Our review suggests positive clinical effects of virtual reality games for balance and mobility improvements compared with no-treatment and conventional interventions. However, owing to the high risk of bias and large variability of intervention protocols, the evidence remains inconclusive and further research is warranted.

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Comparisons between men and women of time course responses of strength, delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and muscle swelling after a resistance training session are still controversial. Therefore, this study examined gender differences in strength loss, muscle thickness (MT), and DOMS between young men and women. Thirty apparently healthy, untrained volunteers (14 women and 16 men) participated in the study protocol. The resistance exercise session consisted of 8 sets at 10 repetition maximum load of the elbow flexor muscles of their dominant arm. Maximum isokinetic peak torque (PT), MT, and DOMS were recorded at baseline (TB), immediately after exercise (T0), and at 1 (T1), 2 (T2), 3 (T3), and 4 (T4) days after exercise. Baseline strength was expressed as 100%. There were no significant differences between the sexes for relative PT loss immediately after exercise (T0 = 74.31 ± 8.26% for men and 76.00 ± 6.31% for women). Also, PT was still significantly less than baseline from T1 to T4 for both genders. In contrast, recovery from PT was longer in women when compared with that in men. Muscle thickness responded similarly to PT in both genders. However, there was no significant difference between genders for DOMS at any time point. The time point that showed the greatest degree of mean soreness was T2 (4.94 ± 2.38 mm for men and 4.45 ± 2.07 mm for women). Our data suggest that after resistance exercise, women and men experience similar immediate strength loss; however they have dissimilar strength recovery across 4 days of recovery. Likewise, both genders experience a different time course of MT response after a traditional resistance exercise protocol. In contrast, men and women develop and dissipate muscle soreness in a similar manner.

| The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the Pilates method on the postural alignment and joint flexibility in healthy young females. Thirty-three women aged between 18 and 30 years (56.8±8.5 kg, 1.60±0.06 m, and 22.1±2.7 kg/m 2 ) having no prior knowledge of Pilates participated in this study. They were randomly allocated into two groups: control group (without intervention) and Pilates group (PG; mat Pilates, 20 sessions, twice a week). Pre and post-program evaluation procedures were performed by a blinded investigator and were characterized by photogrammetric postural analysis (Postural Assessment Software) and assessment of joint flexibility (Wells sit and reach test). A 2×2 Analysis of Variance was used for repeated measures in order to verify differences between pre-and post-measurements for both control group and PG. No significant differences were found between the groups, for all variables. The PG presented no differences in postural alignment after the program (p>0.05). However, the PG demonstrated a significant increase of 19.1% in flexibility (p=0.036). This study showed that a program of mat Pilates produces significant effects on joint flexibility. However, 20 sessions were not sufficient to cause static postural adaptations in healthy young women. , sem conhecimento prévio de Pilates. Todas deram entrada sequencial e foram alocadas aleatoriamente em dois grupos: grupo controle (GC; sem intervenção) e grupo Pilates (GP; Pilates em solo, 20 sessões, 2 vezes por semana). O processo de avaliação pré e pós-programa foi realizado por avaliador mascarado e caracterizado por avaliação postural fotogramétrica (programa SAPO) e avaliação da flexibilidade articular (teste de sentar e alcançar no banco de Wells). Utilizou-se uma Análise de Variância (ANOVA) 2X2 para medidas repetidas para se verificar diferenças entre momentos pré e pós-programa, para o GC e GP. Não foram encontradas diferenças significantes entre o GC e GP para todas as variáveis. O GP não apresentou diferenças na postura, após o programa (p>0, 05). Entretanto, o grupo GP apresentou um ganho significante de 19, 1% na flexibilidade (p=0, 036) no momento pós. O estudo demonstrou que um programa de Pilates aplicado em solo gera efeitos significantes na flexibilidade articular. Entretanto, vinte sessões parecem não ser suficientes para causar adaptações posturais estáticas em mulheres jovens sadias.

Background Low Back Pain (LBP) is associated with an increase in disability-adjusted life years, and increased risk of disability retirement and greater absenteeism in Brazil. Hence, evidence on healthcare and lost productivity costs due to LBP is of utmost importance to inform decision-makers. Methods Cost-of-illness study with top-down approach, and societal perspective. We extracted data from National databases, considering the period 2012-2016. Outpatient expenses included clinical, surgical, diagnosis, orthosis/prosthetics, and complementary actions. Inpatient care expenses included hospital and professional services, intensive care unit, and companion stay. For productivity losses, duration of work absence and associated information (workrelated and non-work-related; value of the sickness absence benefit; age; gender; and economic activity) were analyzed. Lost productivity costs were calculated multiplying the absence from work (days) by the daily-benefit. Results The societal costs amounted to US$ 2.2 billion, and productivity losses represented 79% of the costs. Total healthcare expenses were estimated to US$ 460 million. We found more than 880,000 diagnostic images. Individuals with LBP were in total 59 million days absent from work between 2012-2016. The mean lost days absent from work per person, for each

ERE are effective to improve functional performance and muscle strength when compared with no intervention, in healthy adults. ERE are not superior to other methods of resistance training to improve functional performance and muscle strength in health adults.

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Results demonstrated a high prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort in the previous year and a considerable number of professionals with residual fatigue. There was a substantial portion of workers with moderate work ability and requiring attention in the medium term.