Effects of a dry-land strengthening exercise program with elastic bands following the Kabat D2 diagonal flexion pattern for the prevention of shoulder injuries in swimmers.

Background: During the repetitive execution of the swimming strokes, the muscles responsible for the internal rotations of the shoulders tend to become stronger compared to the muscles that oppose these movements. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of a strengthening program for the shoulder rotator muscles using elastic band exercises in a diagonal Kabat pattern (D2 for flexion) in swimmers, to develop an effective, quick and easy-to-implement protocol for preventive training routines. Methods: A randomized controlled trial design was carried out. Internal and external rotation range of movement, isometric strength of the muscles responsible for internal and external rotation of the shoulder, scapular movements, was measured at the beginning of the study and after 8 weeks post-intervention. A total of 22 male swimmers participated in the study and were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 11) or a control group (n = 11). The experimental group underwent a 8-week shoulder-strength program using elastic bands, while the control group focused on aquatic training. Results: The strength-training program resulted in an improvement in the isometric strength of the muscles responsible for external rotation and a better balance between the shoulder rotator muscles in the experimental group. However, these improvements have not been significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The strengthening exercise program showed minimal improvement in shoulder rotation strength and range of motion. These findings suggest that the prescribed shoulder-strengthening exercise could be a quick-beneficial dry-land training option to improve external rotation shoulder strength or range of motion, but more studies with larger sample sizes and more weeks of treatment are needed to determine the efficacy of this protocol.

Cervical Impairments in Subjects with Chronic Migraine: An Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this investigation was to compare the thickness of the deep local muscles in the neck region, as well as local and widespread sensitivity and functionality, between individuals with migraine and healthy control subjects. METHODS: An observational study was carried out in accordance with the STROBE statements. The flexor longus colli and multifidus, two neck-stabilizing muscles, were measured using B-mode ultrasound imaging. The upper trapezius, masseter, temporalis, anterior tibialis, and median nerve all underwent bilateral pressure-pain threshold (PPT) assessments. The statistical program SPSS 29.0 was used to implement the Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-squared test. Spearman Rho was utilized to establish the correlations between the variables. RESULTS: Sixty participants were enrolled in the study. The subjects, who were matched in terms of age, gender, and body mass index (BMI), were equally divided into migraine and control groups. No significant differences between the groups were found in the multifidus CSA regarding both sides at rest (right: p = 0.625; left: p = 0.203). However, in contraction, the multifidus CSA showed a significant decrease on the left side in the patients with migraine compared to the controls (p = 0.032), but no significant differences were found in the right multifidus CSA in contraction between the two groups (p = 0.270). In comparison to the healthy volunteers, the migraine sufferers showed a substantial reduction in CSA in the longus colli muscle on both the left side (p = 0.001) and the right side at rest (p = 0.003), as well as in the CSA of the left longus colli in contraction (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the migraine patients showed significantly lower PPT compared to the healthy subjects in local and widespread areas bilaterally. All the parameters revealed higher sensitization in the migraine group in the following areas: the right and left temporal regions (p < 0.001), the right and left upper trapezius (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively), the right and left masseter muscles (p < 0.01), the right and left median nerves (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively), and the right and left anterior tibialis muscles (p < 0.001). In terms of the craniocervical flexion test (CCFT), the migraine patients demonstrated significantly lower values than the healthy subjects (p < 0.001). A moderate positive correlation was noted between the PPT in the right temporalis muscle and that in the left longus colli and the right multifidus in contraction. The PPT in the right temporalis muscle also exhibited a positive correlation with the CCFT, although this correlation was low. Between the PPT values, the upper trapezius on both sides showed a moderate positive correlation with the median nerve bilaterally. CONCLUSIONS: This research suggests that individuals with migraine may experience local and widespread pain sensitization. A decrease in functionality due to the low muscle endurance of the deep cervical muscles is also accompanied by low values of muscle thickness in contraction. These findings may help to select more accurate treatment approaches for patients with migraine.

Influencia de la ira en el nivel de competición, éxitos y deportistas profesionales / Influence of anger on competition level, sport success and professional athletes

INTRODUCCIÓN: La ira es una variable que ha mostrado una fuerte influencia en el rendimiento deportivo y en variables relacionadas. Por ello, su relación con el nivel de competición, éxitos deportivos y con los deportistas profesionales se muestra como un campo de interés en la investigación científica. OBJETIVOS: 1) comprobar la relación entre la ira y el nivel de competición deportivo; 2) conocer la relación entre la ira y los éxitos deportivos; y 3) comprobar la relación entre la ira y los deportistas profesionales. MÉTODO: La muestra se compuso de 502 deportistas. MATERIAL: Se administró un cuestionario sociodemográfico ad hoc, el Inventario de Expresión de la Ira Estado-Rasgo (STAXI-2) y la Escala Oviedo de Infrecuencia de Respuesta (INF-OV). RESULTADOS: Los resultados se acercaron a la significación en los deportistas que compiten a nivel internacional, que presentaron menores niveles de ira rasgo y temperamento que los deportistas que compiten a otros niveles inferiores al internacional. Por otro lado, los análisis de regresión mostraron que a más ira rasgo existe una ligera tendencia a competir a otros niveles inferiores al internacional (p<.05). CONCLUSIONES: Se concluyó que la ira puede influir en el nivel de competición, ya que a mayores niveles de ira existe relación con competir a niveles inferiores al internacional

INTRODUCTION: Anger is a variable that can have an important influence on sport performance and many other related variables. Therefore, its relationship with competition level, sport and professional athletes, is has become an interesting field in scientific research. OBJECTIVES: 1) To verify the relationship between anger and the level of sport competition; 2) to investigate the link between anger and sport success; and 3) to identify the relationship between anger and professional athletes. METHOD: The sample was composed of 502 athletes. MATERIAL: A socio-demographic questionnaire ad hoc, the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI-2) and The Oviedo Scale of Infrequency of Response (INF-OV) were administered. RESULTS: Close to significant differences were found amongst those athletes who compete at an international level, because they had lower levels of trait anger and temperament than their counterparts. On the other hand, regression analyses showed a slight tendency to compete at lower levels in those cases where trait anger was high (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that anger may have an influence on the level of competition, because higher anger levels were more present at a lower rather than a higher level of competition

Perceived Coach Leadership Profiles and Relationship With Burnout, Coping, and Emotions.

The aims of the study were to identify coach profiles and examine whether participants from distinct profiles significantly differed on burnout, emotions, and coping or not. A sample of 268 athletes (M age = 29.34; SD = 12.37) completed a series of self-reported questionnaires. Cluster analyses revealed two coach leadership profiles: (a) profile 1 with high scores of training and instruction, authoritarian behavior, social support, and positive feedback, and a low score of democratic behavior; and (b) profile 2 with low levels in training and instruction, authoritarian behavior, social support, and positive feedback and high levels in democratic behavior. Results of Multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVAs) indicated significant differences across coach profiles on reduced accomplishment, sport devaluation, happiness and seeking support and marginal differences on dejection, logical analysis, imagery/thought control, and excitement. Moreover, coach leadership profiles were not confounded by demographic variables (level of competition, gender, age, number of practice hours, professional versus no professional athletes). As a conclusion, the profile approach offered a holistic way to examine coach leadership in sport as two distinct coach profiles emerged from the cluster analyses with an unexpected combination of coach leadership dimensions.