Acute Effects of Increased Joint Mobilization Treatment Duration on Ankle Function and Dynamic Postural Control in Female Athletes With Chronic Ankle Instability

Background:: Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is linked to mechanical and functional insufficiencies. Joint mobilization is purported to be effective at treating these deficits. Purpose:: To examine the effect of different treatment durations of a grade IV anterior-to-posterior ankle joint mobilization on weightbearing dorsiflexion range of motion (WB-DFROM), posterior talar glide (PG), and dynamic postural control in individuals with CAI. Study Design:: Controlled laboratory study. Methods:: A total of 48 female athletes (mean age, 22.8 ± 4.8 years) with unilateral CAI participated in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment conditions: 30 seconds, 60 seconds, and 120 seconds. Treatment was provided to the injured limb on 3 separate occasions 48 hours apart and consisted of a Maitland grade IV anterior-to-posterior talar joint mobilization based on the participant’s initial group assignment. WB-DFROM; PG; and the anterior (ANT), posteromedial (PM), and posterolateral (PL) reach directions of the Star Excursion Balance Test were measured bilaterally before and after each treatment. The uninjured limb acted as a control. Data were analyzed using 2-way mixed-model analyses of variance, and effect sizes were calculated through use of Hedges g. Results:: Significant differences were detected after all treatment sessions for all outcome measures (P ≤ .001) and between treatment groups after sessions 1, 2, and 3 for all outcome measures (P ≤ .001). Effect sizes were very large or huge for all treatment groups for WB-DFROM, PG, and ANT reach direction. Substantial variation was found in effect sizes for PM and PL measures. Conclusion:: Accessory mobilization is an effective treatment to induce acute changes in ankle motion and dynamic postural control in patients with CAI, with longer treatment durations conferring greater improvements. Clinical Relevance:: This study adds clarity to the use of joint mobilization treatments and will add to the current clinical practice strategy for patients with CAI

The importance of measuring body composition in professional football players: A commentary

Professional football players are not considered to be excessively fat, but there is continuous pressure made by managers, coaches and physiotherapists to monitor player’s body composition to help reach optimal performance potential. Consequently, it is not uncommon for sport scientists to assume responsibility for monitoring and managing their players’ body composition over the playing season. As body fat is one of the main factors affecting body composition, the knowledge and understanding of whole body density and how it inluences the body could be useful to quantify the effectiveness of a prescribed training programme and/ or optimal performance potential

Varijacije tijekom sezone u izokinetičkom vršnom momentu sile kod mladih nogometaša

The aim of the study was to investigate the seasonal variation in the strength of the knee flexors and extensors in highly trained youth soccer players. The players (n=16; age 16.7±0.7) were measured at the end of the competitive season, at the beginning of the off-season and during the sixth week of a new competitive season. Isokinetic concentric peak torque was measured at 60°•s-1, 180°•s-1, 360°•s-1 in a sitting position. The testing range of motion was set from 10–90° of knee flexion. Players performed a set of six maximal repetitions for both dominant and non-dominant limb. Average values of peak torque significantly changed during the observed periods. Significant differences (p<.05) between the three measurement sessions were noted with respect to the knee flexors at all angular velocities. A post-hoc test confirmed a significant increase between the first and the second measurement for flexion in both dominant (180°•s-1; p=.033) and non-dominant legs (360°•s-1; p=.004). A significant increase was also found between the first and the third session for both limbs during knee flexion at all angular velocities. The results indicate that peak torque values of knee flexors and extensors varied differently in trained youth soccer players depending on muscle group and movement velocity with statistically significant changes in knee flexors only.Cilj je ovog istraživanja bio utvrditi varijacije tijekom sezone u snazi pregibača i opružača potkoljenice vrhunskih treniranih mladih nogometaša. Igrači (n=16; dob 16,7±0,7) su testirani na kraju natjecateljske sezone, na početku prijelaznog perioda te tijekom šestog tjedna nove natjecateljske sezone. Izokinetički koncentrični vršni moment sile mjerio se pri brzinama od 60°/s, 180°/s i 360°/s u sjedećem položaju ispitanika. Opseg pokreta se tijekom testiranja kretao od 10 do 90° fleksije koljena. Igrači su izveli seriju od šest maksimalnih ponavljanja prvo dominantnom, a onda i nedominantnom nogom. Prosječne vrijednosti vršnog momenta sile značajno su se mijenjale tijekom promatranih perioda. Značajne razlike (p<0,05) u snazi pregibača potkoljenice zabilježene su između sva tri mjerenja pri sve tri brzine izveđonja. Post hoc test je također potvrdio značajno povećanje snage pregibača potkoljenice između prvoga i drugog mjerenja za dominantnu (180°/s; p=0,033) i nedominantnu (360°/s; p=0,004) nogu. Značajno povećanje vršnog momenta sile pregibača potkoljenice obje noge pri svim brzinama također je zabilježeno između drugoga i trećeg mjerenja. Rezultati pokazuju da vršni moment sile pregibača i opružača potkoljenice različito varira kod treniranih mladih nogometaša ovisno o mišićnoj grupi i brzini pokreta, sa statističkom značajnošću promjena samo za pregibače potkoljenice

