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BACKGROUND: Backs and forwards have different physical and performance demands in Rugby Union, which are well documented in elite teams. However, in subelite teams, this comparison is scarce. The aim of study was to compare physical and performance indicators during matches in backs and forwards from a subelite Rugby Union Team. METHODS: Twenty-five professional rugby athletes (backs, N.=12; forwards, N.=13) from a subelite team were evaluated for: 1) body mass and height; 2) sprinting speed of 10 meters; 3) sprint momentum; 4) 1RM of bench press, chin-up and squat exercises; and 5) yo-yo fitness test. Performance indicators during matches (number of passes, carries, tackles, attacking rucks and ball possessions) were evaluated. A Student's t-test was used to compare variable between positions. RESULTS: We found that forwards are taller (P=0.01), heavier (P<0.001), have stronger upper limbs (P=0.02), perform more tackles (P<0.001) and participate in more attacking rucks (P<0.001), while backs are faster (P=0.005), have higher sprint momentum (P<0.001), aerobic power (P=0.01) and have more ball possessions (P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that backs and forwards from a subelite national team have different physical characteristics and perform different actions during the matches.

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OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of moderate intensity running and cycling on markers of exercise-induced muscle damage in men. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty volunteers were randomized in three groups [running (RG; n = 10), cycling (CG; n = 10) and control (CON; n = 10)] and were evaluated at baseline, post 24, 48 and 72 h of knee extensors' muscle damage protocol. CON performed passive recovery, while RG and CG performed active recovery immediately after the protocol, as well as 24 h and 48 h afterwards. MAIN OUTCOMES: (i) maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC); (ii) delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS); (iii) plasma creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. RESULTS: No group-by-time interaction was found in any outcome evaluated (p > 0.05). All groups presented decreases in MVIC and increases in DOMS (p < 0.001), without differences in CK and LDH. Compared with CON, exercise groups presented likely beneficial effects for LDH, while only CG had a likely beneficial effect for DOMS. Lastly, CG presented likely/very likely beneficial effects for MVIC and DOMS compared to RG. CONCLUSION: Although the null hypothesis analysis did not find differences, the magnitude-based inference analysis suggested that moderate intensity cycling have likely beneficial effects on knee extensor muscle recovery after eccentric exercise protocol.

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BACKGROUND: Core muscles play an important role in lower limb stability and alignment, with their weakness being associated with poor alignment and, consequently, with injuries. Despite muscle structure being critical to muscle strength production, we did not find studies associating the morphology of the core muscles and lower limb alignment during functional tasks. RESEARCH QUESTION: Is there association between thickness of core muscles (external oblique - EO, internal oblique - IO, transversus abdominis - TrA and gluteus medius - GMed) and lower limb alignment during the single-leg squat in healthy subjects? METHODS: Forty-six healthy participants (27 male and 19 female) performed the following evaluations: (i) measurements of muscle thickness of the EO, IO, TrA and GMed using ultrasound and (ii) measurements of lower limb alignment using the knee frontal plane projection angle (FPPA) during the single-leg squat. A Spearman rank correlation coefficient (rs) was performed between the thickness of selected core muscles (OE, OI, TrA and GMed) and the knee FPPA. In addition, a partial correlation (r) was performed, using sex, physical activity level and body mass index as control variables. RESULTS: We did not observe significant correlations between the knee FPPA and the thickness of the EO (rs = 0.194; p = 0.197), IO (rs = 0.182; p = 0.225), TrA (rs = 0.073; p = 0.627) and GMed (rs = -0.092; p = 0.542). When controlling for sex, physical activity level and body mass index, similar results were observed [EO (r = 0.157; p = 0.316), IO (r = 0.261; p = 0.092), TrA (r = 0.030; p = 0.850) and GMed (r = -0.144; p = 0.356)] SIGNIFICANCE: Our results demonstrated that core muscles' thickness is not associated with lower limb alignment during the single-leg squat in healthy people.

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INTRODUCTION: The ultrasound technique has been extensively used to measure echo intensity, with the goal of measuring muscle quality, muscle damage, or to detect neuromuscular disorders. However, it is not clear how reliable the technique is when comparing different days, raters, and analysts, or if the reliability is affected by the muscle site where the image is obtained from. The goal of this study was to compare the intra-rater, inter-rater, and inter-analyst reliability of ultrasound measurements obtained from two different sites at the rectus femoris muscle. METHODS: Muscle echo intensity was quantified from ultrasound images acquired at 50% [RF50] and at 70% [RF70] of the thigh length in 32 healthy subjects. RESULTS: Echo intensity values were higher (p = 0.0001) at RF50 (61.08 ± 12.04) compared to RF70 (57.32 ± 12.58). Reliability was high in both RF50 and RF70 for all comparisons: intra-rater (ICC = 0.89 and 0.94), inter-rater (ICC = 0.89 and 0.89), and inter-analyst (ICC = 0.98 and 0.99), respectively. However, there were differences (p < 0.05) between raters and analysts when obtaining/analyzing echo intensity values in both rectus femoris sites. CONCLUSIONS: The differences in echo intensity values between positions suggest that rectus femoris's structure is not homogeneous, and therefore measurements from different muscle regions should not be used interchangeably. Both sites showed a high reliability, meaning that the measure is accurate if performed by the same experienced rater in different days, if performed by different experienced raters in the same day, and if analyzed by different well-trained analysts, regardless of the evaluated muscle site.

