OBJETIVOS: Comparar o equilíbrio estático em pacientes com diabetes melito tipo 2 (DM2) com ou sem polineuropatia diabética (PND) e correlacionar os escores da escala de Exame da Neuropatia Diabética (EDN) com a média da relação do centro de pressão (CoP). SUJEITOS E MÉTODOS: Vinte pacientes, com idades entre 40 e 54 anos, que apresentavam DM2 e classificados, de acordo com a escala EDN, em grupos com (n = 10) e sem (n = 10) PDN foram comparados. O equilíbrio estático foi avaliado segundo a média da relação do CoP em um Wii Balance Board® na condição com os olhos abertos e os olhos fechados. Depois da verificação da normalidade (Shapiro-Wilk), o equilíbrio entre os dois grupos foi comparado por meio dos testes t de Student e U de Mann-Whitney, como aplicável. O escore na EDN foi correlacionado com a média da relação do CoP no grupo com PND, considerando um nível de significância de p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: Diferenças significativas (p = 0,049) foram observadas nas condições de olhos fechados, com uma maior média da relação do CoP no grupo com PND (0,548 cm vs. 0,442 cm). O grupo com PND mostrou uma tendência (p = 0,059) para maior média da relação do CoP na condição com os olhos abertos (0,351 cm vs. 0,239 cm). Foi observada uma forte correlação (r = 0,751) entre o escore EDN e a média da relação do CoP na condição com os olhos fechados (p = 0,012). CONCLUSÕES: Os pacientes com PND demonstraram pior equilíbrio estático do que os pacientes sem PND na condição com os olhos fechados. Além disso, quanto maior o escore no EDN, mais forte o deslocamento do CoP, o que pode estar associado com maior risco de quedas.

We aimed to (i) determine self-reported injury and illness frequency in trail runners 4 weeks preceding competition; (ii) compare athletes with and without injury/illness by sex, age, body mass index (BMI) and competition distance; (iii) describe mechanism of injury, anatomical region (injury)/organ system (illness) involved, consequences of injury on preparation and self-perception of injury severity; (iv) compare anatomical region (injury) and organ system (illness) by sex. A total of 654 trail runners (age 36.2, IQR 30.6–43.0; 36.9% females) participated in this retrospective cross-sectional study by completing a self-reported questionnaire. Injury and illness frequency rates were 31.3% (n = 205, CI: 27.7–35.0%) and 22.3% (n = 146, CI: 19.1–25.7%), respectively. No significant difference was found between injured vs. non-injured or ill vs. non-ill study participants by sex, age, BMI and competition distance. Regarding injuries, gradual onset (41.6%) and knee (33.2%) were the most indicated mechanism and anatomical region of injury. At least 85.4% of trail runners changed their training following injury and 79% indicated that their injury would affect their competition performance. Regarding illness, the respiratory tract was the most frequent organ system involved (82.9%). Male and female participants reported similar proportions of anatomical regions (injury) and organ systems (illness) affected. These results could help to generate education strategies and appropriate medical support before and during these competitions.

Poor sleep quality (SQ) negatively affects pain associated with musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). As the level of economic development of a country determines its sanitary conditions, these can influence the sleep–pain relationship; therefore, it is relevant to generate evidence in the population with MSD in developing countries. This cross-sectional study sought to determine the effect of poor SQ on pain in Chilean individuals with MSD, controlling for sex and duration of pain (in months). Method: A total of 228 individuals were included. SQ was measured with the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), pain (intensity, interference and distress relative to pain) was measured with visual analog scales. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed to analyze the effect of SQ on pain. Results: A high frequency of poor SQ was present in the studied group, and was more prevalent in women. The SEM model evidenced that poor SQ predicts greater pain. Sex influences sleep quality and pain, but not pain duration. Conclusions: These findings indicate that poor SQ predicts higher pain in MSD and that women exhibit worse SQ and more significant pain than men. Our findings support that SQ should be considered in the comprehensive approach to pain in individuals with MSD.

