Álvaro Otero-Campos

(1) Background: Infantile colic (IC) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder that affects around 20% of infants, and postpartum (PPD) depression is a common disorder that affects between 15 and 22% of mothers. In this study, our objective was to evaluate the relationship between the maternal psychological state in the first postpartum year and IC, with the aim of assessing the importance of feeding type in infants and maternal well-being. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in women in their first year postpartum. Demographic, medical, and obstetric data of the mothers and infants were collected, and the type of feeding was identified. The emotional status of the mother was evaluated using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and the Infant Colic Severity Questionnaire (ICSQ) was used for IC diagnosis. (3) Results: A total of 528 women were analyzed, of which 170 (32%) were diagnosed with possible PPD. Two-thirds of the women without depression breastfed their babies on demand; therefore, we report that exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) appears to reduce the risk of possible PPD (p < 0.001; OR = 2.353). IC was present in 39% of babies, and around 70% of babies without colic were breastfed on demand. Infants who were not exclusively breastfed showed almost double the risk of developing colic (p = 0.016; OR = 1.577). There was a significant association between the EPDS and ICSQ scores (p < 0.001). More than half of the women with PPD had babies with colic. However, our results show that 75% of babies without colic had mothers who reported optimal postpartum emotional well-being (p < 0.001; OR = 2.105). (4) Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that postpartum maternal psychological well-being reduces the risk of IC. Therefore, we report that EBF on demand, together with a healthy emotional state in new mothers, may be a protective factor against colic in infants.

Esta investigación examinó las diferencias en la activación muscular en los músculos de la cadera y muslo en corredores y corredoras con y sin el síndrome de la banda iliotibial (SFBI). Se registró la actividad neuromuscular en 21 corredores durante la carrera (14 SFBI y 7 sanos). No se han encontrado diferencias significativas en la actividad muscular media entre los corredores y corredoras lesionados. Sin embargo, en el caso de las corredoras lesionadas, se han encontrado diferencias entre el vasto lateral y el tensor fascia lata, y entre el vasto lateral y el bíceps femoral (p<0,05 en ambos casos). En el caso de los corredores hombres lesionados, se han encontrado diferencias entre el glúteo mayor y el tensor fascia lata, y entre el glúteo mayor y el bíceps femoral (p<0,05 en ambos casos). Estos hallazgos proporcionan un mayor entendimiento de la lesión y ayudarían a un tratamiento más específico.

Background: Functional Fitness Training (FFT) is a new exercise modality prioritizing functional multi-joint movements executed at high intensity as a circuit. Objective: To examine the impacts of introducing rest intervals in a FFT workout compared to “rounds for time” (RFT) FFT. Materials and Methods: Participants were 25 resistance-trained adults who completed two FFT workouts 1 week apart. The study design was crossover such that in a given session half the participants completed the standard and the other half the adapted FFT (FFTadapted). The workouts consisted of the same exercises (circuit of four rounds of exercises), but one (FFTadapted) included preset rest intervals (three sets of 1 min after each completed round). Before and after the workouts, countermovement jump ability and blood lactate were measured. Heart rate (HR) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured post-exercise. Results: For both the standard and adapted protocols, mean HR was 90% age-predicted maximum. Final RPE was also similar for both workouts (~15–15.5) and indicated a “hard” work intensity. Both FFTs took the same time to complete (~13 min). Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in jump ability between FFTs. In contrast, lactate (15.11 ± 3.64 vs. 13.48 ± 3.64 mmol·L⁻¹, p < 0.05), measured 3 min post-exercise, was significantly lower in FFTadapted. Conclusions: In FFTadapted, there was a significant reduction in RPE and blood lactate concentrations after exercise, while there were no significant differences in either HR or jumping ability, compared to a FFT workout in RFT methodology.