RESUMoO alongamento é amplamente utilizado na prática clínica da fisioterapia e no desporto, porém, as alterações mecânicas que essa técnica gera no músculo esquelético são pouco exploradas cientificamente. Este estudo avaliou as alterações mecânicas que acometem o músculo gastrocnêmio de ratas Wistar, adultas jovens, após 14 dias de imobilização e, secundariamente, submetido a alongamento manual passivo por 10 dias consecutivos, aplicado uma ou duas vezes ao dia. Foram utilizados 50 animais, sendo 10 para cada grupo: Controle (GC); Imobilizado (GI); Imobilizado e Liberado (GIL); Imobilizado e alongado uma vez ao dia (GIA1); e Imobilizado e alongado duas vezes ao dia (GIA2). O músculo gastrocnêmio foi submetido ao ensaio mecânico de tração, onde foram avaliadas as propriedades de carga e alongamento nos limites máximo e proporcional, além de rigidez e resiliência. A imobilização reduziu os valores das propriedades mecânicas de carga no limite máximo (CLM), carga no limite proporcional (CLP), alongamento no limite máximo (ALM), rigidez e resiliência, em 44,4%, 34,4%, 27,6%, 64,4% e 54%, respectivamente, quando comparados com os valores do GC. A remobilização livre e o alongamento restauraram as propriedades de CLM, CLP, ALM, rigidez e resiliência do músculo, exceto para o GIA2, que foi incapaz de restabelecer a propriedade de ALM (31,3% menor que GC). Concluí-se, portanto que, após 14 dias de imobilização segmentar, cargas individuais de alongamento e a livre movimentação permitem restituir as propriedades mecânicas do tecido muscular.Palavras-chave: imobilização, músculo esquelético, estresse mecânico, exercício. aBStRaCtStretching is widely employed in physiotherapeutic clinical practice and in sportive activities; however, the mechanical alterations of the skeletal muscle generated by this technique are poorly scientifically investigated. This study evaluated the mechanical alterations suffered by the gastrocnemius muscle of young adult female Wistar rats, submitted to14 days of immobilization followed by passive manual stretching during 10 consecutive days once or twice a day. Fifty animals were equally distributed in five groups, Control (CG); Immobilized (IG); Immobilized and liberated (ILG); Immobilized and submitted to stretching once a day (IEG1); Immobilized and submitted to stretching twice a day (IEG2). The gastrocnemius muscle was analyzed by mechanical traction assay and the properties related to load and maximal and proportional stretching evaluated in addition to stiffness and resilience. Immobilization decreased load at maximal thresholds (MTL), load at proportional thresholds (LPT), stretch at maximal thresholds (SMT), stiffness and resilience were reduced in 44.4%, 34.4%, 27.6%, 64.4% and 54% respectively, compared to CG values. With subsequent free remobilization and stretching, all parameters were restored except for IEG2 in which SMT remained reduced in 31.3%, when compared to CG. It is concluded that after 14 days of segmental immobilization, individual stretching loads and free movements c...

Isolated gamma probe technique for sentinel node penile carcinoma has a very low sensibility and a high false negative rate. Therefore it is highly advisable the addition of others methods such as lymphoscintigraphy, vital blue, ultrasonography and so on. The isolated gamma probe technique for sentinel node penile carcinoma detection is unreliable.

Introduction: Mechanical properties (MP) are clinically applicable tools for healthcare professionals working on the musculoskeletal system. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate two protocols of neuromuscular electric stimulation (NMES) to improve MP regeneration of the myotendinous complex after segment immobilization in female rats. Materials and Methods: Fifty animals were equally distributed into five groups: Control (CG, n=10); Immobilized (IG, n=10); Immobilized and freely remobilized (IFG, n=10); Immobilized and NMES once /day (IEG1, n=10); Immobilized and MNES twice/day (IEG2, n=10). Immobilization was kept for 14 days, and remobilization was subsequently released for 10 days. NMES was applied for 10 days, post-immobilization, every morning for 10 minutes to IEG1 animals and every morning and afternoon (total 20 minutes) to the IEG2 group. After these procedures, the gastrocnemius muscle was submitted to the mechanical traction assay to evaluate stiffness, resilience, load and stretching at maximum limit MPs. Results: Immobilization reduced the MP values concerning load and stiffness (p<0.05). Results for NMES applied twice a day were less satisfactory than the ones obtained with one application or in the remobilized group (p> 0.05). Conclusion: It is concluded that the gastrocnemius muscle became structurally better organized through a single NMES application and by remobilization.

