Background: In volleyball, the upper limb dimensions and grip strength greatly influence offensive and defensive movements during a match. However, the relationship between these parameters remains underexplored in elite female volleyball players. Objective: This study aimed to contrast the upper limb anthropometric characteristics and handgrip strength (HGS) of female elite volleyball players against a control group. Methods: Selected upper limb anthropometric parameters and maximal HGS of 42 female volleyball players and 40 non-athletes were measured. Results: Players exhibited higher values in almost all variables studied than non-athletes. The differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001) except for body mass index and elbow and wrist diameters. Players showed a moderate correlation between dominant HGS and hand parameters (length r = 0.43 and breadth r = 0.63; p < 0.05). Weak correlations were identified with height, upper arm length, elbow diameter, and hand shape index (r = 0.32 to 0.38; p < 0.05). In the non-dominant hand, a moderate correlation with handbreadth (r = 0.55, p ≤ 0.01) and weak correlations with upper arm length, wrist diameter, hand length, and hand shape index (r = 0.32 to 0.35; p ≤ 0.05) was found. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of the upper limb anthropometric parameters as predictors of HGS and their utility in athlete selection. Future research should investigate biomechanical factors influencing HGS and injury prevention.

Background: Open Streets initiatives have allowed for physical activity (PA) in cities worldwide. However, few studies have evaluated the use of small Open Streets in low- and middle-income countries, such as those in Latin America. Thus, this study aimed to describe participation and PA level of users in the Recreovia program in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during 5 Sundays from September to November 2017. Recreovia use was evaluated at 4 strategic points according to street accessibility (2 points) and aerobics class areas (2 points), using the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities. Results: A total of 38,577 observations were made (34,969 on streets and 3608 in aerobics class areas). Men (63%) and adults (62%), with moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) (98%) were observed on streets. The most common PAs were biking (50%), walking/dog walking (36%), and jogging (9%). In aerobics class areas, the most common groups were female (65%) and adults (89%). Participants were engaged in moderate to vigorous PA (91%). Conclusion: Measurement of number of participants at moderate to vigorous levels of PA was high. A difference between sexes and age in these street and aerobic class area groups was also observed.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the increase in academic activities at home negatively impacted mental health, due to significant levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. We investigated the association of depression and anxiety with university students’ academic performance during the COVID-19 lockdown in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online survey during the lockdown, through the use of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the grade-point average. Results: 1090 females, out of 1957 students, with mean age 22.2 ± 5.3 years, participated in the study. The prevalence of low academic performance was higher in men (4.7% p = 0.014). As for mental health, 2.5% of the students were classified as “definite cases” of anxiety and 8.2% were diagnosed with depression. Women with a low academic performance had a greater percentage of being “definite cases” (3.8%) of anxiety as compared to men (1.1%). Regarding depression, in men, 12.2% of those with low academic performance were “definite cases” (6.9% p < 0.05); in females with low academic performance, 10.1% were “definite cases” of depression, according to the Poisson regression analysis. The probability of low performance was 100% higher for women identified as “doubtful cases” of depression (PR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.10–5.18, p = 0.03). Conclusions: A positive association between the severity of anxiety/depression and lower grades, especially in women, was found. Mental health should be a special concern when considering university students, in order to improve their academic performance.

Introducción: La relación entre la actividad física y el rendimiento académico ha cobrado creciente relevancia en contextos universitarios, donde los estudiantes enfrentan altos niveles de estrés y sedentarismo. Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo analizar dicha relación en estudiantes del programa de Tecnología en Entrenamiento Deportivo de las Unidades Tecnológicas de Santander. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo y correlacional de corte transversal, con una muestra no probabilística de 134 estudiantes activos en el primer semestre de 2024. Se aplicó el cuestionario IPAQ versión corta para estimar el nivel de actividad física en METs, y se utilizó el promedio académico ponderado como indicador del rendimiento académico. Resultados: Los resultados mostraron una distribución equitativa por sexo y una alta representación de estudiantes en estratos socioeconómicos bajos y en semestres avanzados. No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre hombres y mujeres en los niveles de actividad física ni en el rendimiento académico. Se evidenció una correlación positiva alta (r = .636; p < .000) entre la actividad física y el rendimiento académico, con un coeficiente de determinación de R² = .331, lo que indica que el 33.1% de la variabilidad en el desempeño académico puede explicarse por los niveles de actividad física. Conclusiones: Los hallazgos respaldan la importancia de fomentar la actividad física como estrategia para mejorar el rendimiento académico, aunque se reconoce la necesidad de considerar otros factores psicosociales que también inciden en el desempeño estudiantil.

Introducción: El proceso de enseñanza aprendizaje sigue un camino de doble vía, en el cual se requiere de la participación de todos sus actores, empleando diferentes estrategias que mejoren el resultado esperado y que se adapten a las condiciones que ofrece el entorno, tal y como sucedió en la época de confinamiento por la pandemia, en el cual las estrategias virtuales y de e-learning, fueron las predominantes, incluso en las asignaturas con componente práctico. Objetivo: Evaluar la percepción de estudiantes y docentes de Fisioterapia, frente a la videograbación en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de las asignaturas con componente práctico. Métodos: Corte transversal, donde se envió por correo electrónico a los 265 matriculados en el programa de fisioterapia, un cuestionario, que indagó sobre la pertinencia de la videograbación para adquirir habilidades prácticas, el cual fue previamente validado por expertos. Resultados: 167 participantes con edad promedio de 23,7±7.9 años, de los cuales el 57% se encuentra satisfechos con el uso de la videograbación para el refuerzo del componente práctico; el 70,6% encontró algún grado de dificultad para realizar las videograbaciones, las cuales fueron superando con la práctica y el 47,3% consideró pertinente continuar con su uso en el desarrollo de este tipo de asignaturas. Conclusión: El uso de la videograbación para adquirir habilidades en la práctica, es una herramienta útil que ofrece muchas ventajas que no se tienen con las clases prácticas demostrativas

Introduction: Phase II of cardiac rehabilitation includes 36 sessions of exercise developed over 12 weeks, an intervention format that seems to be based on historical practice and not on scientific evidence. The objective was to evaluate the effect of two types of exercise volumes on exercise capacity, physical activity levels, and quality of life in subjects undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial was performed in 17 subjects, who were randomly assigned to two groups. The first (n = 7) was trained for eight consecutive weeks, and the second (n = 10) for 12 weeks. The six-minute walk test, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and the SF-36 were applied before starting the cardiac rehabilitation program at 8 and 12 weeks.Results: No significant differences were found between the intervention groups. The rise of VO2max was only significant in the 8-week group. Both groups improved the distance walked and sedentary behaviour. The 12-week intervention group improved the quality of life, specifically in physical functioning, and the 8-week intervention group in the domains of social function, physical, and emotional role. Additionally, the percentage of participants meeting physical activity recommendations was higher in the 12-week cardiac rehabilitation group.Conclusions: The implication for the practice is that the exercise traditionally used in cardiac rehabilitation shows early changes in exercise capacity and quality of life. The results of the levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviour improved after 12 weeks of rehabilitation without the presence of adverse events.