Is consumer behaviour towards footwear predisposing for lower extremity injuries in runners and walkers? : a prospective study

Background: Runners and walkers often suffer from lower extremity injuries. Little is known about the relationship between their consumer behaviour towards footwear and the development of those injuries. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate if consumer behaviour towards footwear is a risk factor for lower extremity injuries. Methods: A prospective cohort study was set-up in leisure-time walkers and runners. Potential risk factors in consumer behaviour were obtained by means of a baseline questionnaire related to the acquisition of current walking or running shoes. Information on injuries sustained during a 24 week period after the baseline questionnaire was obtained in 104 runners and 104 walkers using a 2-weekly questionnaire. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for lower extremity injuries in the consumer behaviour. Results: Forty- nine (24%) subjects suffered a self-reported lower extremity injury. 35 injuries occurred in runners and 14 among walkers. Undergoing a gait analysis before buying shoes was associated with an increased occurrence of lower extremity injuries (odds ratio (OR) 4.76). A protective factor was caring a lot about the right fitting of the shoes (OR 0.11). Conclusion: Runners and walkers should pay attention to the correct size when buying footwear to diminish the risk of lower extremity injury. Buying footwear after a gait analysis increased the risk of a lower extremity injury in runners and walkers, however, this might be associated with the increased risk that was already present because of previous injury

Influence of balance surface on ankle stabilizing muscle activity in subjects with chronic ankle instability

Objective: To evaluate the effect of surface type on muscle activity of ankle stabilizing muscles in subjects with chronic ankle instability. Design: Case controlled, repeated measures study design. Subjects: 28 subjects with chronic ankle instability and 28 healthy controls. Methods: Subjects performed a barefooted single legged stance on uni-axial and multidirectional unstable surfaces. Muscle activity of the mm. peroneus longus/brevis, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius medialis was registered using surface electromyography. Mixed model analysis was used to explore differences in muscle activity between subjects with chronic ankle instability and controls, and the effect of surface type on muscle activity levels within subjects with chronic ankle instability. Results: No differences were found between subjects with chronic ankle instability and healthy controls. Within subjects with chronic ankle instability, balancing along a frontal axis and on the BOSU evoked overall highest muscle activity level and the firm surface the least. Balancing on the firm surface showed the lowest tibialis anterior/peroneus longus ratio, followed by balancing along a frontal axis and on the Airex pad. Conclusions: Clinicians can use these findings to improve the focus of their balance training program by gradually progressing in difficulty level based on muscle activation levels taking cocontraction ratio’s into account

Neurodynamic sliders promote flexibility in tight hamstring syndrome

Hamstring injury prevention puts emphasis on optimizing the muscle's strength?length relationship. To assure appropriate muscle length, flexibility training is imperative. As neurodynamics play an important role herein, the goal of this study was to explore the intervention effect of home-based neurodynamic slider program on hamstring flexibility. Fifty physically active male subjects were randomly assigned to either performing a neurodynamic sliding technique (3???20 reps) or a static stretching protocol (3???30?) on a daily basis for a 6-week period. Hamstring flexibility was assessed by means of the Straight Leg Raise at baseline, immediately after the intervention and after 4 weeks follow up. There was no between group baseline difference in hamstring flexibility. The repeated measure ANOVA showed a significant interaction effect for group???time (p?<?0.001). Independent sample t-test showed a significantly higher increase in flexibility gain in the neurodynamic group immediately after the intervention (p?<?0.001), as well as at 4 weeks retention analysis (p?=?0.001) compared to the static stretch group. In conclusion, neurodynamic sliders might be more efficient than regular static stretching in affecting hamstring flexibility in the long run

Hoe waarderen Vlamingen onroerend erfgoed? Wat is de sociaal-culturele betekenis ervan?

Er zijn veel waarden verbonden aan erfgoed en die kunnen voor iedereen anders zijn. Het officieel beschermen van erfgoed maakt dat het kan behouden blijven voor toekomstige generaties. Het uitgangspunt bij de selectie van te beschermen plaatsen is dan ook dat ze belangrijk moeten zijn voor de maatschappij en omdat een bepaalde gemeenschap ze belangrijk vindt. Het beleid heeft hierin een cruciale maar zeer complexe rol omdat het rekening moet houden met al deze stemmen. Het agentschap Onroerend erfgoed heeft deze studie gelanceerd om via kwalitatief onderzoek meer inzicht te krijgen in methodes om lokale kennis in te schakelen in erfgoedprocessen. Dit is wat we trachten te bereiken met dit onderzoek: ten rade gaan bij een zo divers mogelijk publiek om te polsen naar hun waardering van erfgoed, en dit zowel vanuit individueel als vanuit een breder maatschappelijk standpunt