Lack of alignment between the lowerlimb structures, such as the hips, knees, and longitudinal arches of the feet, has been described as an important predisposing factor in musculoskeletal injury among classical ballet dancers. However, no studies were found that analyzed basic ballet movements with quantification of objective criteria of the movements. The purposes of this study were: 1. to establish a methodology to quantify, using kinematic evaluation, the technical criteria that guide the correct execution of all phases of the plié (simultaneous flexion of the hips, knees, and ankle joints); and 2. to explore whether experienced ballet dancers respect those criteria when performing the plié. The technical criteria considered were the following: 1. midfoot stability; 2. pelvic positioning in a neutral alignment; 3. pelvic stability, represented by pelvic angle variation; and 4. vertical alignment of the knee joint with the second toe of the ipsilateral foot. Twenty dancers from Porto Alegre, Brazil, with 18 years of uninterrupted ballet training, were filmed while performing plié using four synchronized cameras. The descriptive statistical analysis involved calculating the median, minimum, and maximum of each of the technical criteria. Results showed that for criterion 1, the 20 dancers showed great stabilization of the midfoot; for criteria 2 and 3, 18 dancers displayed pelvic instability tending toward retroversion throughout execution of the plié; and for criterion 4, 13 dancers presented with medial misalignment of the knees at all phases of the plié. Using these criteria, it was possible to characterize the plié from a kinematic point of view.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of zinc (Zn) supplementation on metabolic and neuroinflammatory parameters in cafeteria diet (CAF)-induced obesity in Wistar rats. Methods: Animals were divided into four groups: control diet (CT); CT+Zn; CAF; CAF+Zn. The diet was administered for 20 weeks; Zn treatment (10 mg/kg/d) started at week 16 and it was conducted until the end of the diet protocol. Weight gain, visceral fat, and plasma levels of glucose, triglycerides, insulin, TNF-α, and IL-6, as well as homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, were assessed. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1) expression in the cerebral cortex and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus were evaluated. Memory was assessed by the novel object recognition test. Results: CAF diet increased weight gain, visceral fat, and plasma glucose, triglyceride, and TNF-α levels. Zn reversed the hyperglycemia caused by CAF diet and reduced IL-6 levels. In the cerebral cortex, GFAP was similar between groups; Iba-1 was increased by CAF diet but reduced in the CAF+Zn group. Zn reduced CAF-dependent TLR-4 increase in the hippocampus but not in the cerebral cortex. CAF-fed animals showed impaired recognition memory, whereas Zn reversed it. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that Zn partially reverted obesity-related metabolic dysfunction and reduced neuroinflammation and memory deficit caused by CAF diet.

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