Validesa i fiabilitat de les ràtios de força isocinètica per estimar

Han estat a bastament emprats diversos índexs de força isocinètica (bilateral i unilateral) del genoll per a) identificar possibles factors de risc de lesió del lligament encreuat anterior (LEA) del genoll i/o esquinços de la musculatura isquiosural; b) monitorar l’eficàcia de programes de rehabilitació, i c) determinar si un esportista pot tornar a l’entrenament i/o competició de forma segura després d’haver superat un procés de rehabilitació. Tanmateix, la precisió d’aquests índexs isocinètics per avaluar desequilibris musculars ha estat acceptada en base a coneixements teòrics i empírics i, en menor mesura, a l’evidència científica respecte al grau de validesa i fiabilitat. Per això, els objectius d’aquesta revisió bibliogràfica foren: 1) analitzar i comparar la validesa i la fiabilitat dels índexs de força bilateral i unilateral del genoll per estimar i monitorar possibles desequilibris musculars, i 2) aportar valors de referència per categoritzar la funció muscular com a normal o amb risc significatiu de lesió. Un total de 13 articles científics compliren els criteris d’inclusió i exclusió establerts inicialment. Després d’haver analitzat els estudis es pot concloure que: a) són molt escassos els treballs científics que analitzen la validesa i la fiabilitat dels índexs de força bilateral i unilateral (convencional i funcional) per identificar desequilibris musculars; b) un desequilibri bilateral menor del 10-15% i un desequilibri unilateral menor del 45-60% podrien ser un bon llindar de seguretat per reduir la probabilitat de sofrir una lesió de la musculatura isquiosural i del LEA; c) sembla que els índexs de força del genoll presenten valors moderats de fiabilitat absoluta (error estàndard de la mesura < 15%), i d) calen més estudis que abordin la determinació de la fiabilitat i la validesa dels índexs de força en diferents modalitats esportives

Identifying Risk Factors for Incautious Use of Non-Prescription Drugs Among Higher Education Institutions' Students in Emirates

Objective: The aim of this research is to identify risk factors for incautious use of oral non-prescription drugs (ONPD) and inform recommendations that promote cautious ONPD use among HEI students in the UAE. Methods: A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted with 2875 students in three randomly selected UAE universities between January and April 2014. Results: More than half (1348; 57) of participants reported using of ONPD in the past 90 days before study commencement. Of 1348 participants reported using ONPD, one-quarter (1348; 22.2) of ONPD was classified as incautious ONPD usage. Analgesic/antipyretic (84.9), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (1028; 76.3), and cough and cold drugs (562; 41.7) were reported by the majority of participants as the most commonly used ONPD. 10 risk factors were identified for incautious ONPD use. Participants with age group of 21 years and older (OR=0.554, 95; CI=0.373-0.823; p<0.001), female (OR=0.339, 95; CI=0.236-0.486; p<0.001), and students from medical schools (OR=0.619, 95; CI=0.435-0.882; p=0.008) had lower odds of being incautious users compared to lower age group, males, and students from non-medical schools. Furthermore, participants with a polypharmacy behavior had higher odds of being irresponsible ONPD user than monopharmacy users (OR=1.400, 95; CI=1.030- 1.02; p<0.001). Conclusion: One of five students is an incautious ONPD user. There is a need for an educational and behavioral intervention to motivate students to be cautious users. © 2017 The Authors

Active Stretching and Eccentric Length-Tension Relationship of Hamstring Muscles

The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effect of an active lower limb stretching routine with a sports-related training load on the hamstring eccentric length-tension relationship. 49 recreational sportsmen completed three assessment sessions, an initial familiarization session and two experimental sessions (control and stretching in random order). Immediately after the interventions (stretching or control), eccentric isokinetic peak torque, maximum force angle and total work were measured in prone position. If the alteration of the eccentric length-tension relationship could be used as a primary risk factor of hamstring muscle strains, the findings of the present study tentatively suggest that static stretching would not be able to alter the relative risk of hamstring muscles

Fiabilidad absoluta de los índices convencional y funcional y momento máximo de fuerza isocinética de la flexión y extensión de rodilla

