Unlocking the Potential: Increasing Muscle Strength in Lower Limbs of Youth Soccer Players over Five Weeks through Mat Pilates Training-A Pilot Study.

The interest in soccer generally starts during childhood, with children and young people often looking for opportunities in sports. New exercise techniques can be effective in improving training. The aim of this study was to compare the effects on the strength and physical posture of a group practicing Pilates with another not practicing Pilates, both undergoing continuous football training. In this controlled randomized clinical trial, the participants were 15 soccer club members, who had a training frequency of least three times weekly. The sample was divided into a control group (n = 7) of players who did not undergo any therapeutic intervention (only the usual training) and a Pilates group (n = 8) of players who participated in the mat Pilates program. The intervention consisted of fifteen sessions. Postural evaluations were performed using biophotogrammetry and force analysis. Significant improvements were obtained in terms of increased muscle strength (p = 0.001) for the Pilates group, but there were no significant postural alterations when comparing the two groups. Five weeks of mat Pilates was sufficient to increase lower limb muscle strength in young football players. This pilot study indicates that Mat Pilates as a method that could be planned to be included in training.

Pilates diminui exaustão e modifica ativação muscular de jogadores juvenis de futebol / Pilates reduces exhaustion and changes muscle activation in juvenile soccer players

O objetivo foi verificar se o Pilates promove mudanças na ativação muscular do membro inferior e melhorias em relação à exaustão e ao desempenho funcional dos jogadores. Participaram 15 jogadores, divididos em Grupo Pilates (GP, n=7) e Grupo Controle (GC, n=8). O GP realizou 15 sessões por cinco semanas. Avaliaram-se a exaustão e a ativação muscular [Reto Femoral (RF), Bíceps Femoral (BF), Glúteo Máximo (GM) e Reto do Abdome (RA)] durante o side hop test antes e após a intervenção. O GP sobre a exaustão mostrou diferença significativa entre pré e pós-intervenção (comparado ao próprio GP) com a eletromiografia (EMG) (p=0,01) e sem a EMG (p=0,01); em relação à ativação muscular, houve diminuição para todos os músculos, exceto para o GC. O Pilates é capaz de diminuir a exaustão e modificar a ativação muscular para possível aprendizagem motora; e quanto ao desempenho funcional não houve melhora significativa.

The objective was to verify whether Pilates promotes changes in muscle activation of the lower limb and improvements in relation to exhaustion and functional performance of soccer players. Participants were 15 players divided into Pilates Group (GP, n = 7) and Control Group (GC, n = 8). The GP held 15 sessions over five weeks. Exhaustion and muscle activation [rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), gluteus maximus (GM) and rectus abdominis (RA)] were evaluated during the side hop test before and after intervention. The GP on exhaustion showed a significant difference between pre- and post-intervention (compared to GP itself) with electromyography (EMG) (p = 0.01) and without EMG (p = 0.01). In relation to muscle activation, there was a decrease for all muscles, except for GC. Pilates is able to reduce exhaustion and changes muscle activation for possible motor learning; and as for functional performance, there was no significant improvement.

Desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor de recém-nascidos prematuros: uma revisão sistemática / Neuropsychomotor development of premature newborns: a systematic review

Introdução: Avanços na assistência prestada a recém-nascidos pré-termo e com baixo peso podem deixar prejuízos que comprometem o futuro desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor da criança. Objetivos: revisar a literatura, identificar, selecionar e avaliar criticamente as evidências científicas que divulguem o impacto da prematuridade no desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor do recém-nascido pré-termo. Métodos: Foram consultadas as bases de dados Lilacs, Pubmed e Scielo. Métodos: Foram consultadas as bases de dados Lilacs, Pubmed e Scielo. Dois revisores independentes realizaram a seleção e análise dos artigos elegíveis e avaliação e construção da revisão, seguidos por mais dois revisores, eliminando assim os possíveis viéses. Resultados: De 26 artigos selecionados, apenas 6 foram utilizados e apenas 1 apresentou o desfecho no estudo, pois poucos estudos preencheram os critérios de inclusão. Conclusão: Apesar da relevância dos resultados e do reduzido número de estudos avaliados, observamos os atrasos no desenvolvimento psicomotor dos bebes pré-termos, e a sugestão de mais estudos nesta área.

Introduction: From the biological point of view, advances in the care provided to preterm and low-weight, high-risk babies have contributed to a significant increase in their survival rates, and may jeopardize the child's future neuropsychomotor development. Objective: The goal was to review the literature and evaluate the scientific evidence of neuropsychomotor development in preterm newborns. Methods: The Lilacs, Pubmed and Scielo databases were consulted. Two independent reviewers performed the selection and analysis of eligible articles and evaluation and construction of the review, followed by two more reviewers, thus eliminating possible biases. Results: We selected 26 articles, but only 6 were used and only 1 presented the outcome in the study, since few studies met the inclusion criteria. Conclusion: Despite the relevance of the results and small number of studies evaluated we had observed delays in the psychomotor development of preterm babies.