectively. Patients with a higher number of prior LOTs, primary refractoriness, refractoriness to last LOT, refractoriness to last anti-CD20-containing regimen, and prior CAR T exposure had worse outcomes (i.e., challenging-to-treat R/R DLBCL) compared with those without these characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes in patients with R/R DLBCL treated with chemotherapy, single-agent rituximab/obinutuzumab, single-agent lenalidomide, or combinations of these agents remain poor, especially for those with challenging-to-treat R/R DLBCL. These findings underscore the unmet need for new, safe, and effective therapies, especially for challenging-to-treat R/R DLBCL populations.

Benchmarking the CoW with the TopCoW Challenge: Topology-Aware Anatomical Segmentation of the Circle of Willis for CTA and MRA.

The Circle of Willis (CoW) is an important network of arteries connecting major circulations of the brain. Its vascular architecture is believed to affect the risk, severity, and clinical outcome of serious neuro-vascular diseases. However, characterizing the highly variable CoW anatomy is still a manual and time-consuming expert task. The CoW is usually imaged by two angiographic imaging modalities, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and computed tomography angiography (CTA), but there exist limited public datasets with annotations on CoW anatomy, especially for CTA. Therefore we organized the TopCoW Challenge in 2023 with the release of an annotated CoW dataset. The TopCoW dataset was the first public dataset with voxel-level annotations for thirteen possible CoW vessel components, enabled by virtual-reality (VR) technology. It was also the first large dataset with paired MRA and CTA from the same patients. TopCoW challenge formalized the CoW characterization problem as a multiclass anatomical segmentation task with an emphasis on topological metrics. We invited submissions worldwide for the CoW segmentation task, which attracted over 140 registered participants from four continents. The top performing teams managed to segment many CoW components to Dice scores around 90%, but with lower scores for communicating arteries and rare variants. There were also topological mistakes for predictions with high Dice scores. Additional topological analysis revealed further areas for improvement in detecting certain CoW components and matching CoW variant topology accurately. TopCoW represented a first attempt at benchmarking the CoW anatomical segmentation task for MRA and CTA, both morphologically and topologically.

Assessing the Quality of YouTube's Incontinence Information after Cancer Surgery: An Innovative Graphical Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Prostate and colorectum cancers rank among the most common cancers, and incontinence is a significant postsurgical issue affecting the physical and psychological well-being of cancer survivors. Social media, particularly YouTube, has emerged as a vital source of health information. While YouTube offers valuable content, users must exercise caution due to potential misinformation. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the quality of publicly available YouTube videos related to incontinence after pelvic cancer surgery. METHODS: A search on YouTube related to "Incontinence after cancer surgery" was performed, and 108 videos were analyzed. Multiple quality assessment tools (DISCERN, GQS, JAMA, PEMAT, and MQ-VET) and statistical analyses (descriptive statistics and intercorrelation tests) were used to evaluate the characteristics and popularity, educational value, quality, and reliability of these videos, relying on novel graphical representation techniques such as Sankey and Chord diagrams. RESULTS: Strong positive correlations were found among quality rating scales, emphasizing agreement. The performed graphical analysis reinforced the reliability and validity of quality assessments. CONCLUSIONS: This study found strong correlations among five quality scales, suggesting their effectiveness in assessing health information quality. The evaluation of YouTube videos consistently revealed "high" quality content. Considering the source is mandatory when assessing quality, healthcare and academic institutions are reliable sources. Caution is advised with ad-containing videos. Future research should focus on policy improvements and tools to aid patients in finding high-quality health content.

Exploring the Implications of Inter-Limb Asymmetries on Sprint, Agility, and Jump Performance in Young Highly-Trained Basketball Athletes: Is There a Relevant Threshold?

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the magnitude of vertical jump inter-limb asymmetries among young highly-trained basketball athletes and to analyze its impact on sport performance, specifically in sprints, agility, and vertical jumps. Materials and Methods: A unilateral countermovement jump (CMJ) was employed to determine Inter-limb Index Asymmetry (IAI) in 320 participants aged from 14 to 18 years, from the Valencia Basket youth academy. IAI was categorized into three groups: 0-9.9%, 10-14.9%, and >15%. The relationship between IAI and performance variables was analyzed through correlation studies (Pearson or Spearman's). The influence of IAI magnitude was assessed using ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis analysis, with leg dominance as a covariable. SPSS Statistics version 26 was used for analysis. Results: Among all the participants, the mean IAI was 10.6%. Correlation studies revealed non-significant values (p < 0.05) between IAI and sport performance variables. The three IAI magnitude groups did not show statistically significant differences in sprint, agility, and jump outcomes. Leg dominance did not seem to influence performance outcomes, except for unilateral CMJ. Conclusions: The results obtained challenge the assumption that an IAI above 10% negatively affects sprint, agility, or jump performance in young basketball athletes. Notably, the magnitude of IAI did not influence sport performance parameters, suggesting that the 10-15% threshold from previous studies may not be applicable to this population. The study emphasizes the need to understand lower-limb asymmetries in the context of specific sport task performance, considering the potential evolution over time among affected young athletes.

