Purpose: To analyze the effects of 2 different eccentric-overload training (EOT) programs, using a rotational conical pulley, on functional performance in team-sport players. A traditional movement paradigm (ie, squat) including several sets of 1 bilateral and vertical movement was compared with a novel paradigm including a different exercise in each set of unilateral and multi-directional movements.Methods: Forty-eight amateur or semiprofessional team-sport players were randomly assigned to an EOT program including either the same bilateral vertical (CBV, n = 24) movement (squat) or different unilateral multidirectional (VUMD, n = 24) movements. Training programs consisted of 6 sets of 1 exercise (CBV) or 1 set of 6 exercises (VUMD) × 6–10 repetitions with 3 min of passive recovery between sets and exercises, biweekly for 8 wk. Functional-performance assessment included several change-of-direction (COD) tests, a 25-m linear-sprint test, unilateral multidirectional jumping tests (ie, lateral, horizontal, and vertical), and a bilateral vertical-jump test.Results: Within-group analysis showed substantial improvements in all tests in both groups, with VUMD showing more robust adaptations in pooled COD tests and lateral/horizontal jumping, whereas the opposite occurred in CBV respecting linear sprinting and vertical jumping. Between-groups analyses showed substantially better results in lateral jumps (ES = 0.21), left-leg horizontal jump (ES = 0.35), and 10-m COD with right leg (ES = 0.42) in VUMD than in CBV. In contrast, left-leg countermovement jump (ES = 0.26) was possibly better in CBV than in VUMD.Conclusions: Eight weeks of EOT induced substantial improvements in functional-performance tests, although the force-vector application may play a key role to develop different and specific functional adaptations.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of a six week exercise program to reduce the muscle tone of the trapezius and musculoskeletal discomfort (MED) of office workers. Twenty-six workers performed an exercise program based on: (1) stretching of cervical and/or dorsal region; (2) joint mobility of shoulders and rachis; (3) strengthening deep stabilizer and core muscles; and (4) scapula stabilizing exercises. A Myoton device was used to evaluate trapezius tone and the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire was used to assess changes in MED at three points of evaluation: at the beginning (Pre_1) and at the end of the workday (Post_1), and after the training program (Pre_2). The Wilcoxon test and Cohen’s d were performed to examine differences and effect sizes between evaluations. Main results show that trapezius tone remained constant during the workday, but decreased in the dominant upper trapezius (p = 0.003, ES = −0.60) and increased in the non-dominant middle trapezius (p = 0.016, ES = 0.45) after the exercise program, which eliminated significant muscle asymmetries. MED significantly decreased in the neck (p = 0.027, ES = −0.60) and upper back (p = 0.046, ES = −0.67). In conclusion, MED appears to improve in office workers after a six week training program, which may be explained by a decrease in trapezius tone and increase in the left middle trapezius tone.

Low back pain (LBP) is a common problem in manufacturing workers. Several strategies have been proposed in order to reduce the pain and/or improve functionality. Among them, lumbar supports are a common solution prescribed for lumbar pain relief. Most of the studies in the literature only consider subjective sensations of the workers for evaluation assessment. This study applies biomechanical tests (a flexion-relaxation test and a functional movement evaluation test) to analyse the effectiveness of flexible lumbar supports in functionality and disability versus placebo intervention, consisting of kinesiotape placed on the low back without any stress. 28 workers participated in the study, randomised in control and intervention groups with a two months’ intervention. None of the biomechanical tests showed statistical differences in between-groups pre-post changes. No benefits of wearing a flexible lumbar support during the workday have been found in these assembly-line workers versus placebo intervention.

Introduction Patellar tendinopathy is a degenerative disease of the patellar tendon, which affects athletes from a variety of sports, and is especially predominant in sports involving high-impact jumping. The aim of this study is to determine the additional effect of two interventions combined with eccentric exercise and compare which one is the most effective at short-term and long-term follow-up for patients with patellar tendinopathy. Methods and analysis This study is a randomised controlled trial with blinded participants. Measurements will be carried out by a specially trained blinded assessor. A sample of 57 patients with a medical diagnosis of patellar tendinopathy will participate in this study and will be divided into three treatment groups. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated to receive either: (a) treatment group with percutaneous needle electrolysis, (b) treatment group with dry needling or (c) treatment group with placebo needling. In addition, all groups will perform eccentric exercise. Functionality and muscle strength parameters, pain, ultrasound appearances and patient perceived quality of life shall be evaluated using the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment for patellar (VISA-P), jump tests, Visual Analogue Scale, ultrasound images and Short Form-36 (SF-36), respectively. Participants will be assessed at baseline, at 10 weeks and at 22 weeks after baseline. The expected findings will allow us to advance in the treatment of this injury, as they will help determine whether a needling intervention has additional effects on an eccentric exercise programme and whether any of the needling modalities is more effective than the other. Ethics and dissemination This protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Aragon (N° PI15/0017). The trial will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Trial registration number NCT02498795

This study investigated biomechanical assessments in trail running, comparing two wearable devices—Stryd Power Meter and GARMIN_RP. With the growing popularity of trail running and the complexities of varied terrains, there is a heightened interest in understanding metabolic pathways, biomechanics, and performance factors. The research aimed to assess the inter- and intra-device agreement for biomechanics under ecological conditions, focusing on power, speed, cadence, vertical oscillation, and contact time. The participants engaged in trail running sessions while wearing two Stryd and two Garmin devices. The intra-device reliability demonstrated high consistency for both GARMIN_RP and Stryd^TM, with strong correlations and minimal variability. However, distinctions emerged in inter-device agreement, particularly in power and contact time uphill, and vertical oscillation downhill, suggesting potential variations between GARMIN_RP and Stryd^TM measurements for specific running metrics. The study underscores that caution should be taken in interpreting device data, highlighting the importance of measuring with the same device, considering contextual and individual factors, and acknowledging the limited research under real-world trail conditions. While the small sample size and participant variations were limitations, the strength of this study lies in conducting this investigation under ecological conditions, significantly contributing to the field of biomechanical measurements in trail running.

In athletic training and research, the evaluation of sprint speed is widely used, and its accurate measurement is especially demanding. High-cost photocells are the gold-standard system for sprint time assessment, although low-cost smartphone applications can be a suitable option. This study assesses the validity and reliability of an application to measure sprint time compared to photocells. Five physically active subjects completed six sprints of 10 m and 20 m at maximal speed and a 5 m go and return sprint to evaluate the validity of the Photo Finish^® app (Version 2.30). To assess reliability, six trials of 5 m go and return sprints were measured by two smartphones. The validity results showed a mean bias of 0.012 s (95% CL: 0.000, 0.024) between the application and the photocells for the 10 m sprint, 0.007 s (95% CL: −0.007, 0.022) for the 20 m sprint and 0.005 s (95% CL: −0.005, 0.017) for the 5 m go and return test. The results also found R² between both systems (R²= 0.9863, 0.990 and 0.958) for each distance (10 m, 20 m and 5 m go and return, respectively). As for reliability, the application showed outstanding consistency between two smartphones operating simultaneously (ICC 0.999; R²: 0.999). This study shows that the Photo Finish^® app is an accurate and reliable tool to measure sprint time with an error of 0.09 s.