Rafael Merino-Marban

Effect of Kinesio Tape Application on Calf Pain and Ankle Range of Motion in Duathletes

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the kinesio tape immediately after its application and after a duathlon competition on calf pain and the ankle range of motion in duathletes. A sample of 28 duathletes (age 29.11 ± 10.35 years; body height 172.57 ± 6.17 cm; body mass 66.63 ± 9.01 kg; body mass index 22.29 ± 2.00 kg/m2) were recruited from the competitors in a duathlon sprint. The Numerical Pain Rating Scale and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion measures were obtained at baseline, immediately after taping and 10 to 15 minutes after ending the duathlon competition. The kinesio tape was applied on the calf of duathletes 20 to 90 minutes before the competition, only on one of their legs (experimental leg) with the other leg acting as a control (control leg) in a randomized order. According to the between-group comparison, no differences were found immediately after the application of the kinesio tape and after the competition in the ankle range of motion and calf pain. However, a significant difference from baseline to immediately after taping was found in the ankle range of motion in the experimental leg. Applying the kinesio tape on the calf seems to immediately increase ankle dorsiflexion range of motion, but not after a duathlon competition. Applying the kinesio tape on the calf does not reduce muscle pain immediately or after a duathlon competition, but it appears to control an increase in pain.

Effect of a physical education-based stretching programme on sit-and-reach score and its posterior reduction in elementary schoolchildren:

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 1-minute stretching programme and 5 weeks of detraining on sit-and-reach score among schoolchildren aged 5–6 years in a physical education setting. Forty-five schoolchildren 5–6 years old from two classes were clustered randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 23) or a control group (n = 22). During the physical education classes, the students of the experimental group performed a 1-minute stretching programme twice a week for 8 weeks. Subsequently, these participants underwent a 5-week detraining period. The classic sit-and-reach test was performed at the beginning and at the end of the development programme, as well as at the end of the detraining period. The results of the two-way ANOVA showed that the intervention programme increased significantly the students’ sit-and-reach scores ( p < 0.001). However, after 5 weeks of detraining, children’s flexibility reverted back to the baseline levels ( p > 0.05). Although an only 1-minute stretching programme seems to develop the schoolchildren’s flexibility, after the 5-week detraining period students’ score reverts back to its initial level. This knowledge could help physical education teachers to design programmes that permit students to increase and maintain flexibility levels along the entire academic year.

The Effect of Kinesio Taping on Calf Pain and Extensibility Immediately After Its Application and After a Duathlon Competition

A sample of 34 duathlete volunteers was recruited from the competitors in a duathlon sprint. Calf pain and extensibility measures were obtained at baseline, immediately after taping, and 10–15 minutes after competition. Kinesio tape (KT) was applied on the calf of duathletes 20–90 minutes before the competition, only on one of their legs, with the other leg acting as a control. Repeated measures ANOVA results on calf extensibility did not show statistically significant differences [F(2) = 0.180; p = 0.836]. Nevertheless, Friedman test results on calf pain showed statistically significant differences [χ2(2) = 10.111; p = 0.006]. Additionally, post hoc pairwise comparison showed statistically significant differences from baseline to after competition (p = 0.006). Applying KT on calves seems to reduce muscle pain produced by the competition among duathletes with no apparent musculoskeletal disorder. Kinesio tape (KT) application, however, does not affect the calf extensibility immediately and after a duathlon competition.

Effects of a Physical Education-Based Programme on Health-Related Physical Fitness and Its Maintenance in High School Students: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a physical education-based development and maintenance programme on objective and perceived health-related physical fitness in high school students. A sample of 111 students aged 12–14 years old from six classes were cluster-randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 54) or a control group (n = 57). During the physical education classes, the experimental group students performed a development programme twice a week for nine weeks. Then, after a four-week period of detraining, the experimental group students completed a maintenance programme twice a week for eight weeks. Students’ objective cardiorespiratory fitness (20-meter shuttle run test), objective muscular fitness (flexion-extension legs test), and perceived physical fitness (International Fitness Scale and the Contour Drawing Rating Scale) were measured at the beginning and at the end of the development programme, as well as at the end of the maintenance programme. The results of the two-way analyses of variance showed that the physical education-based development programme significantly increased the students’ objective physical fitness levels, and that these gains obtained remained after the maintenance programme (p < 0.01). However, the intervention programme did not show an influence on the students’ perceived physical fitness (p > 0.05). The physical education-based intervention programme was effective in increasing and maintaining objective physical fitness among high school students. This knowledge could help teachers to design programmes that permit a feasible and effective development and maintenance of health-related physical fitness in a physical education setting.

VALIDEZ DEL TEST SIT-AND-REACH CON FLEXIÓN PLANTAR EN NIÑOS DE 10-12 AÑOS

espanolEl principal objetivo del presente estudio fue examinar la validez de criterio de los tests sit-and-reach clasico (SRC) y sit-and-reach con flexion plantar (SRF) para estimar la extensibilidad de la musculatura isquiosural en ninos. Un total de 72 escolares (40 ninos y 32 ninas) de 10-12 anos de edad realizaron los tests lineales SRC y SRF, y el test criterio de medida elevacion pasiva de la pierna recta. Los resultados de la correlacion de Pearson (r) mostraron moderados valores de asociacion de los tests SRC y SRF con la extensibilidad isquiosural (r = 0,71 y r = 0,74, ps EnglishThe main purpose of this study was to examine the criterion-related validity of classic sit-and-reach (CSR) and sit-and-reach with plantar flexion (SRF) tests for estimating hamstring extensibility in children. A total of 72 students (40 boys and 32 girls) aged 10-12 years performed the lineal tests CSR and SRF, and the criteria measure passive straight-leg raise test. Pearson´s correlation (r) results showed moderate values ​​of association between CSR and SRF with hamstring extensibility (r = 0.71 and r = 0.74, ps