Social inequalities in the use of physiotherapy in women diagnosed with breast cancer in Barcelona: DAMA cohort.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze social inequalities in the use and access of physiotherapy service and its clinical and socio-economic determinants in women diagnosed with breast cancer in the hospital network of Barcelona. METHODS: Data from 2235 women belonging to the mixed (prospective and retrospective) DAMA Cohort were analyzed, including demographic, socio-economic, clinical, and breast cancer treatment outcomes. To determine the influence of such variables on access to physiotherapy, different Poisson regression models with robust variance (obtaining Prevalence Ratios and confidence intervals) were estimated. RESULTS: Although when experiencing different chronic and acute symptoms, only between 20 and 35% of women visited physiotherapist. Two out of 3 women reported to have received insufficient information about medical care and rehabilitation. Age of women, job occupation, education level, having a mutual or private insurance, as well as outcomes related to breast cancer, appear to be factors influencing the access to physiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Social and economic inequalities exist on the access to physiotherapy by women diagnosed with breast cancer, which is generally low, and may clearly impact on their functional recovery. Promoting strategies to reduce social bias, as well as improve communication and patient information regarding physiotherapy may be of interest for a better health care in breast cancer diagnosed women.

Effectiveness of strategies to improve adherence to physical therapy in patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To determine the effectiveness of current strategies oriented to increase adherence to physical therapy in subjects with knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic review of electronic databases was conducted from inception until March 2023. Studies with experimental interventions using strategies to increase adherence to physical therapy programs in subjects with knee or hip OA were included. A meta-analysis compared the effects of such interventions with usual care for adherence-related measures (primary outcome), and functional and pain outcomes, using standardized mean differences (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). GRADE was used to determine the strength of the resultant evidence and the external validity of the findings. RESULTS: Fifteen articles, assessing 1,818 participants, were included. The interventions included cognitive-behavior strategies, telephone calls, internet-based interventions, communication technologies, and booster sessions. A meta-analysis revealed that the experimental interventions increased adherence over usual care with a moderate effect size of SMD = 0.39 (95%CI = 0.08-0.71) and moderate certainty in this evidence. CONCLUSION: Overall, this review supports that the strategies to promote adherence to physical therapy in individuals with knee and hip OA are effective. However, the positive impact on adherence rates does not always translate into improved clinical outcomes.

Strategies such us behavioral programs, phone reminders, telerehabilitation and equipment based on new technologies can be employed to enhance adherence to physical therapy among individuals with knee and hip osteoarthritis.These interventions may be also beneficial for improving self-reported functionality; however, their impact on performance-based function and pain appears to be limited.The potential for longer-duration interventions to enhance adherence in the long-term is a subject of speculation but requires further reinforcement through additional studies.

Risk Factors and Prevalence Associated With Conversion of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy to Open Cholecystectomy: A Tertiary Care Hospital Experience in Western Mexico.

Introduction Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a common procedure used for the treatment of different pathologies caused by gallstones in the gallbladder, and one of the most common indications is acute cholecystitis. The definitive treatment for acute cholecystitis is surgery, and LC is the gold standard. Nevertheless, transoperative complications (like intraoperative bleeding, anatomical abnormalities of the gallbladder, etc.) of LC and some other preoperative factors (like dilatation of bile duct, increased gallbladder wall thickness, etc.) can cause or be a risk factor for conversion to open cholecystectomy (OC). The objective of this study was to determine the risk factors and prevalence associated with the conversion from LC to OC in patients with gallbladder pathology and the indication for LC. Materials and methods This was a prospective cohort study. We included patients of both sexes over 18 years of age with gallbladder disease. To determine the risk factors associated with conversion, we performed a bivariate analysis and then a multivariate analysis. Results The rate of conversion to OC was 4.54%. The preoperative factors associated with conversion, in the bivariate analysis, were common bile duct dilatation (p=0.008), emergency surgery (p=0.014), and smoking (p=0.001); the associated intraoperative variables were: laparoscopic surgery duration (p <0.0001), Calot triangle edema (p=0.033), incapacity to hold the gallbladder with atraumatic laparoscopic tweezers (p=0.036), and choledocholithiasis (p=0.042). Laparoscopic Surgery duration was the only factor with a significant association in the multivariate analysis (p=0.0036); we performed a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and found a cut-off point of 120 minutes for the duration of laparoscopic surgery with a sensitivity and a specificity of 67 and 88%, respectively. Conclusion The prevalence of conversion from LC to OC is similar to that reported in the international literature. The risk factors associated with conversion to OC, in this study, should be confirmed in future clinical studies, in this same population, with a larger sample size.

