Chewing Index: A Pilot Trial to Measure Masticatory Effort
<jats:p>Background/Objectives: Population aging presents new challenges for achieving healthy aging. Edentulism is a condition that diminishes quality of life. Several studies have attempted to analyze the impact of edentulism on masticatory function either by evaluating the final stage of the food bolus or the masticatory process itself. The present study aims to develop a chewing index (Ci) based on chewing time, the number of cycles, and the muscular activity of the masseter and temporal muscles. Methods: Two groups (n = 10 each, 60–80 years old), one with functional dentition (21 or more teeth) (Group F) and one with complete denture wearers (Group D), were used. Participants were asked to chew a total of 36 food samples. The number of chewing cycles (N), chewing time (T), and bilateral activity of the masseter and anterior temporal muscles were recorded and quantified using the root mean square. This activity was normalized with respect to a 5 s maximum voluntary clenching (TMAV). A chewing index (Ci) was calculated using the equation Ci = N × V%¯ × T/TMAV, where V%¯ represents the average normalized activity of the four muscles. Results: Ci values ranged from 0 to 62 for Group F and 0 to 262 for Group D. For 15 out of the 36 food samples, Ci was higher in Group D than in Group F. Conclusions: The results of this study are consistent with previous research showing that complete denture wearers must chew for a longer time and perform a greater number of chewing cycles compared with subjects with functional dentition.</jats:p>
Differences in Physical Performance According to Contextual Variables in U21 Football Players
<jats:p>Understanding how contextual variables shape differences in match demands in youth football is essential for optimising performance and player development. Objective: This study aimed to compare physical and competitive performance according to playing position, match location, match result, and opponent quality in the physical and competitive performance of U21 football players from a professional Chilean club. Methods: Twenty male U21 players (19.2 ± 1.2 years) were monitored during 11 official matches using 10 Hz GPS devices (WIMU Pro™) and post-match Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE). Variables included total distance (TD), high-speed running (HSR > 20 km/h), metres per minute (MM), accelerations/decelerations (N°AC/N°DC > 3 m·s−2), player load (PL), and peak velocity (PV). Contextual variables were classified by playing position, home/away, win/loss, and opponent quality (higher vs. lower rank). Results: Significant between-group differences were found across all contextual factors (p < 0.05). Midfielders (MFs) covered greater TD and reported higher RPE, while full-backs (FBs) and wingers (WGs) reached higher HSR and PV. Away and lost matches showed greater RPE, PL, and N°AC/N°DC, alongside more goals conceded. Facing higher-ranked opponents increased RPE and HSR but reduced explosive actions. Conclusions: Physical performance in U21 football is strongly modulated by contextual factors. Coaches should adjust training load and tactical strategies according to match conditions and positional roles to optimise adaptation and competitive readiness in developmental categories.</jats:p>
Sleep health improvement trajectories after a pandemic: insights from a national health survey
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Study Objectives</jats:title> <jats:p>This study aimed to evaluate sleep health improvement trends in Catalonia, Spain, from 2020 to 2023 following the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify disparities across demographic and socioeconomic groups.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Methods</jats:title> <jats:p>This repeated cross-sectional study analyzed 11 794 responses from eight waves of the Catalan Health Survey. Sleep health was assessed using the SATED and Ru-SATED questionnaires, covering six dimensions: Satisfaction, Alertness, Timing, Efficiency, Duration, and Regularity. Trends over time were evaluated, and stratified and interaction models assessed differences by sex, age, BMI, material deprivation, comorbidity burden, and living situation. Survey weights ensured population representativity.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Results</jats:title> <jats:p>Sleep health improved from mid-2021, then stabilized. Efficiency plateaued by late 2020, while Satisfaction remained the most unstable dimension. Sleep regularity diminished during the 2020 lockdowns but improved promptly afterward. Females consistently scored lower than males, though their improvement trajectories were similar (p-for-interaction = .906). Older adults (65+) and individuals with excess weight exhibited distinctive improvement trends (p-for-interaction = .023). Material deprivation was the strongest predictor of poor sleep health and delayed improvement (p-for-interaction = .024). Living alone had a temporary negative impact during lockdowns, which resolved by 2022. Finally, comorbidity burden affected baseline scores but not improvement trends (p-for-interaction = .467).</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title> <jats:p>Sleep health improvement post-pandemic was uneven across sleep dimensions and population subgroups. Behavioral sleep dimensions improved earlier, while subjective satisfaction lagged. Socioeconomic factors, particularly material deprivation, were strongly associated with poorer and slower improvements. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating sleep health into pandemic preparedness and tailoring interventions to address both behavioral and structural determinants of health.</jats:p> </jats:sec>
