Risk Factors for Non-Contact Lower-Limb Injury: A Retrospective Survey in Pediatric-Age Athletes

Background: Risk factors for non-contact lower-limb injury in pediatric-age athletes and the effects of lateral dominance in sport (laterally vs. non-laterally dominant sports) on injury have not been investigated. Purpose: To identify risk factors for non-contact lower-limb injury in pediatric-age athletes. Methods: Parents and/or legal guardians of 2269 athletes aged between 6–17 years were recruited. Each participant completed an online questionnaire that contained 10 questions about the athlete’s training and non-contact lower-limb injury in the preceding 12 months. Results: The multivariate logistic regression model determined that lateral dominance in sport (adjusted OR (laterally vs. non-laterally dominant sports), 1.38; 95% CI, 1.10–1.75; p = 0.006), leg preference (adjusted OR (right vs. left-leg preference), 0.71; 95% CI, 0.53–0.95; p = 0.023), increased age (adjusted OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.16–1.26; p = 0.000), training intensity (adjusted OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.43–2.19; p = 0.000), and training frequency (adjusted OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.25–1.48; p = 0.000) were significantly associated with non-contact lower-limb injury in pediatric-age athletes. Length of training (p = 0.396) and sex (p = 0.310) were not associated with a non-contact lower-limb injury. Conclusions: Specializing in laterally dominant sports, left-leg preference, increase in age, training intensity, and training frequency indicated an increased risk of non-contact lower-limb injury in pediatric-age athletes. Future research should take into account exposure time and previous injury.

Comparação da destreza manual em indivíduos com lateralidade distinta

INTRODUÇÃO: A destreza manual pode ser definida como a habilidade e a facilidade na utilização das mãos, como escrever, dedilhar um instrumento musical, lançar e apanhar. A lateralidade pode ser conceituada como a preferência de utilização por um dos membros em detrimento ao outro e se confirma, por exemplo, em indivíduos destros e canhotos, influenciando nos distintos desempenhos das mãos. OBJETIVO: Comparar a destreza manual em destros e canhotos através da tarefa de colocar e retirar pinos no Grooved Pegboard Test. MÉTODOS: A amostra foi composta por 20 voluntários saudáveis, de ambos os sexos, com idade entre 18 e 40 anos, dividida em dois grupos, sendo: 5 homens e 5 mulheres de população destra e 5 homens e 5 mulheres de população canhota. Referente ao índice de dominância lateral, os indivíduos destros apresentaram índice médio de 97% e os indivíduos canhotos de 91% no Inventário de Dominância Lateral de Edimburgo. RESULTADOS: Na condição de colocar os pinos foram observadas diferenças entre as mãos dos destros [t(df=9)=-7,16; p=0,01] e dos canhotos [t(df=9)=4,80; p=0,01], o uso da mão preferida apresentou melhor desempenho relacionado ao uso da mão não preferida. Já para a condição de retirar os pinos não foram observadas diferenças entre as mãos direita e esquerda para os destros [t(df=9)=-1,96; p=0,08] e nem para os canhotos [t(df=9)=1,27; p=0,23]. Em relação ao índice de assimetria não foram observadas diferenças entre os grupos, apesar de parecer que as assimetrias se destacam em tarefas nas quais a demanda cognitiva é maior do que a demanda energética. CONCLUSÃO: O desempenho nas tarefas de destreza manual foi diferente para a mão preferida tanto para destros quanto para canhotos, sendo que a mão preferida apresentou melhor desempenho quando comparada à mão não preferida.Comparison of manual dexterity in individuals with distinct lateralityABSTRACT BACKGROUND: A manual dexterity can be defined as the skill and ease of using the hands, such as writing, strumming a musical instrument, throwing and catching. Laterality can be conceptualized as the preference of use by one of the members over the other and it is confirmed, for example, in right-handed and left-handed individuals, influencing the different performances of the hands. OBJECTIVE: To compare manual dexterity in right-handed and left-handed users by placing and removing pins in the Grooved Pegboard Test. METHODS: The sample consisted of 20 healthy volunteers, of both sexes, aged between 18 and 40 years, divided into two groups: 5 men and 5 women from the right population and 5 men and 5 women from the population left-handed. Regarding the lateral dominance index, right-handed individuals had an average index of 97% and left-handed individuals, 91%, in the Edinburgh Lateral Dominance Inventory. RESULTS: In the condition of placing the pins, differences were observed between the right-handed [t(df=9)=-7.16; p=0.01] and left-handed [t(df =9)=4.80; p=0.01], where the use of the preferred hand showed better performance related to the use of the non-preferred hand. As for the condition of removing the pins, no difference was observed between the right and left hands for the right-handed [t(df=9)=-1.96; p=0.08] and neither for the left-handed [t(df=9)=1.27; p=0.23]. Regarding the asymmetry index, no differences were observed between the groups, although it seems that the asymmetries stand out in tasks where the cognitive demand is greater than the energy demand. CONCLUSION: The performance in the tasks of manual dexterity was different for the preferred hand for both right-handed and left-handed people, with the preferred hand presenting a better performance when compared to the non-preferred hand.