Patient, clinician, and performance-based measures provide different information about clinical symptoms in patients with severe knee osteoarthritis presenting with depressive symptoms: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Clinical status of subjects with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is influenced by a complex interaction of several biopsychosocial factors. The use of patient-reported measures (PROM) is considered the gold standard for their evaluation. However, considering that 1 in 5 subjects with KOA present with depressive symptoms, it is necessary to analyse how this psychological domain may influence the subjective perception of PROM. The objective was to study the impact that depressive symptoms have on functional outcome assessments, according to the degree of objectivity of diverse outcome measures. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. Subjects with severe KOA, verified with clinical and radiological symptoms, were assessed with patient-reported (Oxford Knee Score), clinician-reported (knee range of motion), and performance-based (Timed up and go test) measures. The existence of depressive symptoms was assessed with the Yesavage scale, and participants were classified for having no-, mild- or severe-symptoms. Linear correlations (r) and one-way analysis of variance compared groups (95% CI). RESULTS: 244 participants were analysed, of which 75 (30.7%) had depressive symptoms. These symptoms had an inverse moderate association with Oxford Knee Score (r = -0.387). However, the correlation with the Timed up and go test was low (r = 0.176), while there was no correlation with knee ROM (r = -0.087). CONCLUSIONS: This study supports that patient-reported questionnaires may offer biased information on the clinical status of patients with severe knee osteoarthritis who present with depressive symptoms. Consideration of such symptoms may be critical to ensure data collected to accurately reflect patients' capacities and perceptions.

Non-pharmacologic approaches to treatment of pediatric functional abdominal pain disorders.

Functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) affect up to 25% of children in the United States. These disorders are more recently known as disorders of "brain-gut" interaction. The diagnosis is based on the ROME IV criteria, and requires the absence of an organic condition to explain the symptoms. Although these disorders are not completely understood, several factors have been involved in the pathophysiology including disordered gut motility, visceral hypersensitivity, allergies, anxiety/stress, gastrointestinal infection/inflammation, as well dysbiosis of the gut microbiome. The pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments for FAPDs are directed to modifying these pathophysiologic mechanisms. This review aims to summarize the non-pharmacologic interventions used in the treatment of FAPDs including dietary modifications, manipulation of the gut microbiome (neutraceuticals, prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics and fecal microbiota transplant) and psychological interventions that addresses the "brain" component of the brain-gut axis (cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnotherapy, breathing and relaxation techniques). In a survey conducted at a large academic pediatric gastroenterology center, 96% of patients with functional pain disorders reported using at least 1 complementary and alternative medicine treatment to ameliorate symptoms. The paucity of data supporting most of the therapies discussed in this review underscores the need for large randomized controlled trials to assess their efficacy and superiority compared to other treatments.

Effects of resistance training on patients with End-Stage Renal Disease: an umbrella review with meta-analysis of the pooled findings.

OBJECTIVES: This umbrella review aimed to review the effects of resistance training on patients with end-stage renal disease and assess the methodological quality of the available literature. METHODS: An umbrella review and meta-meta-analysis was performed. A systematic search was conducted until May 2022. Article selection, quality assessment, and risk of bias assessment were performed by two independent reviewers. The meta-meta-analyses were performed with a random-effects model and the summary statistics were presented in the form of a forest plot with a weighted compilation of all standardized mean differences and corresponding 95% confidence interval. Twenty-four reviews were eventually included. The protocol was registered in the international registry PROSPERO (CRD42022321702). RESULTS: Resistance training showed positive effects on functional capacity (g = 0.614), aerobic capacity (g = 0.587), health-related quality of life (g = 0.429), and peak force (g = 0.621). Fifteen of the included studies (63%) presented low risk of bias, and the remaining studies (37%) showed unclear risk of bias. CONCLUSION: Resistance training in patients undergoing hemodialysis is an intervention that shows positive results regarding physical and functional outcomes. The quality level of the literature is inconclusive, but the included studies present low risk of bias.

The utility of intraoperative endoscopy in esophagogastric surgery.

Flexible endoscopy (FE) plays a major role in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal disease. Although its intraoperative use has spread over the years, its use by surgeons is still limited in our setting. FE training opportunities are different among many institutions, specialties, and countries. Intraoperative endoscopy (IOE) presents peculiarities that increase its complexity compared to standard FE. IOE has a positive impact on surgical results, due to increased safety and quality, as well as a reduction in the complications. Due to its innumerable advantages, its intraoperative use by surgeons is currently a current project in many countries and is part of the near future in others because of the creation of better structured training projects. This manuscript reviews and updates the indications and uses of intraoperative upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in esophagogastric surgery.

