Quadriceps and gluteus medius activity during stable and unstable loading exercises in athletes. A cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the muscle activation of the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and gluteus medius during different strength and stability exercises with a water tank compared with a sandbag. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Functional Anatomy Laboratory, and the sample consisted of 28 athletes. The main outcome measures were surface electromyography (dependent variable), water tank and sandbag, and exercise type (independent variables): Isometric Single Leg Stance (ISLS), One Leg Deadlift (OLDL), Front Rack Forward Lunge (FRFL), and Lateral Lunge (LL). Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a significant Group × Time interaction in gluteus medius root mean square (RMS) (F = 14.198, p < 0.001, ŋ2 = 0.35), vastus lateralis RMS (F = 24.374, p < 0.001, ŋ2 = 0.47), and vastus medialis RMS (F = 27.261, p < 0.001, ŋ2 = 0.50). In the between-group analysis, statistically significant differences were observed in gluteus medius RMS in the ISLS: 28.5 ± 15.8 water tank and 20.8 ± 12.6 sandbag (p < 0.001, ŋ2 = 0.08) and OLDL: 29.7 ± 13.3 water tank and 26.5 ± 13.1 sandbag (p < 0.001, ŋ2 = 0.01). In vastus lateralis in ISLS: 30.4 ± 37.6 water tank and 19.0 ± 26.7 sandbag (p < 0.001, ŋ2 = 0.03). In vastus medialis in ISLS: 14.2 ± 13.0 water tank and 7.0 ± 5.6 sandbag (p < 0.001, ŋ2 = 0.12), OLDL: 21.5 ± 16.9 water tank and 15.5 ± 10.7 sandbag (p = 0.002, ŋ2 = 0.04), and LL: 51.8 ± 29.6 water tank and 54.3 ± 29.3 sandbag (p = 0.017, ŋ2 = 0.00). These results confirm significantly greater activation of the gluteus medius and vastus medialis in the ISLS and OLDL exercises, and of the vastus lateralis in the water tank ISLS exercise. However, the vastus medialis shows greater activation in the LL exercise.

Characteristics of Patients with Heart Failure and Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease (Stages 4-5) Not Undergoing Renal Replacement Therapy (ERCA-IC Study).

BACKGROUND: Despite the frequent coexistence of heart failure (HF) in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), it has been understudied, and little is known about its prevalence and prognostic relevance. METHODS: A retrospective study of 217 patients with advanced CKD (stages 4 and 5) who did not undergo renal replacement therapy (RRT). The patients were followed up for two years. The primary outcome was all-cause death or the need for RRT. RESULTS: Forty percent of patients had a history of HF. The mean age was 78.2 ± 8.8 years and the mean eGFR was 18.4 ± 5.5 mL/min/1.73 m2. The presence of previous HF identified a subgroup of high-risk patients with a high prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities and was significantly associated with the composite endpoint of all-cause hospitalization or need for RRT (66.7% vs. 53.1%, HR 95% CI 1.62 (1.04-2.52), p = 0.034). No differences were found in the need for RRT (27.6% vs. 32.2%, p = 0.46). Nineteen patients without HF at baseline developed HF during the follow-up and all-cause death was numerically higher (36.8 vs. 19.8%, p = 0.1). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with advanced CKD have a high prevalence of HF. The presence of previous HF identified a high-risk population with a worse prognosis that required close follow-up.

Effect of Load Distribution on Trunk Muscle Activity with Lunge Exercises in Amateur Athletes: Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The effect of load distribution applied to the trunk musculature with lunge exercises has yet to be determined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of load placement using dumbbells on the activation of the latissimus dorsi, erector spinae, external oblique, and rectus abdominis muscles during the lunge. METHODS: Forty-two amateur athletes (21 men and 21 women) were recruited. Three lunge exercises were performed with different loading arrangements (ipsilateral, contralateral, and bilateral). The principal variable recorded for muscle activity was mean "root mean square" expressed as the percentage of the maximal voluntary isometric contraction. RESULTS: There are statistically significant differences in the erector spinae (p < 0.001; p < 0.003) and external oblique muscles (p < 0.009; p < 0.001) compared with the contralateral side. The muscle on the opposite side of the load achieved higher activation for these muscles. The erector spinae and latissimus dorsi muscle did not reach a statistically significant difference with the contralateral side in any exercise (p > 0.05). The higher activation of the latissimus dorsi occurred on the same side on which the load was placed. CONCLUSIONS: There was higher activation of the erector spinae, external oblique, and rectus abdominis muscles contralateral to the side of load placement during lunge exercise by amateur athletes.

