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In a randomised controlled trial design, effects of 6 weeks of plyometric training on maximal-intensity exercise and endurance performance were compared in male and female soccer players. Young (age 21.1 ± 2.7 years) players with similar training load and competitive background were assigned to training (women, n = 19; men, n = 21) and control (women, n = 19; men, n = 21) groups. Players were evaluated for lower- and upper-body maximal-intensity exercise, 30 m sprint, change of direction speed and endurance performance before and after 6 weeks of training. After intervention, the control groups did not change, whereas both training groups improved jumps (effect size (ES) = 0.35-1.76), throwing (ES = 0.62-0.78), sprint (ES = 0.86-1.44), change of direction speed (ES = 0.46-0.85) and endurance performance (ES = 0.42-0.62). There were no differences in performance improvements between the plyometric training groups. Both plyometric groups improved more in all performance tests than the controls. The results suggest that adaptations to plyometric training do not differ between men and women.

Older women participated in a 12-week high-speed resistance training program under two supervisor-to-subject ratio methods (i.e., high versus low supervision) to assess its effects on muscle strength, power, functional performance, and quality of life assessed before (T1) and after (T2) intervention. Women were divided into either the control group (CG, n = 15), high supervision group (HSG, n = 30), or low supervision group (LSG, n = 28). The training program included exercises requiring high-speed concentric muscle actions. No differences were observed among groups at T1. Between T1 and T2, the HSG showed a higher (p < .05) improvement in muscle strength (ES = 0.36-1.26), power (ES = 0.5-0.88), functional performance (ES = 0.52-0.78), and quality of life (ES = 0.44-0.82) compared with LSG and CG. High-speed resistance training under closer supervision is more effective for improving muscle strength, power, functional performance, and quality of life in older women.

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Context: Pathologic plantar flexion frequently occurs after operative repair of the Achilles tendon (AT) because of immobilization and non-weight bearing in the first weeks of traditional rehabilitation. Novel rehabilitation strategies that apply mobilization and weight bearing have been proposed, but their effects on medial gastrocnemius myotendinous junction displacement (MJD) and isometric plantar-flexion strength (PFS) are unknown.Objective: To compare the effects of 12 weeks of immediate versus traditional rehabilitation on MJD and PFS in patients with percutaneous AT repair and to compare AT rupture scores (ATRSs) during follow-up.Design: Controlled laboratory study. Setting: Human performance laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 26 amateur soccer players (age ¼ 42.3 6 9.7 years, body mass index ¼ 29.5 6 3.9 kg/m 2 ) with percutaneous AT repair. Intervention(s): Athletes were randomly divided into 2 groups: an immediate group, given physical therapy from day 1 to day 84, and a traditional group, given physical therapy from day 29 to day 84. We used repeated-measures analysis of variance to compare the data.Main Outcome Measure(s): We measured MJD and PFS at days 28 (fourth week), 56 (eighth week), and 84 (12th week) after AT repair.Results: After 12 weeks of rehabilitation, we observed a large clinically meaningful effect and statistical difference between groups. At day 28, the immediate group showed higher values for PFS (P ¼ .002), MJD (P ¼ .02), and ATRS (P ¼ .002) than the traditional group. At day 56, the immediate group presented higher values for MJD (P ¼ .02) and ATRS (P ¼ .009). At day 84, the immediate group registered more MJD (P ¼ .001).Conclusions: Compared with traditional rehabilitation, 12 weeks of immediate rehabilitation after percutaneous AT repair resulted in better MJD, PFS, and ATRS after 4 weeks; better MJD and ATRS after 8 weeks; and better MJD after 12 weeks.

Snapshot: Programming skills are important in different fields. We considered the SARS-COV2 pandemic period an important moment to motivate students to improve their programming abilities with remote tutorials and online activities.

Open Access Research Articlefindings show a progressive bone reaction [6] related to impact and running [8,9]. Related risk factors are over pronation, initial rear foot contact, muscle fatigue or previous MTSS.The impact (i.e. "the collision between two objects" [10]), is habitually associated with MTSS [6,8]. Tibial impact during running occurs 150 milliseconds after heel contact [11], with potential harmful effects in runners [8,12]. Low cost accelerometers can be used to assess impact in running [13][14][15] and helps to study mechanical patterns [15][16][17][18]. Heel contact has a correlation coefficient of 87% with ground reaction force [18].Recently, 10 kilometers (10 k) running are massive and inexpensive [19]. Unfortunately, between 27 to 70% of 10k runners may develop MTSS [20,21]. Recovery of 18 minutes of asymptomatic running may take more than 100 days to return to sport after MTSS [6]. Today, there is not enough information related to recovery or MTSS re-injury process, but physicians and physical therapist usually recommends changing footwear and use an orthopedics insole [3] in order to reduce impact. However, it is not know if this therapeutic management positively affects the mechanical characteristics of impact during running [6]. Therefore, our research aim was to determine the effect of cushioned shoes with anatomical insole on impact, over pronation and mechanical strategy to impact during running in 10 k runners, over pronators, rear foot initial contact and unilateral recurrent shin splint respect barefoot running before sport return.We hypothesized that:1. Impact during running is lower using anatomical insole with cushioning shoes compared to bare foot running.2. The over pronation angle in midstance is lower using anatomical insole with cushioned shoes compared to barefoot running. AbstractShin splint injury usually takes several weeks to recover. We determine the effect of cushioned shoes with anatomical insole on impact, over pronation and mechanical strategy to impact during running in 10 k runners, over pronators, rear foot initial contact and unilateral recurrent shin splint respect bare foot running before sport return.Fourteen runners with recurrent shin splint who underwent standardized physical therapy were included. We compared by one tailed paired t-test the variables impact, rear foot over pronation angle in midstance and mechanical strategy to impact during barefoot running condition with anatomical insole and cushioned shoes running condition (α=0.05 and 1-β=80%).The impact was reduced from 6.893 g to 6.600 g (95% CI: 6.513 g-6.686 g, p<0.001) using cushioned shoes with anatomical insole condition respect barefoot running condition. The over pronation angle in midstance was reduced from 18.50° to 16.21° (95% CI: 14.29°-18.13°, p = 0.011) using cushioned shoes with anatomical insole condition respect barefoot running condition. The mechanical strategy to impact analyzed by cross correlation coefficient between cushioned shoes with anatomical insole condition with barefoot...