Electromyographic Analysis of Trunk Muscle Activation During a Throwing Pattern Following Rotator Cuff Mobilization

Correct muscular activation of the body segments during an overhand throw is achieved when movement originates in the larger and more proximal legs and trunk and moves sequentially to the smaller, distal segments of the shoulder and arm. This sequence permits angular velocity to transfer progressively through the throw as part of an open kinetic chain. The athlete can summate angular velocity and segmental forces only if he is able to create a separation between the body segments during the movement pattern, and this separation is thus essential to effective segmental sequencing for activation of the trunk muscles to occur separately from distal segment motion. Limited mobility of the shoulder and scapula during the kinematic sequence will limit the ability of that segment to receive and contribute to the angular velocity of its proximal neighbors and to apply its own muscle torque to the throwing implement. This may result in compensatory motion of the proximal muscle groups to meet the demands placed on the body. To establish a link between compensatory activation of the trunk muscles and mobility in the rotator cuff and to apply this relationship to the pattern of the overhand throw, activity in the latissimus dorsi and external oblique/quadratus lumborum muscles was measured using surface electromyography in 40 college-age participants during arm flexion and lateral shoulder rotation. Muscle activation was recorded both before and after mobilization of relevant throwing muscles through targeted functional exercise. Results showed no significant change but suggested a general decrease in the level of peak muscle activation after participants engaged shoulder exercises. This is indicative of a downward trend in compensatory trunk activation during the initiation of shoulder motion. An increase in overall trunk muscle activity was also observed after exercise, which may imply a simultaneous engagement of the proximal throwing muscles in response to shoulder motion

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Deprivation and Depression Symptoms in Adults From the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

Socioeconomic factors appear to impact mental health conditions such as depression, but little is known about the relative and combined role of neighborhood and personal socioeconomic deprivation among Hispanics/Latinos. This study examined cross-sectional associations of neighborhood and personal socioeconomic deprivation with depression symptoms in a US Hispanic/Latino population from the San Diego Field Center of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (n = 3,851). Depression symptoms were assessed with the ten-item Centers for Epidemiological Studies in Depression Scale. Neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation was a composite of eleven variables (e.g., neighborhood income, education, employment, household crowding). Greater personal socioeconomic deprivation based on education, income, and employment was generally associated with higher depression symptoms, including after adjusting for neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation. Greater neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation was associated with higher depression symptoms in females but not males, but the association in females became non-significant when adjusting for personal socioeconomic deprivation. Neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation did not significantly interact with personal socioeconomic deprivation in relation to depression symptoms. The present findings support the association of personal socioeconomic status with mental health (indicated by depression symptoms) among Hispanic/Latino populations, whereas neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation did not relate to depression beyond the impact of personal indicators

Nutritional Avocado Intervention Improves Physical Activity Measures in Hispanic/Latino Families: A Cluster RCT

IntroductionNutrition and physical activity are key components for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. There remains a paucity of trial data on the effect of specific nutritional interventions on physical activity and sedentary time. One question is how a common nutrient-dense food such as avocado may impact physical activity and sedentary time in Hispanic/Latino families, a group that reports the lowest levels of physical activity.DesignThis is a 6-month clustered RCT.Setting/participantsSeventy-two families (235 individuals) who identified as Hispanic/Latino were enrolled through the San Ysidro Health Center (San Diego, CA) between April 2017 and June 2018.InterventionAfter a 2-week run-in period, 35 families were randomized to the intervention arm (14 avocados/family/week), and 37 families were assigned to the control arm (3 avocados/family/week).Main outcome measuresLinear mixed-effects models were used to assess changes in physical activity (MET minutes per week) between the groups during the 6-month trial. Secondary outcomes included sedentary time (minutes/week), BMI, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures.ResultsAn adherence goal of >80% was achieved for both arms. Total mean physical activity increased by 2,197 MET minutes per week more in the intervention group (p<0.01) than in the control group, driven by between-group differences in moderate (p<0.01) versus vigorous (p=0.06) physical activity. After accounting for longitudinal repeated measures per participant and nested family effects, total adult physical activity remained significantly higher in the intervention than in the control group (+1,163 MET minutes per week on average per participant), with a significant intervention interaction term (p<0.01). There were no significant changes in sedentary time, BMI, or blood pressure.ConclusionsHigher allocation of avocados was associated with significantly higher physical activity and no adverse changes in BMI or blood pressure, suggesting that this nutritional intervention may have beneficial pleiotropic effects.Trial registration: This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02903433

