The purpose of this crossover randomized controlled trial was to verify the effect of Kinesio Taping (KT) applied to the triceps surae with the aim to improve muscle performance during vertical jump (VJ), horizontal jump (HJ), and dynamic balance (DB) in healthy college athletes. The participants were 20 athletes (11 men) who competed in 4 different sports modalities (track and field, handball, volleyball, and soccer). Participants had a mean age of 22.3 ± 3.3 years, mean height of 1.74 ± 0.08 m, and mean body mass of 67.8 ± 10.1 kg. The intervention consisted of applying KT from the origin of the triceps surae to its insertion with the purpose of increasing muscle performance, and the placebo consisted of applying tape with nonelastic properties. There were no significant differences between KT and placebo conditions for height (m) in VJ (KT, 0.18 ± 0.06; placebo, 0.17 ± 0.06; p = 0.14), distance (m) in HJ (KT, 1.48 ± 0.3; placebo, 1.47 ± 0.3; p = 0.40), and DB in distance reached (m) in the star excursion balance test, normalized by lower limb length (anterior: KT, 90.0 ± 6.7; placebo, 89.5 ± 7.5; p = 0.56; posterolateral: KT, 92.5 ± 7.5; placebo, 93.2 ± 5.8; p = 0.52; posteromedial: KT, 98.3 ± 6.7; placebo, 98.7 ± 7.4; p = 0.69). The KT technique was not found to be useful in improving performance in some sports-related movements in healthy college athletes; therefore, KT applied to the triceps surae should not be considered by athletes when the sole reason of the application is to increase performance during jumping and balance.

The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review to determine the quality of evidence of studies assessing isokinetic hip muscle strength in adult non-injured individuals. We also aimed to summarise and pool data of normative values for hip muscle strength. The influence of methodological and participant-related factors on hip strength performance was explored as well. Guidelines proposed in the PRISMA were used to undertake a search strategy involving the keyword ‘hip’ associated with a set of keywords reflecting muscle strength. Five databases were searched: ProQuest, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Science. From the 2,939 records initially retained, 28 articles were included in this systematic review. Eight articles were classified as high quality. This systematic review exposed the methodological fragility of most studies assessing hip strength in non-injured adult population. Only data from studies with a small number of participants are available to be used as reference. A few individual studies suggest no differences in torque parameters between dominant and non-dominant lower limbs; differences in torque parameters between age groups; and between male and female participants. Overall, reference values for hip muscle performance in isokinetic tests are mostly unclear.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Objectives: To analyze the vertical and anteroposterior components of the ground reaction force during stationary running performed in water and on dry land, focusing on the effect of gender, level of immersion, and cadence. Background: Stationary running, as a fundamental component of aquatic rehabilitation and training protocols, is little explored in the literature with regard to biomechanical variables, which makes it difficult to determine and control the mechanical load acting on the individuals. Methods: Twenty-two subjects performed 1 minute of stationary running on land, immersed to the hip, and immersed to the chest at 3 different cadences: 90 steps per minute, 110 steps per minute, and 130 steps per minute. Force data were acquired with a force plate, and the variables were vertical peak (Fy), loading rate (LR), anterior peak (Fx anterior), and posterior peak (Fx posterior). Data were normalized to subjects' body weight (BW) and analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results: Fy ranged from 0.98 to 2.11 BW, LR ranged from 5.38 to 11.52 BW/s, Fx anterior ranged from 0.07 to 0.14 BW, and Fx posterior ranged from 0.06 to 0.09 BW. The gender factor had no effect on the variables analyzed. A significant interaction between level of immersion and cadence was observed for Fy, Fx anterior, and Fx posterior. On dry land, Fy increased with increasing cadence, whereas in water this effect was seen only between 90 steps per minute and the 2 higher cadences. The higher the level of immersion, the lower the magnitude of Fy. LR was reduced under both water conditions and increased with increasing cadence, regardless of the level of immersion. Conclusion: Ground reaction forces during stationary running are similar between genders. Fy and LR are lower in water, though the values are increased at higher cadences. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2012;42(5):437–443, Epub 8 March 2012. doi:10.2519/jospt.2012.3572

Context:Self-myofascial release (SMR) is an intervention popularly used by rehabilitation, fitness, and sports professionals to improve recovery and performance. In SMR, the athlete/patient applies pressure to the muscle and fascia using various tools, such as balls, rods, foam rolls, and massagers.Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the acute effect of 2 SMR protocols (short term and long term) of the posterior thigh and calf muscles on hip and ankle range of motion (ROM) in physically active men.Participants:A total of 14 adult males (24.9 [3.2] y, 77.2 [13.2] kg, and 1.75 [0.06] m) who exercise regularly (at least twice a week, 45 min per session) participated in this study.Interventions:Participants performed a short-term SMR protocol (2 × 10 repetitions, SSMR) and a long-term SMR protocol (2 × 20 repetitions, LSMR) of the posterior thigh (using a foam roller) and calf (using a massage stick) muscles in counterbalanced order, on 2 different days with a 48-hour interval.Main Outcome Measures:Ankle dorsiflexion and hip-flexion ROM, evaluated at 5 moments: pre- and post-SSMR, pre- and post-LSMR, and in the control condition, which was always performed at the first visit.Results:The SMR promoted significant gains for both dorsiflexion (F_1,13 =202.67,P < .001,) and hip flexion (F_1,13 = 66.46,P < .001,), regardless of the protocol and limb analyzed. The average increase for both limbs corresponded, approximately, to 11% for ankle dorsiflexion and to 6% for and in hip flexion.Conclusions:The results suggest that SMR of the posterior thigh and calf muscles acutely increases the ROM of both hip flexion and ankle dorsiflexion and that duplicating the SMR volume from 10 to 20 repetitions per set seems not to promote additional gains.

To analyse the vertical and anteroposterior components of the ground reaction force during shallow water running at 2 levels of immersion. Twenty-two healthy adults with no gait disorders, who were familiar with aquatic exercises. Subjects performed 6 trials of water running at a self-selected speed in chest and hip immersion. Force data were collected through an underwater force plate and running speed was measured with a photocell timing light system. Analysis of covariance was used for data analysis. Vertical forces corresponded to 0.80 and 0.98 times the subject's body weight at the chest and hip level, respectively. Anteroposterior forces corresponded to 0.26 and 0.31 times the subject's body weight at the chest and hip level, respectively. As the water level decreased the subjects ran faster. No significant differences were found for the force values between the immersions, probably due to variability in speed, which was self-selected. When thinking about load values in water running professionals should consider not only the immersion level, but also the speed, as it can affect the force components, mainly the anteroposterior one. Quantitative data on this subject could help professionals to conduct safer aqua-tic rehabilitation and physical conditioning protocols.