Childhood anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries—which can pose a major risk to a child’s sporting career—have been on the rise in the last few decades. Dynamic knee valgus (DKV) has been linked to an increased risk of ACL injury. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the acute effects of an ACL injury prevention protocol (ACL-IPP) and a soccer-specific fatigue protocol (SSFP) on DKV in youth male soccer players. The research hypothesis was that DKV would be reduced by the ACL-IPP and increased by the SSFP. Eighteen youth male soccer players were divided according to baseline DKV. Those with moderate or large DKV performed a neuromuscular training protocol based on activation of the abductor and external rotator hip muscles. Those with little or no DKV performed a soccer-specific fatigue protocol. DKV was assessed using the single-leg squat pre- and post-protocols in both legs. The ACL-IPP significantly decreased DKV during single-leg squat (p < 0.01, effect size = 1.39), while the SSFP significantly increased baseline DKV in the dominant leg during single-leg squat (p = 0.012; effect size = 1.74). In conclusion, the ACL-IPP appears to acutely reduce the DKV in youth male soccer players, and the SSFP seems to acutely increase the DKV in those players who showed a light or no DKV in a non-fatigue situation. By using the SSFP, it may be possible to determine which players would benefit from injury prevention programs due to increased DKV during game scenarios, while hip abductor and external rotator neuromuscular training may be beneficial for players who have moderate and severe DKV during single-leg squat under non-fatigued scenarios.

Background: Tissue compression and partial vascular occlusion using band flossing results in reperfusion of blood to the muscle tissue that may ultimately reduce joint pain and increase range of motion, enhancing prevention from or rehabilitation of injury. However, the extent of research examining the effect of tissue flossing in an athletic setting is currently very limited, and the effects of band flossing on knee pain and jump performance have not yet been investigated and remain unclear. Purpose: To investigate the effect of band flossing on perceived knee pain and vertical jump performance in recreational athletes with knee pain. Methods: Five young male recreational athletes with previously reported knee pain took part in this study (age 22±0.5; height 184±6.8cm; weight 79±1.5kg; BMI 23.34±1.2 kg/m2). Participants performed a number of tests pre and post intervention, with the application of a floss band on the knee joint. The experimental protocol consisted in the performance of countermovement jump (CMJ) tests (without occlusion, with occlusion, and after occlusion). Pre and Post intervention measures included a perceived knee pain -by visual analogue scale (VAS)- and CMJ performance -by force platform-. Results: The application of flossing bands in knee joint resulted in enhancements in all test measures pre to post intervention (10% jump height; 4.5% time in the air; 5% jump velocity; 13% jump power; 7.5% jump force). Participants reported a 3.5-point pain enhancement in AVS during performance of CMJ tests. Conclusion: Flossing bands caused a reduction in perceived knee pain and improved vertical jump performance in young male recreational athletes.

Highlighting the crucial role of monitoring and quantifying lumbopelvic rhythm for spinal curvature, the Ergotex IMU, a portable, lightweight, cost-effective, and energy-efficient technology, has been specifically designed for the pelvic and lumbar area. This study investigates the concurrent validity of the Ergotex device in measuring sagittal pelvic tilt angle. We utilized an observational, repeated measures design with healthy adult males (mean age: 39.3 ± 7.6 y, body mass: 82.2 ± 13.0 kg, body height: 179 ± 8 cm), comparing Ergotex with a 3D optical tracking system. Participants performed pelvic tilt movements in anterior, neutral, and posterior conditions. Statistical analysis included paired samples t-tests, Bland–Altman plots, and regression analysis. The findings show minimal systematic error (0.08° overall) and high agreement between the Ergotex and optical tracking, with most data points falling within limits of agreement of Bland–Altman plots (around ±2°). Significant differences were observed only in the anterior condition (0.35°, p < 0.05), with trivial effect sizes (ES = 0.08), indicating that these differences may not be clinically meaningful. The high Pearson’s correlation coefficients across conditions underscore a robust linear relationship between devices (r > 0.9 for all conditions). Regression analysis showed a standard error of estimate (SEE) of 1.1° with small effect (standardized SEE < 0.26 for all conditions), meaning that the expected average deviation from the true value is around 1°. These findings validate the Ergotex as an effective, portable, and cost-efficient tool for assessing sagittal pelvic tilt, with practical implications in clinical and sports settings where traditional methods might be impractical or costly.

