The authors of the original research entitled“Acute Effects of a Fatiguing Protocol on Peak Force and Rate of Force Development of the Hamstring Muscles in Soccer Players”[2]thank the authors for diligently examinin...The authors of the original research entitled“Acute Effects of a Fatiguing Protocol on Peak Force and Rate of Force Development of the Hamstring Muscles in Soccer Players”[2]thank the authors for diligently examining our manuscript and raising some key points in their letter to the Editor.展开更多
Hamstring strain injuries(HSI)represent a significant burden in soccer.High-speed running is one of the most common HSI mechanism,in particular during match congested periods.Peak force and rate of force development(R...Hamstring strain injuries(HSI)represent a significant burden in soccer.High-speed running is one of the most common HSI mechanism,in particular during match congested periods.Peak force and rate of force development(RFD)of the ham-string muscles tested at long muscle length have shown reductions following fatiguing tasks.However,no study has used a meticulous fatiguing protocol nor reliability scores have been provided.Hamstring peak force,RFD_(50-100)andRFD_(100-150)were assessed at long muscle length in 19 soccer players(26.0±4.1 years)before and after the repeated sprint ability(RSA)test.We aimed to calculate reliability scores for both limbs before and after the fatiguing task,and to compare peak force,RFD_(50-100)andRFD_(100-150)following the RSA test to baseline values.Peak force displayed“excellent”reliability scores before and after the RSA test,whereas RFD ICC showed“good”values in both time points,but CV scores were not acceptable(i.e.>10%).Significant moderate to large decreases were found in peak force(g=-1.11 to-0.90),RFD_(50-100)(g=-1.37 to-1.11)andRFD_(100-150)(g=-0.84 to-0.69)in both dominant and non-dominant limbs.Maximal isometric peak force,RFD_(50-100)andRFD_(100-150)of the hamstrings tested at long muscle length reduced following the RSA test.However,only peak force displayed“excellent”reliability scores,whereas RFD measures could not be considered acceptable owing to their lower reliability scores.Thus,practitioners can be confident about peak force changes,whilst caution should be used when examining such changes in RFD.展开更多
Background Shoulder strength evaluation is a recommended procedure in musculoskeletal rehabilitation.Aim To examine hand-held sphygmomanometer(HHS)and hand-held dynamometer(HHD)intra-and inter-rater reliability during...Background Shoulder strength evaluation is a recommended procedure in musculoskeletal rehabilitation.Aim To examine hand-held sphygmomanometer(HHS)and hand-held dynamometer(HHD)intra-and inter-rater reliability during isometric shoulder external and internal rotation strength testing in prone rotation position in asymptomatic participants,and to compare these two testing modalities.Design Reliability study.Methods A total of 20 asymptomatic participants(27.7±7.4 years;77.1±10.1 kg)attended a strength assessment consisting of HHS and HHD tests.Reliability was assessed using the intra-class correlation coefficient(ICC)with 95%confidence intervals(CI),coefficient of variation(CV)with 95%CI,and standard error of measurement(SEM).Pearson correlation and linear regression analysis were used to compare HHS and HHD testing modalities.Results“Good”to“excellent”intra(ICC range=0.896 to 0.979)and inter-rater reliability scores(ICC range=0.850 to 0.978)were displayed during both HHS and HHD tests during internal and external rotation strength assessments.Linear relationships between HHS and HHD measures were found,with coefficients of determination(R2)ranging between 0.60 and 0.79.Conclusion HHS and HHD resulted to be reliable strength assessment modalities for clinical practice.These assessment modes can be equally valid in assessing intra and inter-limb asymmetries in isometric shoulder rotation strength.The affordability and availability of HHS in ordinary clinical settings can facilitate its implementation in musculoskeletal practice.展开更多
The aims of this study were(a)to investigate the effects of a unilateral training program in reducing inter-limb asymmetry in male soccer players;(b)to explore such effects on measures of physical performance and unil...The aims of this study were(a)to investigate the effects of a unilateral training program in reducing inter-limb asymmetry in male soccer players;(b)to explore such effects on measures of physical performance and unilateral inter-limb asymmetry.Twenty-four soccer players,randomly assigned to a 6-week unilateral strength and power training(UNI)(n=12)or a control group(CON)(n=12),performed single countermovement jump(SLCMJ),single leg broad jump(SLBJ),single leg drop jump(SLDJ),10-m sprint,and 505 change of direction(COD)speed test.Raw jump scores revealed small to large improve-ments in SLCMJ,SLBJ,and SLDJ reactive strength index(RSI)(g=0.46 to 1.66)in the UNI group,whereas negligible changes were found in the CON group(g=−0.31 to 0.33).Asymmetry indexes showed a moderate significant reduction in the SLDJ(RSI)and in the SLDJ stiffness(K)(g=1.00 to 1.11)in the UNI group.The between-group comparison indicated a significant change in the SLDJ(RSI)and in the SLDJ(K)(g=1.01 to 1.07)in favour of the UNI group.Thus,a unilateral training program seems to be able to reduce between-limb imbalances and foster improvements in jump performance,without any detrimental effects on linear or COD speed times.Given the importance of these physical characteristics for soccer,it is suggested that unilateral strength and power training are incorporated into strength training routines for players of all levels.展开更多
文摘The authors of the original research entitled“Acute Effects of a Fatiguing Protocol on Peak Force and Rate of Force Development of the Hamstring Muscles in Soccer Players”[2]thank the authors for diligently examining our manuscript and raising some key points in their letter to the Editor.