DERECHO AL OCIO Y LA RECREACIÓN EN AMÉRICA LATINA: Algunos desafíos
El tema del derecho al ocio y la recreación, podría decirse que no es necesariamente nuevo, especialmente para América Latina. Esto, visto desde la simpleza anecdótica, podría hacer pensar que, al ser así, entonces no tiene tanto sentido seguir en su abordaje y consideración, precisamente porque no reportaría ninguna novedad en las últimas dos décadas. Pero, nada más alejado de las ineludibles necesidades reales sociales (Lafargue, 20031; Reyes, 2025). Al decirse que no se trata de un tema nuevo, lo que se pretende destacar es que el ocio y la recreación, al ser reconocidos como necesidades humanas (Gomes, 2014; Bonet et al., 2020; Ried et al., 2024; Rivera et al., 2025), emergen como focos de atención en niveles de prioridad de los que han sido privados históricamente, tan solo porque, además de la subordinación a otros campos como el deporte, la educación y el turismo (Griffa et al., 2020; Reyes, 1 Originalmente publicado en 1883. 2023a), pareciera que, tanto uno como el otro son importantes, pero no lo suficiente como para ocupar espacio y presencia protagónica en la agenda pública, la legislación y la política pública (González, 2018; Reyes, 2020, 2023a).
Juego parental: tiempo de juego entre padres e hijos
<jats:p>El juego es un fenómeno lúdico ampliamente estudiado desde contextos disciplinares y multidisciplinares. Si bien es cierto, la educación y la psicología, parecieran ser los campos de mayor dedicación a la investigación sobre dicho fenómeno, no es menos cierto que cada vez más se constituye en tema de interés en el campo de la sociología, la antropología, el derecho, de la teoría política, el periodismo, entre otros. Conclusiones básicas de dichos estudios, reportan el reconocimiento del juego como un derecho y como una actividad ineludible en la infancia, de las bondades del juego en función del aprendizaje, sobre tiempo y calidad de juego, pero también, sobre la incidencia del juego en la formación del carácter y la seguridad emocional. En tal sentido, el siguiente trabajo ponen en cuestión el juego parental, el derecho de niños y niñas a esta manifestación del juego, su necesidad, su incidencia, asociado al tiempo de juego, a la calidad de tiempo compartido entre padres e hijos(a) en el marco del juego, y a estrategias que pudiesen favorecer, no solo el incremento del tiempo para el juego parental, sino también, ampliar y cualificar las relaciones entre padres e hijos para la formación.</jats:p>
Skin advanced glycation end-products do not predict pulmonary function trajectories in adults from the ILERVAS cohort
Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) activate specific receptors (RAGE) promoting inflammation and oxidative stress. The lungs, with high RAGE expression, may be particularly susceptible to AGE-related injury. This study assessed whether baseline skin AGE levels, measured by skin autofluorescence (SAF), predict pulmonary function decline in middle-aged adults with cardiovascular risk factors. This ancillary analysis of the ILERVAS cohort included adults aged 45–70 years with cardiovascular risk factors but without diabetes or chronic kidney disease. Baseline data included demographics, lifestyle, and fasting blood tests. SAF was measured using AGE Reader™, and spirometry performed at baseline and after a median follow-up of 4 years. Associations between baseline SAF and annual declines in FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC were analysed using adjusted models and generalized additive models, stratified by smoking status. Among 658 participants (median age 56 years, 48% female), median baseline SAF was 1.90 AU [1.60; 2.20]. Baseline lung function was preserved, with median FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC of 2795 mL [2270; 3,341], 3,525 mL [2870; 4300], and 78.6% [74.4; 82.8]. Annual declines were − 81.9 mL [− 120.6; − 43.3] for FEV1, − 99.6 mL [− 159.3; − 37.9] for FVC, and − 0.04% [− 0.85; 0.70] for FEV1/FVC. No significant associations were found between SAF and spirometry changes. Results were consistent across smoking subgroups. Baseline skin AGE levels did not predict pulmonary function decline over four years in middle-aged adults with cardiovascular risk factors. While SAF reflects cumulative AGE exposure, it has limited prognostic value for lung function in this population.
