Onychomycosis is a common fungal infection that affects the nails and accounts for approximately 50% of all nail diseases. The main pathogens involved include dermatophytes, such as Trichophyton rubrum, members of the T. mentagrophytes complex, and emerging pathogens in this infection, T. schoenleinii and T. tonsurans. Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel) essential oil (EO) has been proposed as a promising natural alternative to traditional treatments due to its antimicrobial properties. Among its more than 100 compounds, terpinen-4-ol is one of the main contributors to the antifungal action of this EO. To determine the antifungal activity of tea tree EO against dermatophytes, we designed an in vitro study using EUCAST-AFST protocols to obtain the values of MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) and MFC (minimum fungicidal concentration) of several commercial M. alternifolia Cheel EOs against three species of dermatophytes isolated from clinical samples with suspected toenail onychomycosis. The results showed that the microorganism most sensitive to the action of the EO was T. rubrum, which had an MIC value more than 13 times lower than the value obtained for T. schoenleinii (0.4% v/v), the most resistant isolate. No differences in antifungal activity were observed by the analysed EOs or between the MIC and MFC values. These in vitro results suggest that tea tree EO is a viable option for the alternative treatment of onychomycosis, although clinical studies are needed to confirm the long-term antifungal activity, safety and efficacy of the oils studied in a clinical context.

Kinanthropometry is the study of body dimensions and composition measurements, which are influenced by factors such as age and nutritional status, establishing a relationship between static measurements and dynamic performance. This study aimed to evaluate the kinanthropometric differences among 403 individuals (aged 18–42), categorized by biological sex and the recreational sport they practiced. The main objective of this study was to clarify whether or not there were statistically significant differences between these groups. All of the measurements and indices were obtained following the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) protocol. Significant differences were found in most variables among the different sports. In general, the men showed higher values in terms of weight, height, body circumference, body mass index (BMI), relative index of the lower limbs (RILLs), percentage of muscle mass (%M), and percentage of residual mass (%R). The women exhibited higher values in terms of skinfold thicknesses, Cormic index (CI), body density index (BDI), percentage of fat mass (%F), and percentage of bone mass (%B). These findings can guide individuals in selecting sports based on their morphotype, optimizing their physical performance in recreational activities and improving their health and quality of life.

The toenail unit, commonly called the nail, is one of the most frequently examined and treated structures in clinical podiatry. Ultrasound is a standard clinical technique because it is a noninvasive, painless, and rapid diagnostic tool. The main objective of this study was to obtain morphometric data of the healthy toenail unit by ultrasound for clinical application. The nails of 76 participants (152 hallux nails; 38 men, 38 women, average age 26.83 ± 12.20) were examined using a VINNO E35 ultrasound system and an X6‐16L linear probe with a frequency of 18 MHz. Five ultrasound measures of the healthy toenail unit were obtained, of which only the distance from the center of the distal phalange to the nail plate varied with age, sex, weight, and foot (p‐values ≤ 0.050). The other four parameters were less influenced by the variables analyzed, except sex, which influenced nearly all (p‐values ≤ 0.050). In one of these variables, indications of significance were observed (p‐values = 0.060), with greater distances in the men than in the women, except for nail plate curvature, which showed a higher value. The other variables studied did not influence the parameters analyzed. High‐frequency ultrasound can be used to examine the healthy toenail unit and define anthropometric reference measurements that can be used for more accurate and comparative diagnosis.

The triceps surae complex is vital for gait propulsion and lower limb stability. Accurate assessment of the gastrocnemius muscles is essential for managing conditions like Achilles tendinopathy. This comparative study involving 24 participants (24.08±5.55 years) evaluated whether unilateral sequential (Protocol 1) or bilateral simultaneous (Protocol 2) surface electromyography (sEMG) recording protocols, using the wireless mDurance® system, affect signal consistency and clinical validity.Measurements included Maximum Voluntary Contraction (MCV) and Root Mean Square (RMS) under baseline, unipodal, and dynamic conditions. Statistical analysis included Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC), Standard Error of Measurement (SEM), and Bland–Altman plots.Protocol 1 yielded significantly higher activation values (p<0.05) during baseline and unipodal tasks compared to Protocol 2, particularly showing moderate-to-large effect sizes in the right limb gastrocnemius during unipodal support. Conversely, no significant differences between protocols were found during dynamic gait tasks. Unipodal conditions demonstrated the highest relative reliability (ICC up to 0.777), whereas baseline and dynamic tasks exhibited higher variability.The recording protocol significantly influences sEMG signal magnitude, meaning they are not interchangeable. The greater reliability observed under unipodal conditions suggests that postural demand enhances signal reproducibility, while the lower consistency in baseline and dynamic tasks points to protocol-related variability rather than genuine neuromuscular differences.For clinical applications comparing activation between medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscles, simultaneous bilateral recording combined with unipodal tasks is recommended to provide a robust framework for detecting neuromuscular activation differences

The plantar fascia has been the subject of considerable research and studies, ranging from its anatomy and structure to its numerous functions and potential disorders. However, the possible relation between the plantar fascia and anthropometric factors and of young adults has not been studied, and therefore it was decided to examine this relation. In total, 116 young participants aged 18-30 years were examined, obtaining anthropometric data. Plantar fascia thickness was measured using a VINNO E35 ultrasound and an X6-16L linear probe with 10 MHz frequency. Analysis showed that the men had a higher mean fascia thickness than the women (p-value<0.001), and participants with higher weight and greater height also had a higher mean fascia thickness (p-value = 0.018; p-value<0.001). This study establishes reference values for healthy plantar fascia thickness linked to previously undescribed anthropometric. However, further research is needed to identify additional factors that may influence plantar fascia thickness.