Peroneal muscle activity during stable and unstable load exercises. A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the muscle activity of the peroneus longus during the execution of different unstable load exercises compared to stable load exercises. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Functional Anatomy Laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: 28 healthy athletes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Surface electromyography (sEMG), unstable load (water tank), Stable Load (Sandbag), type of exercise (Isometric single leg stance, single-leg Romanian deadlift, front rack forward lunge and lateral lunge). RESULTS: The repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant Group ∗ Time interaction in Root Mean Square (RMS) (F = 51.307, P < 0.001, ŋ2 = 0.70). In the between-group analysis there were statistically significant differences in RMS isometric single leg stance in favor to unstable load (P < 0.001, ŋ2 = 0.07). In the within-group analysis of RMS statistically significant differences were found in the stable load group between isometric single leg stance and single-leg Romanian deadlift (P < 0.001, ŋ2 = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Single leg stance exercise with unstable load showed higher peroneus muscle activity than stable load. However, no peroneus muscle activity differences were found between unstable and stable loads for single-leg Romanian deadlift, frontal rack forward lunge and lateral lunge. Single-leg Romanian deadlift with stable load showed higher peroneus muscle activity than isometric single leg stance with stable load.

Tratamiento quirúrgico de una úlcera plantar en paciente con pie diabético. A propósito de un caso / Surgical treatment of diabetic foot plantar ulcer. Report of a clinical case

La diabetes mellitus es una patología común con una gran afectación en el pie, que causa un gran número de amputaciones con una gran carga sanitaria, gasto económico y sufrimiento por parte del paciente. El presente artículo muestra el caso clínico de un paciente de 73 años, con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 de más de 20 años de evolución de la diabetes, que presentaba una úlcera plantar a nivel de la cabeza del tercer metatarsiano en el pie derecho. En este caso, y ante el fracaso de tratamientos conservadores previos, se decidió realizar una intervención quirúrgica mediante la exéresis de la cabeza metatarsal expuesta y eliminar la causa mecánica de la hiperpresión plantar para contribuir a acelerar la cicatrización y cierre de la úlcera y evitar la amputación del pie. El objetivo de este artículo es verificar la evolución y el proceso de cicatrización de la úlcera posterior a un tratamiento quirúrgico que consistió en la exéresis de la cabeza del tercer metatarsiano del pie derecho con una evolución favorable.(AU)

Diabetes mellitus is a common disorder with a great morbidity in the foot, which causes a large number of amputations with a great health burden, economic expenses and suffering on the part of the patient. This article shows the clinical case of a 73-year-old patient, with diabetes mellitus type 2 of more than 20 years of evolution, who presented a plantar ulcer due to plantar at the level of the exposed third metatarsal head on the right foot. In this case, because of failures of previous conservative treatments it was decided to perform a surgical intervention by exeresis of the exposed metatarsal head and eliminate the mechanical cause of the plantar hyperpressure to help speed up the healing, and closure of the ulcer and avoid amputation of the foot. The objective of this article is to verify the evolution and the healing process of the ulcer after a surgical treatment that consisted of osteotomy excision of the head of the third metatarsal of the right foot with a good resolution.(AU)

Biceps Femoris Activation during Hamstring Strength Exercises: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to systematically evaluate the biceps femoris long head activation across cross-sectional hamstring strength exercise studies. METHODS: A systematic review design was followed. The search strategy conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Sciences databases found a total of 3643 studies. Once inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, 29 studies were finally included in this systematic review. A total of 507 participants and 114 different exercises were analyzed. Exercises were evaluated individually and grouped into several categories: Nordics, isokinetic exercises, lunges, squats, deadlifts, good mornings, hip thrusts, bridges, leg curls, swings, hip and back extensions, and others. RESULTS: Results showed the isokinetic and Nordic exercises as the categories with highest biceps femoris activation (>60% of Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction). Nordic hamstring exercise ankle dorsiflexion was the exercise that achieved the highest biceps femoris long head activation (128.1% of its Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction). CONCLUSIONS: The results from this systematic review suggest that isokinetic and Nordic exercises seem to be the best option to activate biceps femoris long head. Future studies evaluating the implementation of these exercises in prevention programs are needed.