Introducción Las pruebas de valoración de fuerza isocinética son probablemente las herramientas de estimación de la función muscular más utilizadas en el ámbito físico-deportivo. Sin embargo, existe una limitada evidencia científica que justifique su uso como herramientas de precisión. Por ello, el objetivo principal de este estudio fue examinar la fiabilidad absoluta de los índices de fuerza convencional y funcional, así como de los picos o momentos máximos de fuerza (PFM) concéntricos y excéntricos de la flexión y extensión de rodilla en adultos jóvenes físicamente activos. Material y métodos Cincuenta y dos participantes completaron 3 sesiones de evaluación de los índices de fuerza convencional y funcional y PFM concéntricos y excéntricos de la flexión y extensión de rodilla, con un intervalo de 72-96h entre sesiones consecutivas. La fiabilidad absoluta intersesión fue examinada mediante el cálculo de los estadísticos cambio en la media entre sesiones de valoración expresado en términos porcentuales (CM), porcentaje del error típico (expresado como coeficiente de variación [CVET]) e índice de correlación intraclase (ICC). Resultado Pobres valores de fiabilidad absoluta se encontraron para los índices convencional (CM=0,2-0,4%; CVTE=16-18%; ICC=0,6-0,7) y funcional (CM=–2,1-0,2%; CVTE=18-20%; ICC=0,3-0,7) de la rodilla. Igualmente, moderados valores de fiabilidad absoluta (CM=–3,0-1,5%; CVTE=9-16%; ICC=0,7-0,9) fueron observados para la variable PFM independientemente del movimiento articular de la rodilla (flexión y extensión), tipo de activación muscular (concéntrica y excéntrica) y velocidad angular (60°/s y 180°/s) empleada. Conclusiones Una modificación mayor de ≈12 y de ≈17% en los valores iníciales de la variable PFM (independientemente del tipo de contracción y movimiento articular) e índices isocinéticos (convencional y funcional), respectivamente, podrían ser considerados como reales y no simplemente debidos al error de la medida. Estos valores de fiabilidad absoluta podrían ser lo suficientemente sensibles como para detectar cambios de gran magnitud, como los acontecidos tras la aplicación de programas de rehabilitación en personas lesionadas

Active stretching and length-tension relationship of the hamstring muscles

El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar el efecto agudo de una rutina de estiramientos estático activos para la extremidad inferior, con parámetros de la carga contextualizados respecto a la realidad físico-deportiva, sobre la relación tensión-longitud excéntrica de la musculatura isquiosural. 49 deportistas recreativos completaron tres sesiones de evaluación, una inicial defamiliarización y dos experimentales (control y estiramientos). Inmediatamente después de ambos tratamientos (control y estiramientos), se valoraron los parámetros isocinéticos pico de fuerza máxima excéntrico, ángulo de fuerza máxima excéntrico y trabajo total excéntrico empleando para ello una posición de tendido prono. Si la modificación de la curva tensión-longitud excéntrica puede ser utilizada como factor de riesgo primario de distensiones de la musculatura isquiosural, los hallazgos de este estudio sugieren que el estiramiento estático activo podría no alterar el riesgo relativo de lesión de la musculatura isquiosural.The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effect of an active lower limb stretching routine with sports-related training load on the eccentric length-tension relationship of the hamstring. 49 recreational athletes completed three assessment sessions, an initial familiarization session and two experimental sessions (control and stretching in random order). Immediately after both interventions (stretching or control), eccentric isokinetic peak torque, angle of peak torque and total work were measured in prone position. If the modification on the eccentric length-tension relationship can be used as indexes of the risk of hamstring muscle strains, the findings of the present study tentatively suggested that static stretching may not alter the relative risk of hamstring strains

Seasonal variation in isokinetic peak torque in youth soccer players

The aim of the study was to investigate the seasonal variation in the strength of the knee flexors and\ud extensors in highly trained youth soccer players. The players (n=16; age 16.7±0.7) were measured at the end\ud of the competitive season, at the beginning of the off-season and during the sixth week of a new competitive\ud season. Isokinetic concentric peak torque was measured at 60°·s-1, 180°·s-1, 360°·s-1 in a sitting position. The\ud testing range of motion was set from 10–90° of knee flexion. Players performed a set of six maximal repetitions\ud for both the dominant and non-dominant limb. Average values of peak torque significantly changed during\ud the observed periods. Significant differences (p<.05) between the three measurement sessions were noted\ud with respect to the knee flexors at all angular velocities. A post-hoc test confirmed a significant increase\ud between the first and the second measurement for flexion in both the dominant (180°·s-1; p=.033) and nondominant\ud legs (360°·s-1; p=.004). A significant increase was also found between the first and the third session\ud for both limbs during the knee flexion at all angular velocities. The results indicate that peak torque values\ud of knee flexors and extensors varied differently in trained youth soccer players depending on muscle group and movement velocity with statistically significant changes in knee flexors only