Dynamic balance and explosive strength appears to better explain single leg hop test results among young elite female basketball athletes.

To analyze the impact of balance, lower-limb explosive strength and anthropometric variables on the result of the hop test in young elite female basketball athletes. Ninety young elite female basketball athletes (13-17 years), without current or recent lower-limb injury, were assessed in the off-season period of July 2021. Single leg hop test, countermovement jump, Y balance test and anthropometric outcomes were assessed. A correlation study and a regression model were performed to investigate the influence of such outcomes and the value of their participation on the hop test results. It was found a low-to-moderate correlation effect size for both countermovement jump (distance and power flight) and Y balance test values (except interlimb outcomes) with the single leg hop test results. Anthropometric outcomes did not show significant correlation (p > 0.05). Regression model revealed that for right hop test, countermovement jump values exhibited an adjusted determination coefficient of 0.408, (ß = 0.249, p = 0.013), For left hop test, again the countermovement jump values (ß = 0.229, p = 0.025), and left Y balance test values (ß = 0.331, p = 0.011) jointly obtained an adjusted determination coefficient of 0.263 significant predictive value for countermovement jump outcomes in both right (ß = 0.249, p = 0.013; ß = 0.301; p = 0.031) and left leg (ß = 0.229, p = 0.025; ß = 0.365, p = 0.040), as well as certain Y balance outcomes values. Explosive strength, and dynamic balance although to a lesser extent, appear to be the most relevant physical-functional factors influencing the single leg hop test results among young elite female basketball athletes. These findings may a serve as a basis to implement targeted interventions, such as plyometric and balance training, for an enhancement on functional rehabilitation and reducing the risk of injury related to the hop test results.

A deep learning approach to predict collateral flow in stroke patients using radiomic features from perfusion images.

Collateral circulation results from specialized anastomotic channels which are capable of providing oxygenated blood to regions with compromised blood flow caused by arterial obstruction. The quality of collateral circulation has been established as a key factor in determining the likelihood of a favorable clinical outcome and goes a long way to determining the choice of a stroke care model. Though many imaging and grading methods exist for quantifying collateral blood flow, the actual grading is mostly done through manual inspection. This approach is associated with a number of challenges. First, it is time-consuming. Second, there is a high tendency for bias and inconsistency in the final grade assigned to a patient depending on the experience level of the clinician. We present a multi-stage deep learning approach to predict collateral flow grading in stroke patients based on radiomic features extracted from MR perfusion data. First, we formulate a region of interest detection task as a reinforcement learning problem and train a deep learning network to automatically detect the occluded region within the 3D MR perfusion volumes. Second, we extract radiomic features from the obtained region of interest through local image descriptors and denoising auto-encoders. Finally, we apply a convolutional neural network and other machine learning classifiers to the extracted radiomic features to automatically predict the collateral flow grading of the given patient volume as one of three severity classes - no flow (0), moderate flow (1), and good flow (2). Results from our experiments show an overall accuracy of 72% in the three-class prediction task. With an inter-observer agreement of 16% and a maximum intra-observer agreement of 74% in a similar experiment, our automated deep learning approach demonstrates a performance comparable to expert grading, is faster than visual inspection, and eliminates the problem of grading bias.

Static Postural Control during Single-Leg Stance in Endurance, Team and Combat Athletes from the Spanish National Sport Technification Program.

In the context of pediatric physical exercise, the analysis of factors affecting postural control (PC) provides insight into the development of sport-specific motor skills. This study aims to evaluate the static PC during single-leg stance in endurance, team and combat athletes from the Spanish National Sport Technification Program. A total of 29 boys and 32 girls, aged 12 to 16 years old, were recruited. Centre of pressure (CoP) was measured on a force platform in standing position for 40 s under two sensorial and leg dominance conditions. Girls showed lower MVeloc (p < 0.001), MFreq (p > 0.001) and Sway (p < 0.001) values than boys in both sensorial conditions (open and closed eyes). The highest values in all PC variables were observed with eyes closed in both genders (p < 0.001). Sway values were lower in boys combat-athletes compared to endurance athletes in two sensorial conditions and with non-dominant leg (p < 0.05). Young athletes in their teens enrolled in a Sport Technification Program have shown differences in PC when comparing different visual conditions, sport disciplines and gender. This study opens a window to a better understanding of the determinants of PC during single-leg stance as a critical element in the sport specialization of young athletes.