Background: The effects of the dry needling technique and pain reduction have been demonstrated in numerous quality studies. However, the mechanical effects of dry needling are largely unknown. Methods: A total of 18 subjects with flexor digitorum brevis muscle myofascial trigger point were evaluated pre- and post-deep dry needling. We measured static footprint variables in a pre–post study. Main findings: We found differences in rearfoot maximum pressure (119.22–111.63 KPa; p = 0.025), midfoot maximum pressure (13.68–17.26 KPa; p = 0.077), midfoot medium pressure (4.75–6.24 KPa; p = 0.035) and forefoot surface (86.58–81.75 cm2; p = 0.020). All variables with significant differences decrease, with the exception of forefoot surface which showed an increase. Conclusions: After flexor digitorum brevis muscle dry needling, midfoot plantar pressures (maximum and medium) and forefoot surface were increased, and rearfoot maximum pressure was decreased.

Background: This study aimed to adapt the Spanish version of the Assessment of Stress in Nursing Students (ASNS) (shorter form) instrument for Spanish podiatry students, labeling the new tool as the Spanish version of Assessment of Stress in Podiatry Students (ASPS). The adaptation for reliability and repeatability included performing the transcultural adaptation process and examining the repeatability and reliability of ASPS when used in a different language. Methods: An internationally recommended translation procedure was used to adapt transculturally this tool. The instrument’s test–retest reliability was evaluated in two sessions that were 10 days apart. Results: After considering each domain’s total score, the reliability and internal consistency were analyzed with Cronbach’s α and intraclass correlation coefficient for a 95% confidence interval. Good internal consistency was reported according to total score (α = 0.8626) and each one of the six domains: (1) the practical activities performance domain showed a Cronbach’s α of 0.8684; (2) professional communication domain, α = 0.8765; (3) time management domain, α = 0.8832; (4) environment domain, α = 0.8974; (5) professional education domain, α =0.873; and (6) theoretical activity domain, α = 0.8787. Test–retest reliability, by paired test of Wilcoxon, was not significant, showing that there were not differences between domain scores (p ≥ 0.05). Lastly, visual distributions of Bland and Altman plots did not provide differences between domains and total scores. Conclusions: The Spanish version of the ASPS showed good repeatability, reliability and acceptability to measure stress parameters for podiatry students.

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Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a common pathology in handball. The role of the intrinsic musculature of the foot in these players in relation to proprioception and stability has not been stablished. The objective of this study was to compare the ultrasound morphology of the heel fat pad of the foot in professional handball players to CAI in healthy players and establish relationships between CAI and physical and psychological variables. The study has been a descriptive observational case–control study in which 20 professional handball male players over 18 years of age were divided into 8 cases (CAI) and 12 controls (healthy). An ultrasound evaluation, the thickness and/or cross-sectional area at rest and the contraction measurement of the Abductor Digiti Minimi, Abductor Hallucis, Flexor Digitorum Brevis and Quadratus Plantae muscles were analyzed. Moreover, the compressibility index of the heel fat pad and the activation of the abdominal wall musculature (ultrasound), the flexion strength of the hallux and lesser toes (dynamometry), the foot functionality (Bristol Foot Score (BFS) questionnaire) and the psychological variables (self-reported questionnaires) were measured. There were no significant differences between the activation capacity values of the foot muscles of healthy and CAI athletes. Significant differences were found between groups regarding the BFS score (p = 0.007), d = 1.404), and significant correlations were also found between hallux flexion strength and lesser toes flexion strength in the total sample. Although there were no differences between the two groups, the identification of the activation pattern of these muscles in handball athletes is essential to the improvement of performance and preventing injuries such as CAI.