Manual Therapy as Treatment for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Female Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

ObjectiveThe purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the effectiveness of manual therapy (MT) for chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) in the upper limbs and thorax of female breast cancer survivors and to investigate the changes in the quality of life and function of these patients.MethodsSystematic searches were performed in the databases MEDLINE/PubMed, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health/EBSCO, Web of Science, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database, through March 2018, to identify randomized controlled trials investigating whether MT was effective to treat CMP pain in female breast cancer survivors (PROSPERO number CDR42017074175).ResultsThe database searches retrieved 1562 titles, and after screening, 5 papers were included for full analysis. The manual therapy techniques described in the included studies involved myofascial induction, myofascial release, classic massage, ischemic compression of trigger points, and myofascial therapy. A meta-analysis, using a fixed-effects model, found that MT decreased CMP intensity (standardized mean difference: 0.32; 95% CI 0.06-0.57), but no significant difference was observed in quality of life after the MT intervention in comparison with a control condition (standardized mean difference: 0.14; 95% CI 0.17-0.46).ConclusionCurrent evidence suggests that MT is considered effective for treating CMP in the upper limbs and thorax of female breast cancer survivors.     

Association of sport participation in preterm and full term born children and body and fat mass indices from age 3 to 14 years

ObjectivesTo assess the association of gestational age groups (VP: <32 weeks, MP: 32–33 weeks, LP: 34–36 weeks and FT: ≥37 weeks of gestation) and club sport participation in childhood on body mass index (BMI), fat free mass index (FFMI) and fat mass index (FMI).DesignLongitudinal, cross sectional.MethodsBMI (age 3, 5, 7, 11 and 14 years; N = 10581–14702) and FFMI/FMI (age 7, 11 and 14 years; N = 10446–12996) and consistent club sport participation at age 5, 7 and 11 years (ranging from never participating to participating at all three ages) were assessed prospectively. These were compared by gestational age and their associations with BMI and FMI were investigated, while controlling for confounders (socio-economic, maternal obesity, child related, diet).ResultsBMI and FFMI was lower in VP or MP until age 7, but no differences were found in BMI, FFMI or FMI after age 11 with regard to gestational age. Consistent club sport participation from age 5–11 was unrelated to BMI at ages 3–7. However, FT children with club sport participation had lower BMI and FMI at ages 11 and 14; but this association was not found in VP or MP.ConclusionsDuring adolescence body composition of VP and MP become similar to FT born peers. Consistent sport participation reduces BMI and FMI in FT only. In VP or MP children modifying effects of sport on body composition might not be detected due to the catch-up growth in weight, height and fat mass at the same time.     

Evaluation of adolescent sport specialization and injury mechanism by sex: A secondary analysis

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to compare the association of sport specialization with previous overuse and acute injuries between male and female adolescent athletes.DesignCross-sectional study.MethodsQuestionnaires were completed by adolescent athletes from various sports at sport club summer events in the state of Wisconsin. Adolescent athletes (12–18 years old) who were active in organized sports in the previous year were recruited. The questionnaire contained demographics, sport participation, sport specialization classification, and previous injury history. Sport specialization classification was determined using common methods in sport specialization research. Previous injury was restricted to athletic injuries that occurred in the past year.ResultsTwo-thousand and eleven participants (age = 13.7 ± 1.6 years, females = 989) completed the questionnaire. Highly specialized athletes were more likely to report both acute and overuse injuries compared to low specialization athletes. However, this relationship differed by sex, with only moderate and highly specialized females being more likely (Moderate: OR [95%CI] = 1.74 [1.18–2.58], p = 0.005; High: OR [95%CI] = 1.69 [1.14–2.53], p = 0.010) to report an overuse injury compared to low specialization females. Highly specialized female athletes were more likely to report an acute injury (High: OR [95%CI] = 1.46 [1.06–2.02], p = 0.022) compared to low specialization females. Highly specialized male athletes were not associated with overuse or acute injuries.ConclusionsHighly specialized athletes were more likely to report acute and overuse injuries. However, when this analysis was separated by sex, only highly specialized females were more likely to report a previous overuse or acute injury.     

Does the practice of sports or recreational activities improve the balance and gait of children and adolescents with sensorineural hearing loss? A systematic review

BackgroundBalance and gait disorders have been observed in children and adolescents with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), justified by vestibular dysfunctions that these children may present, due to the injury to the inner ear. Therefore, some investigations have suggested that the practice of sports or recreational activities can improve the balance and gait of this population.ObjectiveAssess the evidence quality from randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials that used sports or recreational activities as an intervention to improve the balance and /or gait of children and/or adolescents with SNHL.MethodsSystematic review that surveyed articles in nine databases, published up to January 10, 2019, in any language, using the following inclusion criteria: (1) Randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials. (2) Participants from both groups with the clinical diagnosis of SNHL, aged 6–19 years old, without physical problems, cognitive or neurological deficits, except the vestibular dysfunction. (3) Using the practice of sports or recreational activities as an intervention, to improve the balance and/or gait outcomes.Results4732 articles were identified in the searches, after the removal of the duplicates articles and the reading of the titles and their abstracts, remained 16 articles for reading in full, being 5 trials eligible for this systematic review. Of the five eligible trials, three used sports activities and two recreational activities as intervention and presented very low-quality evidence for balance and gait outcomes.SignificanceSports and recreational practices seem to represent promising modalities to improve the balance and gait of children and adolescents with SNHL. However, due to the methodological limitations of the trials and the low quality of the current evidence on the topic, the results of the trials should be interpreted with caution. Due to the low quality of evidence observed, we suggest that new trials be proposed on this topic, with greater methodological rigor, to provide high-quality evidence on the effectiveness of sports and recreational practices to improve the balance and gait of children and adolescents with SNHL.     

Cerebral Cortex Changes in Basketball Players

BackgroundPlastic changes to brain structure and function have been reported in elite athletes of various sports. Interestingly, different regions of the brain were engaged according to the type of sports analyzed. Our laboratory reported no difference in total cerebellar volume of basketball players compared to that in the control group using the manual segmentation method. Further detailed analyses showed that elite basketball players had increased volume of the striatum and vermian lobules VI–VII of the cerebellum. We analyzed the brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of basketball players to understand their cerebral cortical plasticity through automatic analysis tools for MRI.MethodsBrain MRI data were collected from 19 male university basketball players and 20 age-, sex-, and height-matched control groups. In order to understand the changes in the cerebral cortices of basketball players, we employed automated MRI brain analysis techniques, including voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and surface-based morphometry (SBM).ResultsVBM showed increased gray and white matter volume in both precentral gyri, paracentral lobules and increased gray matter volume in the right anterior superior temporal gyrus. SBM revealed a left dominant increase in both pericentral gyri. Fractal dimensional analysis showed an increase in the area of both precentral gyri, the left subcallosal gyrus, and the right posterior cingulate gyrus. These results suggest a significant role not only for the primary motor cortex, but also for the cingulate gyrus during basketball.ConclusionPlastic changes of both precentral gyri, the pericentral area, paracentral lobules, and the right superior temporal gyrus were observed in elite basketball players. There was a strong increase of fractal complexity in both precentral gyri and a weak increase in the right posterior cingulate gyrus and left collateral gyrus. In this study, plastic regions linked to functional neuroanatomy were related to the competence required to play basketball.     

普通高校大学生运动损伤与预防

采用文献综述对普通高校大学生运动损伤的部位、种类、项目特点以及损伤原因等进行了总结和评述,并以此提出预防大学生运动损伤的措施,为大学生进行科学锻炼身体,尽可能减免运动损伤的发生提供指导。