Introdução: O rugby tem elevado número de lesões que necessitam de estratégias preventivas e de recuperação pós esforço. Não se tem relatos sobre como os clubes brasileiros desenvolvem suas estratégias de prevenção de lesões e recuperação pós esforço. Objetivo: Apresentar as estratégias de prevenção de lesões e recuperação pós esforço desenvolvidas pelos clubes masculinos de rugby brasileiros. Métodos: Aplicou-se questionários online, respondidos por profissionais de 125 clubes de rugby brasileiros das séries A, B e C, questionados sobre: (1) lesões no rugby, (2) estratégias para prevenção de lesão, (3) métodos de recuperação pós esforço e (4) caracterização dos profissionais. Resultados: Foram relatadas lesões articulares e/ou ligamentares (49,6%), músculo-tendíneas (43,2%), concussões (4%) e ósseas (3,2%), associadas a gestos técnicos inadequados, principalmente ao tackle. Estratégias preventivas de lesão eram realizadas por 102 clubes (81,6%), com ênfase em fortalecimento, resistência e alongamento musculares. Avaliação para estabelecer as estratégias preventivas foram relatadas por 73 (58,4%) clubes. A recuperação pós esforço foi desenvolvida por 94 (75,2%) clubes, com principalmente alongamentos e exercícios ativos de baixa intensidade. O profissional de educação física era o principal responsável em 50 (40%) clubes, seguido pela associação entre educadores físicos e fisioterapeuta em 32 (25,6%) clubes. Os clubes que não realizavam prevenção ou recuperação apontaram a falta de verba e interesse dos profissionais e dirigentes como as principais causas. Conclusão: É necessário maior empenho e organização dos clubes brasileiros de rugby para que possam desenvolver estratégias de prevenção e recuperação de lesão mais adequadas.

Background: The responses to the use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) technique, once or twice a day, are not well described in literature. In this direction, we measured the biomechanical properties and morphological responses of NMES, applied once or twice a day to the gastrocnemius muscle of female rats after cast immobilization in comparison with both sham control and immobilized control groups. Methods: Eighty Female Wistar rats (Body mass±SDg; 210±10g) were divided into five groups: Control (CG); Immobilized (IG); Immobilized then freed (IFG); Immobilized and subjected to NMES once a day (1ESIG) and another twice a day (2ESIG). All groups that suffered cast immobilization were kept in a shortened position for fourteen days, and then NMES was applied once or twice a day for ten consecutive days. The assessments included the mechanical properties of load and elongation at the limit of proportionality, as well as the resilience obtained from the load versus elongation graph. The crosssectional area (CSA), the different fiber type proportions and the perimisial connective area were measured. Results: There was restoration of load at the limit of proportionality (LLP), but not resilience, in the 1ESIG and 2ESIG, as well as restoration of atrophy (CSA) of type I (TIF), type IIad (TIIadF) and type IId (TIIdF) fibers in the 1ESIG, but not in the 2ESIG. An induction of the TIIcF proportions in the 1ESIG and 2ESIG, and a reduction of the TIIad in the 1ESIG were verified. Conclusions: The muscle remobilization intensity can, influence the recovery responses postimmobilization either positively or negatively, for it was observed that NMES once a day can recover most mechanical (except resilience) and structural parameters of gastrocnemius muscle after casting, whereas twice daily, promoted deleterious effects to the much clearer muscles. Moreover, the animals` free movement allowed them to identify their own mobilization limits, which did not cause neither mechanical nor structural overload in the evaluated muscles.