Muscle coordination during breaststroke swimming: Comparison between elite swimmers and beginners

The present study aimed to compare muscle coordination strategies of the upper and lower limb muscles between beginners and elite breaststroke swimmers. Surface electromyography (EMG) of eight muscles was recorded in 16 swimmers (8 elite, 8 beginners) during a 25 m swimming breaststroke at 100% of maximal effort. A decomposition algorithm was used to identify the muscle synergies that represent the temporal and spatial organisation of muscle coordination. Between-groups indices of similarity and lag times were calculated. Individual muscle patterns were moderately to highly similar between groups (between-group indices range: 0.61 to 0.84). Significant differences were found in terms of lag time for pectoralis major (P < 0.05), biceps brachii, rectus femoris and tibialis anterior (P < 0.01), indicating an earlier activation for these muscles in beginners compared to elites (range: ?13.2 to ?3.8% of the swimming cycle). Three muscle synergies were identified for both beginners and elites. Although their composition was similar between populations, the third synergy exhibited a high within-group variability. Moderate to high indices of similarity were found for the shape of synergy activation coefficients (range: 0.63 to 0.88) but there was a significant backward shift (?8.4% of the swimming cycle) in synergy #2 for beginners compared to elites. This time shift suggested differences in the global arm-to-leg coordination. These results indicate that the synergistic organisation of muscle coordination during breaststroke swimming is not profoundly affected by expertise. However, specific timing adjustments were observed between lower and upper limbs.     

Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) Technology and Learning Outcomes in Dental Anatomy Education: E-Learning Approach

E-learning is an educational method that improves knowledge innovation by sharing relevant images for advanced learning, especially in a pandemic state. Furthermore, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a method that gathers medical or dental diagnostic images. This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of dental anatomy education through a CBCT technology tool, through teachers' and students' perspectives, adjusted according to the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. A cohort study and longitudinal exploratory analysis were performed. Forty undergraduate first-year dental students, from the University of Coimbra in Portugal, were selected as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Two different teaching methods were applied during an identical time-period: face-to-face lectures complemented by physical models (T1 cohort) and webinar lectures complemented by CBCT images (T2 cohort). Learning outcomes were then studied according to theoretical and spatial orientation contexts. A self-reported survey that focused on students' satisfaction, stress, and support was studied. Both teaching methods were analyzed with paired sample student's t-test and Pearson Correlation Confidence intervals 95% with P < 0.05. Furthermore, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used for self-reported satisfaction survey validity and reliability analysis. The learning outcomes between T1 and T2 cohorts were statistically significant, (P < 0.001) corresponding to differences with a large effect degree (r > 0.60). Students' satisfaction, as measured on a six-point Likert scale, was positively influenced by the webinar lectures supplemented with CBCT images (T2 cohort) in a learning context (4.95 ± 0.5) and future applications (5.92 ± 0.27). In conclusion, the webinar approach with CBCT images was more effective and better learning method for teaching dental anatomy.     

Relationship between skeletal muscle contractile properties and power production capacity in female Olympic rugby players

This study aimed to determine which contractile properties measured by tensiomyography (TMG) could better differentiate athletes with high- and low-power values, as well as to analyse the relationship between contractile properties and power production capacity. The contractile properties of the vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL) of an Olympic women’s Rugby Sevens team (n?=?14) were analysed before a Wingate test in which their peak power output (PPO) was determined. Athletes were then divided into a high-power (HP) and a low-power (LP) group. HP presented an almost certainly higher PPO (9.8?±?0.3 vs. 8.9?±?0.4 W kg^?1, ES?=?3.00) than LP, as well as a very likely lower radial displacement (3.39?±?1.16 vs. 5.65?±?1.50?mm, ES?=?1.68) and velocity of deformation (0.08?±?0.02 vs. 0.13?±?0.03 mm ms^?1, ES?=?1.87) of the VL. A likely lower time of delay was observed in HP for all analysed muscles (ES?>?0.60). PPO was very largely related to the radial displacement (r?=??0.75, 90% CI?=??0.90 to ?0.44) and velocity of deformation (r?=??0.70, 90% CI?=??0.87 to ?0.34) of the VL. A large correlation was found between PPO and the time of delay of the VL (r?=??0.61, 90% CI?=??0.84 to ?0.22). No correlations were found for the contractile properties of RF or VM. These results highlight the importance of VL contractile properties (but not so much those of RF and VM) for maximal power production and suggest TMG as a practical technique for its evaluation.     