To assess the effects of a specific injury prevention neuromuscular training programme (IPP) on balance and lower-limb asymmetry in female competitive dancers (age 12–20 years; height 1.57 ± 0.06 m; weight 24.27 ± 2.79 kg) were randomly allocated to an active general control (GIPP, n = 7) and specific (SIPP n = 7) group. Both programmes were conducted for 6 weeks, with a frequency of three sessions per week. Dynamic balance and lower-limb asymmetry were assessed before and after the intervention. A greater improvement in right-leg total balance (86.6[84.0–90.5] vs 93.8[86.7–99.4];p = 0.035), left-leg total balance(87.8[81.0–89.1] vs 93.6[90.6–100.0];p = 0.013), left-leg anterior balance (71.9[69.1–72.2] vs 74.6[72.0–77.3];p = 0.041), left-leg posteromedial balance (80.5[72.9–83.3] vs 85.9[83.0–94.0];p = 0.048), and left-leg posterolateral balance (79.5[70.4–84.5] vs 85.0[80.0–88.5];p = 0.048) was observed in the SIPP group compared to the GIPP group. No other significant intra-group changes nor inter-group differences were noted. Therefore, compared to a GIPP, a SIPP induced greater improvements in lower-limb dynamic balance in female dancers, potentially leading to greater reduction in lower-limb injury risk.

Introduction: It has been shown that there is a close association between sleep quality and pain. In young athletes, sleep disorders and pain have a particularly high prevalence; however, the relationship between them has not been widely studied. Objective: To study the association between sleep quality and pain in young athletes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which 71 young amateur athletes (39 males) were included. The mean age was 16.9 ± 1.2 years, with 6.5 ± 3.2 years of sports practice and 5.2 ± 1.2 hours of training per week. Sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The participants were classified according to sleep quality, as PSQI-I = without sleep disorders, PSQI-II = requiring medical assistance and PSQI-III = requiring medical assistance and treatment. Also, pain intensity was assessed on the Numerical Rating Scale, both at rest (NRSr) and during sports activity (NRSs), along with pain duration. Results: The individuals classified as PSQI-III presented higher NRSr (Mdn = 2.0; IQR = 4.0 vs. Mdn = 0.0; IQR = 2.0; p = 0.04) and higher NRSs (Mdn = 4.0; IQR = 5.0 vs. Mdn = 0.0; IQR = 2.0; p = 0.03) than the individuals classified as PSQI-I. No differences were observed in relation to pain duration. The PSQI score was positively but weakly associated with NRSr (rs = 0.24, p=0.046) and NRSs (rs = 0.27, p = 0.03) but not with pain duration. Conclusion: Young athletes with lower levels of sleep quality show higher levels of pain at rest and during sports practice. Therefore, sleep quality and pain should be considered in the routine assessment of young athletes, by technical and health teams. Level of evidence III; type of study: Cross-sectional .

Pain is modulated by multiple factors. A relevant psychological process peculiar to athletes and which could be associated with pain is Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport (PRRS). The analysis of this association in competition context is particularly important. Objective: To determine the correlation between the PRRS and pain intensity in elite volleyball players during their participation in a continental sporting event. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Data from 107 male volleyball players (23.50 ± 4.08 years of age) participating in the South American Volleyball Championship were used. The athletes answered a self-report questionnaire on the day the championship began regarding their history of injuries in the previous six months. The athletes who declared injuries were asked about the current pain intensity using the Pain Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport using the Injury-Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport scale (I-PRRS). Results: 43.93% (n = 47) of the athletes (23.70 ± 3.54 years) reported an injury in the six months prior to the championship. They presented a median on the NRS of three (interquartile range (IQR), 2–5), and 54 (IQR, 46–58) on the I-PRRS. The Spearman’s Rho correlation test showed an inversely and moderate correlation (r_s = −0.36; p = 0.011; CI: −0.64–−0.08) between pain intensity and PRRS. Conclusions: In male elite volleyball players who participate in a Continental Championship in South America, higher levels of PRRS was correlated to lower pain intensity.