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Copyright of Fisioterapia e Pesquisa is the property of Universidade de Sao Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Fisioterapia e Pesquisa is the property of Universidade de Sao Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Effects of Isokinetic Eccentric Training on the Human Achilles Tendon. JEPonline 2016;19(2):46-54. This study investigated the effects of isokinetic eccentric training on the cross-sectional area and thickness of the Achilles tendon. Thirty healthy adults were randomized into an Eccentric Training Group and a Control Group. Subjects in the Eccentric Training Group performed an isokinetic eccentric exercise of the gastrocnemius 3 times·wk-1 for 5 wks. Testing occurred at baseline and after training. Achilles tendon cross-sectional area and thickness were determined using ultrasound imaging. After training, there was no significant difference in the cross-sectional area or the tendon thickness between groups (mean difference in cross-sectional area 3.2 mm2, 95% CI -3.3 to 9.7; thickness -0.2 mm, 95% CI -0.5 to 0.2). Thus, the findings indicate that short-term isokinetic eccentric training in healthy young men does not result in tendon hypertrophy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of static stretching on functional capacity of older women. Thirty-one older women (68.2 ± 7.4 yrs) were randomly assigned to two groups: Control Group (n = 16) and Training Group (n = 15). Functional capacity was assessed by a motor test battery and the global functional fitness index (GFFI) calculated by summing the scores of all motor tests. Maximal voluntary contraction was evaluated during unilateral isometric knee extension. After 8 wks of training, the TG had significantly (P<0.001) better flexibility levels (59.0 ± 9.9 cm) than the CG (49.5 ± 10.1 cm). The TG also improved the GFFI overall classification, which changed from "Fair" (200-299 points) to "Good" (300-399 points), while the CG remained classified as "Fair". No difference was observed between groups for the other variables. Thus, the findings indicate that static stretching training is effective in improving flexibility and general functional activities in older women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of stretching and therapeutic ultrasound (TUS) on desmin and laminin contents of rat muscle after contusion. Male Wistar rats (n = 35, 8–9 weeks of age, 271 ± 14g body weight) were divided into five groups: Control group (CG) (n= 03); Injured group (IG) (n= 8); Injured + ultrasound group (IUSG) (n= 8); Injured+stretching group (ISG) (n= 8); Injured +ultrasound + stretching group (IUSSG) (n= 8). The application of ultrasound started 72 hours after the contusion, using the 50 % pulsed mode, 0.5 W/cm2, 5 min, once a day, for five consecutive days. Passive manual stretching was started on the tenth day after injury, with four repetitions of 30 s each and 30 s rest between repetitions, once a day, five times per week, for a total of ten applications. After 22 days, the rats were euthanazied and the gastrocnemius of both limbs removed for desmin and laminin immunohistochemistry morphometric measurement. Analysis was conducted using ANOVA one way post-hoc Tukey to parametric data and Kruskall-Wallis for non-parametric data. The IUSSG animals showed a larger area of desmin than ISG (p<0.05). It was found a decrease in laminin comparing IUSG to IG. However, laminin area was higher in ISG than all groups (p<0.05). UST isolated or in combination with stretching influenced gastrocnemius regeneration in different manners. While stretching applied isolated enhanced gastrocnemius regeneration noticed by the increase in laminin area, in combination with TUS strengthened the muscle healing rising desmin area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the chronic effects of stretching exercise on soleus muscle histomorphology and histomorphometry of young and aged rats. Thirty-eight female rats were divided into young control group (YCG, n=10;274±50 g); young stretching group (YSG, n=8;274±12 g); aged control group (ACG, n=10;335±39 g); and aged stretching group (ASG, n=10;321±32g). A mechanical apparatus was used to stretch muscle in 4 repetitions, 60 s each, 30 s interval between repetitions in each session, 3 times a week for 3 weeks. Twenty-four hours after the last stretching session, soleus muscle was removed for micromorphology and immunostaining analysis. Data analyses were performed with one-way ANOVA, post-hoc Tukey, or Kruskal-Wallis tests for parametric and nonparametric, respectively (p£0.05). Muscle fiber cross-sectional area (MFCSA) of ACG was lower (18 %) compared to the YCG. Stretching increased MFCSA comparing YSG to YCG (5,681.15± 1,943.61 mm2 vs 5,119.84±1,857.73 mm2, p=0.00), but decreased comparing ASG to ACG (3,919.54± 1,694.65 mm2 vs 4,172.82±1,446.08 mm2, p=0.00). More serial sarcomere numbers were found in the YSG than YCG (12,062.91±1,564.68 vs 10,070.39±1,072.38, p=0.03). Collagen I and collagen III were higher in YSG than ASG (7.44±7.18 % vs 0.07±0.09 %, p=0.04) and (14.37 %± 9.54 % vs 5.51 %±5.52 %, p=0.00), respectively. TNF-a was greater in ASG than YSG (43.42 %±40.19 % vs 1.72 ± 2.02 %, p=0.00). Epimysium was larger in the YSG compared to YCG (201.83±132.07 % vs 181.09±147.04 %, p=0.00). After 3-week stretching the soleus muscles from aged rats were smaller than their younger counter-parts. Interestingly, while stretching appeared to positively affect young soleus muscle, the opposite was detected in the muscle of the aged rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]