文摘Hamstring strain injuries(HSI)represent a significant burden in soccer.High-speed running is one of the most common HSI mechanism,in particular during match congested periods.Peak force and rate of force development(RFD)of the ham-string muscles tested at long muscle length have shown reductions following fatiguing tasks.However,no study has used a meticulous fatiguing protocol nor reliability scores have been provided.Hamstring peak force,RFD_(50-100)andRFD_(100-150)were assessed at long muscle length in 19 soccer players(26.0±4.1 years)before and after the repeated sprint ability(RSA)test.We aimed to calculate reliability scores for both limbs before and after the fatiguing task,and to compare peak force,RFD_(50-100)andRFD_(100-150)following the RSA test to baseline values.Peak force displayed“excellent”reliability scores before and after the RSA test,whereas RFD ICC showed“good”values in both time points,but CV scores were not acceptable(i.e.>10%).Significant moderate to large decreases were found in peak force(g=-1.11 to-0.90),RFD_(50-100)(g=-1.37 to-1.11)andRFD_(100-150)(g=-0.84 to-0.69)in both dominant and non-dominant limbs.Maximal isometric peak force,RFD_(50-100)andRFD_(100-150)of the hamstrings tested at long muscle length reduced following the RSA test.However,only peak force displayed“excellent”reliability scores,whereas RFD measures could not be considered acceptable owing to their lower reliability scores.Thus,practitioners can be confident about peak force changes,whilst caution should be used when examining such changes in RFD.
文摘Background Shoulder strength evaluation is a recommended procedure in musculoskeletal rehabilitation.Aim To examine hand-held sphygmomanometer(HHS)and hand-held dynamometer(HHD)intra-and inter-rater reliability during isometric shoulder external and internal rotation strength testing in prone rotation position in asymptomatic participants,and to compare these two testing modalities.Design Reliability study.Methods A total of 20 asymptomatic participants(27.7±7.4 years;77.1±10.1 kg)attended a strength assessment consisting of HHS and HHD tests.Reliability was assessed using the intra-class correlation coefficient(ICC)with 95%confidence intervals(CI),coefficient of variation(CV)with 95%CI,and standard error of measurement(SEM).Pearson correlation and linear regression analysis were used to compare HHS and HHD testing modalities.Results“Good”to“excellent”intra(ICC range=0.896 to 0.979)and inter-rater reliability scores(ICC range=0.850 to 0.978)were displayed during both HHS and HHD tests during internal and external rotation strength assessments.Linear relationships between HHS and HHD measures were found,with coefficients of determination(R2)ranging between 0.60 and 0.79.Conclusion HHS and HHD resulted to be reliable strength assessment modalities for clinical practice.These assessment modes can be equally valid in assessing intra and inter-limb asymmetries in isometric shoulder rotation strength.The affordability and availability of HHS in ordinary clinical settings can facilitate its implementation in musculoskeletal practice.
文摘The aims of this study were(a)to investigate the effects of a unilateral training program in reducing inter-limb asymmetry in male soccer players;(b)to explore such effects on measures of physical performance and unilateral inter-limb asymmetry.Twenty-four soccer players,randomly assigned to a 6-week unilateral strength and power training(UNI)(n=12)or a control group(CON)(n=12),performed single countermovement jump(SLCMJ),single leg broad jump(SLBJ),single leg drop jump(SLDJ),10-m sprint,and 505 change of direction(COD)speed test.Raw jump scores revealed small to large improve-ments in SLCMJ,SLBJ,and SLDJ reactive strength index(RSI)(g=0.46 to 1.66)in the UNI group,whereas negligible changes were found in the CON group(g=−0.31 to 0.33).Asymmetry indexes showed a moderate significant reduction in the SLDJ(RSI)and in the SLDJ stiffness(K)(g=1.00 to 1.11)in the UNI group.The between-group comparison indicated a significant change in the SLDJ(RSI)and in the SLDJ(K)(g=1.01 to 1.07)in favour of the UNI group.Thus,a unilateral training program seems to be able to reduce between-limb imbalances and foster improvements in jump performance,without any detrimental effects on linear or COD speed times.Given the importance of these physical characteristics for soccer,it is suggested that unilateral strength and power training are incorporated into strength training routines for players of all levels.