The literature has yielded promising data over the past decade regarding the use of inertial sensors for the analysis of occupational ergonomics. However, despite their significant advantages (e.g., portability, lightness, low cost, etc.), their widespread implementation in the actual workplace has not yet been realized, possibly due to their discomfort or potential alteration of the worker’s behaviour. This systematic review has two main objectives: (i) to synthesize and evaluate studies that have employed inertial sensors in ergonomic analysis based on the RULA method; and (ii) to propose an evaluation system for the transparency of this technology to the user as a potential factor that could influence the behaviour and/or movements of the worker. A search was conducted on the Web of Science and Scopus databases. The studies were summarized and categorized based on the type of industry, objective, type and number of sensors used, body parts analysed, combination (or not) with other technologies, real or controlled environment, and transparency. A total of 17 studies were included in this review. The Xsens MVN system was the most widely used in this review, and the majority of studies were classified with a moderate level of transparency. It is noteworthy, however, that there is a limited and worrisome number of studies conducted in uncontrolled real environments.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of different percentages of blood flow restriction (BFR) and loads on mean propulsive velocity (MPV) and subjective perceived exertion during squat (SQ) and bench press (BP) exercises. Hypothesis: Higher percentages of BFR will positively affect dependent variables, increasing MPV and reducing perceived exertion. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Methods: Eight healthy young male athletes took part. Two sets of 6 repetitions at 70% 1-repetition maximum (1RM), 2 sets of 4 repetitions at 80% 1RM, and 2 sets of 2 repetitions at 90% 1RM were performed randomly; 5-minute recoveries were applied in all sets. The varying arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) applied randomly was 0% (Control [CON]), 80%, and 100%. Results: No statistically significant differences in MPV were found during the BP exercise at any percentage of BFR at any percentage 1RM. During the SQ exercise, MPV results showed statistically significant increases of 5.46% ( P = 0.04; η_p² = 0.31) between CON and 100% AOP at 90% 1RM. The perceived exertion results for the BP exercise showed statistically significant reductions of -8.66% ( P < 0.01; η_p² = 0.06) between CON and 100% AOP at 90% 1RM. During the SQ exercise, the perceived exertion results showed significant reductions of -10.04% ( P = 0.04; η_p² = 0.40) between CON and 100% AOP at 80% 1RM; -5.47% ( P = 0.02; η_p² = 0.48) between CON and 80% AOP at 90% 1RM; and -11.83% ( P < 0.01; η_p² = 0.66) between CON and 100% AOP at 90% 1RM. Conclusion: BFR percentages ~100% AOP at 90% 1RM improved acutely MPV (only in SQ exercises) and reduced acutely perceived exertion (in both exercises). These findings are important to consider when prescribing resistance training for healthy male athletes.

Background: Postural education is crucial during childhood and adolescence, yet traditional approaches often lack engaging tools that promote awareness and behavioral change. Wearable technologies and real-time biofeedback systems offer new opportunities to support postural learning through immediate, embodied feedback. However, most existing systems focus on clinical rehabilitation, with few designed specifically for educational use. Objective: This study aimed to design, develop, and evaluate the usability and technical performance of EduBack, a mobile app that delivers real-time lumbar posture biofeedback through inertial sensors, with a specific focus on educational settings such as schools and physical education environments. Methods: EduBack was developed using Kotlin (JetBrains) for Android OS (Google; version 8.0 and above) and integrates with 2 inertial measurement units via Bluetooth (2.4 GHz). The app provides visual biofeedback through a dynamic interface showing a virtual spine, corrective messages, and a color-coded alignment bar. The usability evaluation involved 24 undergraduate students (mean age 21.4, SD 1.8 y) who used the app in a controlled session. Participants completed the system usability scale and open-ended qualitative feedback questions. Technical performance data were collected from system logs, latency measurements, and received signal strength indicator values to assess connection stability and sensor-to-app communication. Results: The average system usability scale score was 83.5 (SD 8.7), indicating excellent usability. Participants reported the interface to be intuitive, the biofeedback visualization clear, and the posture information easy to interpret. Qualitative responses highlighted the app’s potential to support postural awareness and motor learning, especially in school-aged populations. From a technical perspective, the system demonstrated robust performance: mean data transfer latency was approximately 120 milliseconds, with less than 1% packet loss across sessions. Received signal strength indicator values consistently remained within the optimal signal range, confirming stable Bluetooth connectivity. All session data were successfully stored and exported without errors. The real-time posture tracking displayed on the app closely matched raw sensor data, ensuring fidelity in feedback. Conclusions: EduBack is a usable and technically stable mobile app designed to support postural education through wearable sensors and real-time biofeedback. Its user-friendly interface and reliable data transmission make it well-suited for use in schools and educational programs targeting postural health. The app fills a gap in the mobile health field by offering a preventive, educational tool rather than a clinical one. Future research should explore its application in younger populations, integration into physical education curricula, and long-term effects on postural behavior and motor skill acquisition.