Pre-service teachers and visual arts education. A study based on artistic creation as a way of interrogating reality / Los futuros docentes y la enseñanza de las artes visuales. Un estudio basado en la creación artística como forma de interrogar la realidad

: This study explores pre-service teachers’ knowledge of visual arts education and their ability to undertake creative processes. It is a study conducted with 88 primary school student teachers from a university in southern Spain. The participants were required to produce an artistic piece in which they were asked to reflect their thoughts on visual art education. The resulting pieces served as a tool for inquiry which enabled us to evaluate their theoretical and practical knowledge after performing an analysis of their form and content. After analysing the data, we concluded that future teachers are aware that arts education develops many types of skills, although they are only partially able to carry out a satisfactory artistic creation process. Therefore, it is essential to reinforce the training of pre-service teachers in the domain of artistic processes. Questioning pre-service teachers directly, and doing so through artistic creation, has allowed us to ascertain their level of knowledge of the visual arts.     

Concurrent validity and reliability of an iPhone app for the measurement of ankle dorsiflexion and inter-limb asymmetries

The purpose of this investigation was to analyze the validity and reliability of an iPhone app (named: Dorsiflex) for the measurement of weight-bearing ankle dorsiflexion. To do this, twelve healthy participants (age=28.6±2.3 years) performed a weight-bearing lunge test with each leg in five separate occasions, while dorsiflexion angle was simultaneously registered using a professional digital inclinometer and the Dorsiflex iPhone app, which was specifically developed for this study. A total of 120 angles measured both with the digital inclinometer and the app were then compared for validity, reliability and accuracy purposes using several statistical tests. There was an almost perfect correlation between the digital inclinometer and the Dorsiflex app for the measurement of ankle dorsiflexion (r=0.989, 95% CI=0.986-0.993, SEE=0.48º), with trivial, non-significant differences between devices (SMD=0.17, p=0.10). When analyzing the reliability of the app for the measurement of five different trials for each participant, similar coefficients of variation (CV) were observed in comparison with those obtained with the digital inclinometer (Dorsiflex app: CV=5.1±2.3 %; Digital inclinometer: CV=4.9±2.5 %). The results of the present study show that weight-bearing ankle dorsiflexion can be easily, accurately, and reliably evaluated using the Dorsiflex iPhone app.     

A systematic review on small-sided games in football players: Acute and chronic adaptations

Small-sided games (SSG) are played on a small pitch, often using modified rules and involving a smaller number of players. This article aimed to critically analyse the literature to determine how small-sided games affect the performance of football players in the short- and long term. Electronic databases were searched for literature dating from January 2000 to July 2018. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated using the modified Downs and Black Quality Index (cross-sectional studies) and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale (intervention studies). Fifty-three studies, 44 cross-sectional and 9 intervention studies, met the inclusionary criteria for review. Most of the cross-sectional studies focused on describing the differences between SSG protocols, whereas 4 studies focused on making a comparison between “interval” and “continuous” SSG training regimes. On the other hand, intervention studies focused on making a comparison between SSG-based protocols and high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT)-based running protocols, in addition to determine the effect of a SSG-based training programme alone. SSG-based football plans (2 to 4 SSG sessions per week) show athletic performance improvements in football players by improving sprint, repeated sprint ability (RSA) and change of direction (COD) along with muscular and physiological adaptation.     

Parent role questionnaire: Psychometric qualities

The Parent Role Questionnaire (PRQ) is a recently developed instrument to study individual perceptions of the parent role. The PRQ was piloted, revised, and studied psychometrically. This study examines PRQ internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and validity. Results reveal that the instrument has relatively high internal consistency, moderate test-retest reliability, and high validity. The discussion includes implications for further research and study on parents, parenting, and the parent role.