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Many strategies have been reported to improve compatibility of biopolymers using chemical and physical modifications. One possibility is the introduction of sulfonate groups (R-SO3(-)) in the chitosan chain. Another biopolymer with similar characteristics to those of heparin is κ-carrageenan. This study proposed to investigate the application of these two polymers, based on their potential for globular protein adsorption (BSA and fibrinogen). Polymeric films of chitosan and κ-carrageenan were prepared; all films were characterized by elemental analyses, FTIR, XPS and SEM. Characterization techniques showed that the chitosan chain was modified and confirmed the existence of sulfonate groups, as well as in the κ-carrageenan chain, indicating surfaces with similar chemical properties to those of heparin. The effect of charge density was observed for each adsorption condition (BSA at pH 5.0 and 7.4). A more pronounced adsorption rate was observed at pH 5.0 than at pH 7.4 and equilibrium adsorption was achieved, in both cases, after approximately 20 min. The equilibrium data indicate a lower adsorption rate for the sulfonated chitosan film, in comparison to the other films. These results confirm the potential of modified chitosan for use in applications in which globular protein adsorption should be avoided.

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As disfunções crânio-cérvico-mandibulares e seus sinais e sintomas são comuns nos relatos dos pacientes que buscam por tratamento especializado; elas podem ser avaliadas através da cefalometria, a qual também pode ser utilizada como forma de comparação após um tratamento. O Método de Equilíbrio Neuromuscular (ENM) é uma forma de tratamento global que não gera estresse ao paciente, onde é possível eliminar bloqueios estruturais cuja origem são as dores articulares. O objetivo desse trabalho foi verificar a eficácia do protocolo básico do ENM em funcionários de uma clínica com disfunções crânio-cérvico-mandibulares utilizando como evidências radiológicas o traçado cefalométrico de Rocabado. A amostra foi composta de 8 indivíduos, sendo sete do sexo feminino e um do sexo masculino, com faixa etária entre 24 e 54 anos, que apresentaram queixas ou sintomas de dor ou disfunção crânio-cérvico-mandibular por pelo menos 3 meses e evidências radiológicas através do traçado cefalométrico de Rocabado. O tratamento foi realizado através do protocolo básico do Método Equilibrador Neuromuscular (ENM), que consistiu de seis sessões, sendo distribuídas em três na primeira semana, duas na segunda semana e uma na terceira semana. Após a finalização do tratamento, os indivíduos realizaram novamente o exame radiológico. Foi considerado como nível de significância 5% (p≤0,05) e calculado o grau de probabilidade de significância para as variáveis do estudo. Não houve mudança estatisticamente significante nos traçados cefalométricos analisados, concluindo-se que, para maior efetividade no tratamento, é necessária a inclusão de outras técnicas fi sioterápicas ao ENM.

The craniomandibular disorders and their signs and symptoms are common in the reports of the patients that seek for specialized treatment; they can be analyzed through the cephalometry, which can be also utilized as a comparison way after a treatment. The Balance Neuromuscular Method (ENM) is a way of global treatment that doesnot generate stress to the patient, where it is possible to eliminate structural blocks whose origin are the articular pains. The objective of this study was to verify the efi cacy of the ENM basic protocol in workers with craniomandibular disorders using as radiological evidences the cephalometric tracing of Rocabado. The sample was composed by 8 individuals, with 24 to 54 years that presented complaints or symptoms of pain or craniomandibular disorder for at least 3 months and radiological evidences through the cephalometric tracing of Rocabado. The treatment was realized throughthe ENM basic protocol that was 6 sessions, being distributed in 3 sessions at the fi rst week, 2 sessions at the second week and 1 session at the third week. After the fi nalization of the treatment, the individuals realized the radiological examination again. It was considered as level of signifi cance p value < 0,05 and calculated the odds ratio to the variables of the study. There was not a changing statiscally signifi cant at the cephalometric tracings analyzed, concluding that, for a major effectiveness in the treatment, it is necessary the inclusion of others physiotherapy techniques.

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