Analysis of visual acuity scores between HIV-seronegative and HIV-seropositive patients, adjusted for gender.

<p>*Applying Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE); BCVA, best corrected visual acuity; SE, standard error; ETDRS, Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study; M1, full-contrast module of white letters presented on a black background; M2, 64% contrast module simulating an environment similar to a dimly lit restaurant; M3, 43% contrast module simulating an environment similar to driving at dusk; G1, full-contrast module of black letters presented on a bright background; G2, 10% contrast module simulating an environment similar to playing a sport outside with the sun over head; G3, 8% contrast module simulating an environment similar to playing a sport outside with the sun 15 degrees off-axis.</p

Characteristics of each of the CVA modules tested.

<p>CVA, Central Vision Analyzer; MC, Michelson Contrast; Cd/m², Candelas per Meter Squared.</p

Demographics of Study Participants.

<p>Y, years; n/a, not applicable;</p><p>*CD4+ T-cell counts lower than 200 cells/mm3 for at least 6 months in their medical history;</p><p>T = Independent samples t-test;</p><p>C = Chi-square test.</p

Analysis of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness between HIV-seronegative and HIV-seropositive patients, adjusted for gender.

<p>*Applying Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE); RNFL, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness; SE, standard error.</p

Regression analyses of HIV status (seronegative vs seropositive) and retinal nerve fiber layers thickness with visual acuity, adjusted for gender.

<p>*Applying Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE); BCVA, best corrected visual acuity; RNFL, retinal nerve fiber layer; ETDRS, Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study; M1, full-contrast module of white letters presented on a black background; M2, 64% contrast module simulating an environment similar to a dimly lit restaurant; M3, 43% contrast module simulating an environment similar to driving at dusk; G1, full-contrast module of black letters presented on a bright background.</p

Nutritional Avocado Intervention Improves Physical Activity Measures in Hispanic/Latino Families: A Cluster RCT

Introduction: Nutrition and physical activity are key components for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. There remains a paucity of trial data on the effect of specific nutritional interventions on physical activity and sedentary time. One question is how a common nutrient-dense food such as avocado may impact physical activity and sedentary time in Hispanic/Latino families, a group that reports the lowest levels of physical activity. Design: This is a 6-month clustered RCT. Setting/participants: Seventy-two families (235 individuals) who identified as Hispanic/Latino were enrolled through the San Ysidro Health Center (San Diego, CA) between April 2017 and June 2018. Intervention: After a 2-week run-in period, 35 families were randomized to the intervention arm (14 avocados/family/week), and 37 families were assigned to the control arm (3 avocados/family/week). Main outcome measures: Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess changes in physical activity (MET minutes per week) between the groups during the 6-month trial. Secondary outcomes included sedentary time (minutes/week), BMI, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Results: An adherence goal of >80% was achieved for both arms. Total mean physical activity increased by 2,197 MET minutes per week more in the intervention group (p<0.01) than in the control group, driven by between-group differences in moderate (p<0.01) versus vigorous (p=0.06) physical activity. After accounting for longitudinal repeated measures per participant and nested family effects, total adult physical activity remained significantly higher in the intervention than in the control group (+1,163 MET minutes per week on average per participant), with a significant intervention interaction term (p<0.01). There were no significant changes in sedentary time, BMI, or blood pressure. Conclusions: Higher allocation of avocados was associated with significantly higher physical activity and no adverse changes in BMI or blood pressure, suggesting that this nutritional intervention may have beneficial pleiotropic effects.Trial registration: This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02903433