Evaluation of Mandibular Border Movements and Mastication in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders: A Pilot Study with 3D Electromagnetic Articulography and Surface Electromyography
Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are characterized by pain and restricted functionality of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The objective of this study was to characterize the kinematic and electromyographic patterns of mandibular border movements and mastication in patients with different forms of TMD compared with healthy controls, through a simultaneous three-dimensional electromagnetic articulography (EMA-3D) and surface electromyography (sEMG) recording protocol. Sixteen participants were included and divided into three groups according to the TMD diagnosis (articular, muscular and mixed) and one healthy control group. Kinematic data were recorded using EMA-3D, and electromyographic activity of the masticatory muscles was assessed using sEMG. Variables analyzed included trajectories, areas, ranges, and electrical activity during mandibular border movements and mastication. Patients with TMD exhibited reduced movement trajectories but larger areas within the mandibular polygons, particularly in the frontal and sagittal planes. During mastication, the number of cycles was higher in the muscular group and lower in the healthy controls. Patients with TMD showed greater mean electromyographic activity, which could suggest compensatory muscle strain. The EMA-3D system provided an accurate threedimensional analysis, while sEMG captured detailed patterns of muscle activation and strain, that help better understand the neuromuscular alterations associated with TMD. Differentiation between TMD types (articular, muscular and mixed) for the study of its kinematic and electromyographic characteristics, is essential to improve diagnosis and treatment strategies. This study highlights the relevance of advanced tools such as EMA-3D and sEMG in the evaluation of TMD using a simultaneous recording protocol such as the one proposed in this study.
Concerns in Physical Education today: perception of Latin American Specialist Teachers
<jats:p>Objective: To identify the concerns expressed by physical education professionals regarding the professional field in Latin America. Methods: Quantitative, descriptive, non-experimental study with a cross-sectional design. The sampling was non-probabilistic, accidental, with a final sample of 157 informants from 15 Latin American countries. Results: the informants are all professionals trained in the disciplinary field, with 50% of them having postgraduate training; most consider themselves researchers; there are concerns about inadequate infrastructure; there are two groups, one working in schools, whose concerns focus on teaching methods, resources, and time allocated to the subject, while in the group working in the university sector, the issue of episteme seems to be more relevant, although it is not decisive either. Conclusion: The concerns of physical education professionals in Latin America depend much more on their field of work than on adherence to trends in physical education.</jats:p>
Attitudes of University Students Towards Research
The objective of this research is to determine students’ attitudes towards research at three Latin American universities and to establish levels of favourability towards these attitudes. To achieve this, a quantitative study was conducted using a descriptive research approach that prioritised comparative analysis, with a non-experimental, cross-sectional design. The research sample comprised 146 students enrolled in research methodology courses. The most relevant results show that although students hold a favourable opinion of the influence they receive from professors, they are unaware of some institutional mechanisms that could support their research training. Additionally, based on students’ voluntary decisions and actions regarding various activities, and the priority they assign to research and related topics (science and technology) in their daily lives, there is a need to strengthen certain participatory and informational avenues at the institutional level.
Assessment of weekly workload in relation to match workload in U-21 football: Analysis of ten competition microcycles
Football has experienced considerable technological and methodological advancenments, which have also influenced youth football. Currently, youth development faces the challenge of preparing players who can meet the rigorous demands of modern football. Objective: To assess and compare the internal and external training throughout the microcycle (MD-4 to MD-1) with the match-day load in under-21 players from a professional team. Method: Sixteen under-21 footballers from a Chilean professional club (age: 24.9 ± 4.2 years; height: 180.9 ± 6.3 cm; body mass: 78.5 ± 8.5 kg) were monitored over 10 official microcycles corresponding to the Fundación-Collahuasi youth football championship, organized by the Chilean Football Federation. Results: Large differences (p < 0.001 and η²p > 0.2) were found in all variables between the training days and match day. The highest external load occurred on match day, particularly in TD (10,087 ± 708 m), HSR (709 ± 316 m), and PL (130 ± 21.1 au). The highest weekly training loads were recorded on MD-3 and MD-2, while MD-1 showed significant reductions in all variables. Internal load was also highest on match day (RPE: 7.87 ± 1.54) compared to training sessions. Conclusion: There are significant differences in internal and external load throughout the competitive microcycle in under-21 footballers. MD-3 stands out as the highest-load training day, with values comparable to match day in most variables, positioning it as a key session in the weekly plan. In contrast, MD-1 consistently showed the lowest loads, confirming its role as a tapering day before competition.