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Infl uence of socio-demographic-educational variables on the academic performance of students of the Physical Therapy Degree Aim. To determine the infl uence of socio-demographic and socio-educational variables on the academic performance of students of the Physical Therapy Degree. Subjects and methods. The population was comprised of 151 students enrolled in the Physical Therapy degree. Through a survey, we have obtained the necessary data on socio-demographic and socio-educational variables. In order to measure the academic performance, it has been taken into account, in addition to the grade point average, the rate of return, the rate of attempts and the success rate. Results. Socio-demographic variables such as age, residence, combining studies and work or having other obligations in addition to the studies, impact on academic performance in terms of socio-educational variables. We have found out that the course, the route of entry, the fi rst enrollment option or being a student repeating a year are variables that correlate with academic performance. Conclusions. There are many variables that aff ect academic performance, however, only the residence during the course, the academic course and the entrance road to the studies ultimately aff ect the average mark.

BACKGROUND: The effects of abdominal exercises on the inter-rectus distance are unclear. OBJECTIVE: To compare the inter-rectus distance at rest and during different abdominal exercises: abdominal crunch, abdominal crunch with transversus abdominis pre-activation and hypopressive exercise. METHODS: A transversal experimental study was carried out in 98 healthy adults without diastasis recti abdominis were recruited. Measurements were assessed using ultrasound imaging, and two points were evaluated: just above the umbilicus (U point) and halfway between the U point and the xiphoid (UX point). The inter-rectus distance was measured at rest and during the abdominal exercises. RESULTS: The abdominal crunch with transversus abdominis pre-activation increases the inter-rectus distance in comparison with rest and with abdominal crunch in the U point. CONCLUSION: These results increase the knowledge about the behaviour of the linea alba and inter-rectus distance during abdominal exercises, with practical applications in the rehabilitation of the abdominal wall and low back.

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BACKGROUND: The underlying morphology and behavior of abdominal muscles during breathing are still lacking in knowledge in healthy population. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of three different types of breathing on the architectural characteristics of abdominal muscles. METHODS: Ninety-eight healthy subjects were measured to assess the effects of breathing on the abdominal muscles, subjects performed three different types of breathing and the muscular thickness was measured with ultrasound imaging, analyzing also the differences between sexes. RESULTS: During the three different types of breathing and in comparison with the resting state, an increase of the thickness has been reported in the transversus abdominis (p< 0.001; effect size = 2.44, very large) and internal oblique (p< 0.001; effect size = 1.04, moderate) in both sexes, but with a higher increase in men. External oblique and rectus abdominis increased their thickness through breathing only while the lips were with pursed (p< 0.05) with trivial effect sizes and only differences between sexes were found in rectus abdominis. CONCLUSIONS: All breathings activated the deepest abdominal muscles, but the most superficial were only activated with lips pursed. Moreover, men appeared to activate more the deepest abdominal muscles but also the rectus abdominis. Findings in this study support the use of different types of breathing depending on the muscle to be activated or the sex, helping health care professionals to address their interventions on the abdominal muscles with a more focused approach.