The aim of this study was to develop a Spanish Version of the Trunk Measurement Scale (TCMS-S) to analyze its validity and reliability and determine the Standard Error of Measurement (SEM) and Minimal Detectable Change (MDC) in children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Participants were assessed twice 7–15 days apart with the TCMS-S and once with the Gross Motor Function Measurement-88 (GMFM-88), Pediatric Disability Inventory-Computer Adaptive Test (PEDI-CAT), Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life (CPQoL), and Gross Motor Classification System (GMFCS). Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha, and the intraclass correlation (ICC) and kappa coefficients were used to investigate the agreement between the assessments. Finally, 96 participants with CP were included. The TCMS-S showed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.95 [0.93 to 0.96]); was highly correlated with the GMFM-88 (rho = 0.816) and the “mobility” subscale of the PEDI-CAT (rho = 0.760); showed a moderate correlation with the “feeling about functioning” CPQoL subscale (rho = 0.576); and differentiated between the GMFCS levels. Excellent test–retest agreement was found for the total and subscale scores (ICC ≥ 0.94 [0.89 to 0.97). For the total TCMS-S score, an SEM of 1.86 and an MDC of 5.15 were found. The TCMS-S is a valid and reliable tool for assessing trunk control in children with CP.

Introduction: the Wisconsin Gait Scale (WGS) has been shown to be a valid and quick tool for analyzing gait in post-stroke people in the clinical setting. Its widespread use has led to versions of the scale in other languages, but so far there has been no version in Spanish. Objective: to conduct a cross-cultural adaptation of the WGS for use in the Spanish-speaking population and to analyze the content validity. Materials and methods: the Spanish version was obtained using the double translation method and back translation method, followed by a review by an expert committee. This expert committee evaluated the content validity index (CVI) for each item on the version obtained and for the entire scale (scale content validity index (S-CVI)). The item content validity index (I-CIV) was calculated as the number of experts whose score had been 3 or 4 divided by the total number of experts. To obtain the S-CVI, the middle of the I-CVI was calculated for all the items on the scale. Results: the Spanish version of the WGS was obtained after the expert committee evaluation. The CVI was excellent for its general assessment (0.91), excellent for 85.7% of its items (≥0.78), and good for 14.3% of the CVI (≥0.72). Conclusions: the Spanish version of the WGS was developed through a process of cross-cultural adaptation from its original English version, and, according to an expert committee, it had an excellent content validity.

The Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS) is a valid and reliable tool to assess static and dynamic trunk control in cerebral palsy. However, there is no evidence informing about differences between novice and expert raters. A cross-sectional study was conducted with participants between the ages of 6 and 18 years with a CP diagnosis. The TCMS Spanish version (TCMS-S) was administered in-person by an expert rater, and video recordings were taken for later scoring by the expert and three other raters with varying levels of clinical experience. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate reliability between raters for the total and subscales of the TCMS-S scores. Standard Error of Measurement (SEM) and Minimal Detectable Change (MDC) were also calculated. There was a high level of agreement between expert raters (ICC ≥ 0.93), while novice raters demonstrated good agreement (ICC > 0.72). Additionally, it was observed that novice raters had a slightly higher SEM and MDC than expert raters. The Selective Movement Control subscale exhibited slightly higher SEM and MDC values compared to the TCMS-S total and other subscales, irrespective of the rater’s level of expertise. Overall, the study showed that the TCMS-S is a reliable tool for evaluating trunk control in the Spanish pediatric population with cerebral palsy, regardless of the rater’s experience level.

This study aimed to investigate if the characteristics of different running shoes could influence intra-abdominal pressure during running. A single-centre, randomized, prospective cross-over clinical trial was performed measuring activity patterns of internal oblique (IO), lumbar erector (LE), and gluteus maximus (GM) muscles in healthy women when running with minimalist shoes (MS). Participants were randomly allocated into two-sequence (MS/TS or TS/MS) treadmill running at six, nine, and eleven km/h. The surface electromyographic activity of IO, LE, and GM muscles were recorded while running. A repeated measures ANOVA explored the interaction effects of three-muscle x three speeds x two shoes. Significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Fifty-one healthy nulliparous women (mean age: 26.55 ± 5.11 years; body mass index: 21.29 ± 2.07 Kg/m²) were included. Our findings revealed lower activations of the LE compared to the internal oblique IO and GM, irrespective of running speed and footwear used. Electromyographic activation significantly increased with higher running speeds (p < 0.001) for all muscles, regardless of the type of footwear. Although electromyographic records with MS consistently showed higher values than those with TS, the differences were not statistically significant for all muscles at all speeds. Our results indicate that electromyographic activation patterns vary according to the muscle group, exhibiting higher values with increased running speed. No significant differences were observed between MS and TS.

With the global increase in women’s participation in running, understanding factors like footwear in performance and injury prevention has become essential. Minimalist shoes (MSs) and traditional shoes (TSs) influence muscle activation patterns, affecting running technique. Proper coordination of the core muscles is essential for efficient stride and posture. This study analyzed muscle activation in nulliparous women running in MSs and TSs at different speeds and explored the correlations with age and BMI. A crossover clinical trial assessed the EMG activation of the lumbar erector (LE), gluteus maximus (GM), pelvic floor, and internal oblique (IO) muscles during treadmill running at 6, 9, and 11 km/h. Fifty-one healthy women (26.55 ± 5.11 years; body mass index (BMI): 21.29 ± 2.07 kg/m²) participated. The protocol included a warm-up, 30 s runs at each speed, and a 5-minute washout between trials. The statistical analyses included Wilcoxon, Friedman, and Spearman’s correlation tests. GM and IO showed the highest activation (p < 0.001) regardless of the footwear or speed. No significant differences were found between MSs and TSs. Weak-to-moderate correlations emerged between BMI and LE muscle activation with MSs, and between BMI and IO with both footwear. Significant correlations were also found with IO activations, but none with PF muscles. The correlations between personal variables, shoe types, and muscle activation suggest that individual and external factors may influence neuromuscular modulation, impacting injury prevention and personalized interventions.

Blood flow restriction (BFR) is an innovative technique widely utilized in sports and rehabilitation for enhancing muscle strength and hypertrophy with low-load exercises. A critical factor for its efficacy and safety is determining the appropriate limb occlusion pressure (LOP). This study aimed to develop predictive formulas for estimating LOP in the upper and lower limbs based on anthropometric and hemodynamic variables, enabling a standardized and personalized approach to BFR application. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 39 healthy participants aged 18-40 years. Variables such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure, limb circumferences, and BMI were analyzed. LOP was measured by two independent raters using Doppler ultrasound, and multiple linear regression models were developed for each limb. Results showed that systolic blood pressure and limb circumferences were key predictors for LOP in both upper and lower limbs, explaining 39.5 % and 40.9 % of the variance, respectively. BMI was not a significant predictor in either model. High intra- and inter-rater reliability of LOP measurements was demonstrated, with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) of 0.99 for intra-rater and 0.98 for inter-rater reliability, indicating excellent agreement. The standard error of measurement (SEM), ranged from 1.08 to 4.10 mmHg across measures, while the minimum detectable change (MDC), ranged from 2.99 to 11.37 mmHg. The findings provide a reliable framework for personalizing BFR protocols, improving safety and efficacy while reducing variability in clinical and sports settings. Future research should validate these formulas in diverse populations and explore their application during exercise.