Validation study of a software for proprioceptive evaluation

Objective: To validate the PhisioPlay software for proprioceptive evaluation of the shoulder joint based on the data obtained by isokinetic dynamometry equipment. Methods: Thirty-one individuals constituted a single group for proprioceptive evaluation of both shoulder joints by means of joint position sense (JPS). The testing protocol of PhisioPlay consisted of the abduction movement of the shoulder to the target angles of 45° and 90° and the maintenance of these positions for 30 seconds. In the isokinetic dynamometer, the test was performed using its proprioceptive evaluation protocol for the same movement, target angles, and maintenance time established for the previous test. Results: For the 90° variables, statistical analysis pointed to agreement for the dominant limb in relation to the mean angulation and the absolute difference and for the non-dominant limb in relation to the absolute difference. The results of mean comparisons of the absolute differences via the Wilcoxon Test corroborate the literature regarding the behavior of the JPS considering joint amplitude, lateral dominance, and greater or lesser torque affecting the joint. Reliability and sensitivity measures also strengthen the conclusions. Conclusion: The results point to the construct validity of the PhisioPlay software for evaluating the JPS of the shoulder joint at 45° and 90° and suggest that the JPS is more influenced by the angle of the joint during the motor task than by the lateral dominance.

Hip-hop classes effect on lateral dominance indicator change among the non-sports university students

The goal of this work to evaluate the efficiency of using a hiphop class method during the educational process of non-sports university female students based on lateral dominance indicator manifestation. One of the most important evaluation parameters of brain hemispheres activity is lateral organization profile presence or absence. Brain lateralization is manifested as a consequence if the brain hemispheres functional asymmetry occurs. Unequal distribution of brain strain on the brain hemispheres’ activity is one of the obvious reasons of both motor and sensory asymmetry occurrence among those, who go in for physical training and sports. This is connected with unilateral character of the training process in sports and in physical training educational process. In the course of pedagogical testing of non-sports university female students, functional motor asymmetry with an individual right-hand type of the lateral profile has been revealed. This fact emphasizes insufficiency of impact on one of the coordination skills indicators in the process of physical training classes with students, which aggravates the processes of brain hemispheres functioning, which, in its turn, leads to inferior development of psychomotor qualities, which manifestation level is directly connected with coordination skills. As a result of the pedagogical experiment, based on using hip-hop as a means of coordination skills refinement, experimental group showed reliable improvement of lateral dominance indicator towards its decrease.

Laterality and general intelligence in children aged 6 – 8 years

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify and analyze the types of laterality and level of general intelligence in primary school children, aged six to eight years.Methods: The sample consisted of 120 students, both boys and girls. General intelligence was measured using Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPM), while laterality was assessed using the Harris Test for lateral dominance.Results: The results obtained highlight that the dominant type of laterality is RRR - completely right-handed with stably accomplished laterality (81 subjects), followed by RLR - crossed ocular-manual and stably accomplished laterality (29 subjects). The proportion of those with LLL laterality - completely left-handed with stably accomplished laterality is small (4 subjects). In terms of general intelligence, most participants had IQs that can be classified in the category of those with a higher level of intelligence (65 subjects), succeeded by those with a superior medium level (27 subjects).Conclusion: Identifying the type of laterality and level of intelligence of children participating in physical education and sports classes is needed in order to leverage the intervention on the psychomotor components and to facilitate the process of adaptation of the child to the school environment.