Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in a strong negative impact on economic and social life worldwide. It has also negatively influenced people’s general health and quality of life.The aim of the present study was to study the impact of social distancing on physical activity level, and the association between mood state (depression and anxiety level) or sex with actual physical activity levels, the change in physical activity caused by social distancing period, the adhesion level to social distancing, the adoption time of social distancing, family income and age.Methods: A self-administered questionnaire with personal, quarantine, physical activity, and mood state disorders information’s was answered by 2140 Brazilians of both sex who were recruited through online advertising.Results: The physical activity level adopted during the period of social distancing (2.9 ± 1.1) was lower than that adopted prior to the pandemic period (3.5 ± 0.8,p < 0.001). Thirty percent of the participants presented symptoms of moderate/severe depression and 23.3% displayed moderate/severe anxiety symptoms. A greater presence of symptoms related to anxiety and depression were associated with low physical activity levels, low family monthly income, and younger age. A higher percentage of men who had no mood disorders was observed among those who were very active than among those less active.Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has a negative impact on physical activity. Those who reduced their level of physical activity had the highest levels of mood disorders. Therefore, physical activity programs should be encouraged, while respecting the necessary social distancing to prevent the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2.

A prospective, controlled, randomized study. To establish reference values for prediction of concentric isokinetic knee strength and power in a sample of nonathletic men and women. Adequate interpretation of knee isokinetic strength and power relies on a representative frame of reference. However, none of the most widely cited prediction studies used a randomly selected sample of nonathletic subjects, therefore limiting the clinical application of these studies. We evaluated the concentric right and left knee extensor and flexor peak torque, total work, set total work, average power, and torque acceleration energy (Cybex 6000 System) in 96 healthy subjects (45 men and 51 women, aged 20 to 80), randomly selected from more than 8000 individuals. By stepwise regression analysis, we found that gender, age, weight, height, and regular physical activity explained up to 84% of the variability of the dependent variables: a set of linear prediction equations for strength (at 60 degrees/s) and power (at 300 degrees/s) is provided. Results from this study might provide a clinically useful frame of reference for interpretation of concentric isokinetic knee strength and power in nonathletic men and women.

The purpose of this study was to determine differences in hamstrings-to-quadriceps (H/Q) peak torque ratios evaluated at different angular velocities between men and women who participate in judo, handball or soccer. A total of 166 athletes, including 58 judokas (26 females and 32 males), 39 handball players (22 females and 17 males), and 69 soccer players (17 females and 52 males), were evaluated using an isokinetic dynamometer. The H/Q isokinetic peak torque ratios were calculated at angular velocities of 1.05 rad · s⁻¹ and 5.23 rad · s⁻¹. In the analysis by gender, female soccer players produced lower H/Q peak torque ratios at 1.05 rad · s⁻¹ than males involved in the same sport. However, when H/Q peak torque ratio was assessed at 5.23 rad · s⁻¹, there were no significant differences between the sexes. In the analysis by sport, there were no differences among females at 1.05 rad · s⁻¹. In contrast, male soccer players had significantly higher H/Q peak torque ratios than judokas (66 ± 12% vs. 57 ± 14%, respectively). Female handball players produced significantly lower peak torque ratios at 5.23 rad · s⁻¹ than judokas or soccer players, whereas males presented no ratio differences among sports At 5.23 rad · s⁻¹. In the analysis by velocity, women's muscular ratios assessed at 1.05 rad · s⁻¹ were significantly lower than at 5.23 rad · s⁻¹ for all sports; among men, only judokas presented lower ratios at 1.05 rad · s⁻¹ than at 5.23 rad · s⁻¹. The present results suggest that sport modality and angular velocity influence the isokinetic strength profiles of men and women.

Early recognition of the clinical signs of ruptures of the pectoralis major muscle (PMM) in athletes by orthopaedic surgeons, physical therapists, and physical trainers may prove to be critical for patient access to surgical treatment while the injury is still in the acute phase. Total ruptures of the PMM may yield a better outcome with surgical treatment than with nonoperative treatment in athletes. Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. A prospective study was performed on 60 patients with total ruptures of the PMM. The patients were followed from 1997 to 2012, with a physical examination every 6 months for the first 2 years and every 12 months thereafter. The patients’ mean age was 31.21 years, and the mean length of follow-up was 48.25 months. The surgical treatment methods included reinsertion of the tendon in 51% of the patients and nonoperative treatment in 49% of the patients. All of the patients were evaluated using the Bak criteria. The bench-press exercise was associated with 80% of the PMM ruptures (48 patients). Forty-one of the patients with chronic ruptures were seen after 3 months (80%). The outcomes were poor in 9 patients from the nonoperative group (31%) and in 3 patients from the surgical group (9.7%); the outcomes were fair in 12 patients from the nonoperative group and in no patients from the surgical group. Excellent results were not observed in any patient from the nonoperative group and were observed in 21 patients from the surgical group (67.7%). The isokinetic evaluation at 60 deg/s showed a decrease in strength of 41.7% in the nonsurgical group and 14.3% for the surgical group, which was significant at P < .05. Total ruptures of the PMM exhibit better outcomes with surgical treatment than with nonoperative treatment based on the Bak criteria in athletes.

Objective: To compare the effects of Pilates and walking on quality of life, depression, and anxiety levels. Methods: Sixty-three overweight/obese participants were randomly divided into: control (n = 20), walking (n = 21), and Pilates (n = 22) groups. Pilates and walking groups attended eight weeks of 60-minute exercise sessions three times per week. Quality of life, depression, and state- and trait-anxiety levels were evaluated before and after eight weeks of training. Results: Scores of quality of life, depression, and trait-anxiety improved in the Pilates and walking groups. State-anxiety levels improved only in the walking group. Conclusion: Pilates and walking positively impact quality of life, depression and anxiety. The Pilates method could be used as an alternative to improve mood disorders in overweight/obese individuals.

The purpose of this study was to establish the isokinetic profile of shoulder rotator muscles strength in female handball players. Twenty-seven handball players performed concentric and eccentric strength tests of both dominant and non-dominant upper limbs on an isokinetic dynamometer. Internal and external rotator muscles peak torque was assessed at 1.05, 3.14, and 5.23 rad · s⁻¹ in concentric mode and at 3.14 and 5.23 rad · s⁻¹ in eccentric mode. Concentric balance ratio and functional ratio were obtained. Bi-lateral deficiency was compared. Concentric strength for internal and external rotation was significantly greater for the dominant than for the non-dominant limb for all speeds (P ≤ 0.0001). For eccentric actions, internal rotator muscles were stronger in the dominant than the non-dominant limb (P ≤ 0.0001) at both speeds. Concentric balance and functional balance ratios did not differ between sides at 3.14 rad · s⁻¹ (P = 0.1631), but at 5.23 rad · s⁻¹ the functional balance ratio in the dominant limb was lower than for the non-dominant limb (P = 0.0500). Although the dominant side was stronger than the non-dominant side, balance concentric ratios remained the same, with only the functional strength ratio different at 5.23 rad · s⁻¹. Our results suggest that concentric strength exercises be used for internal and external rotators on the non-dominant side, and functional exercise that improves eccentric rotation strength for prevention programmes.