Reduction in plantar heel pain and a return to sport after a barefoot running intervention in a female triathlete with plantar fasciitis.

Patient characteristics: In a 27 year-old female triathlete, magnetic resonance imaging revealed mild thickening and oedema at the calcaneal insertion of the plantar fascia in keeping with a degree of plantar fasciitis. Intervention: After 6 weeks of conservative treatment failed to elicit a return to sport, the patient engaged in 6 sessions of barefoot running (15 – 30 minutes) on a soft grass surface, without further conservative treatment. Comparative outcome: After two sessions of barefoot running the patient was pain free before, during and after running. This outcome was maintained at the 6 week follow up period. Interpretation: This is the first case report to use barefoot running as a treatment strategy for chronic heel pain. Barefoot running has the potential to reduce the load on the plantar fascia and warrants further investigation using a case series

Contractile Rate of Muscle Displacement Estimated from the Slope of the Displacement-Time Curve using Tensiomyography

Tensiomyography (TMG) can estimate the intrinsic contractile potential of a muscle using data between 10 and 90% of the displacement-time curve. However, it is yet to be determined whether this data represents the greatest rate of displacement i.e. the most valid estimate of the maximal shortening velocity of a muscle. The aim of this secondary analysis of data gathered from 10 participants who had maximal displacement (Dm) of the rectus femoris assessed using TMG, was to compare the rate of displacement using data from 0 – 100% of Dm; 10 – 90% of Dm and the most linear phase of the displacement-time curve. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that rate of displacement increased as data bands narrowed towards the most linear phase of the displacement-time curve (P<0.001). Rate of displacement explained the greatest proportion of variance in total Tc when estimated from the linear phase (R2=0.601; P=0.008). Rate of displacement estimated from data points between 10 – 90% of Dm had a strong association with rate of displacement estimated from the linear phase (r=0.996; P<0.001). The most valid estimate of maximal rate of displacement comes from the linear phase of the displacement-time curve

Identification of a rice drying model with an improved sequential optimal design of experiments

Getting relevant parameter estimation of a non-linear model is often a hard task from both an experimental and numerical point of view. The objective of optimally designed experiments procedure is to diminish the experimental effort needed such that the identification is within acceptable confidence ranges. After each experiment, the next experiment is optimally designed, taking into account all past experimental results. It allows quality information to be extracted from the experimental data with less experimental time and resource consumption. In this paper, we present an original approach and implementation of the classical A-, D- and Eoptimality on the estimation of 5 unknown (transfer related) coefficients in a compartmental model used to describe the convective drying of rice. The originality of our method is that it uses reparameterization of both parameter and protocol vectors which permits to avoid using a global optimization algorithm. The presented method is implemented in Matlab as a Toolbox and fully tested on a pilot plant. The case study (drying of rice) is typical in the field of process engineering: the dynamic model is strongly non-linear in its parameters and cannot be analytically solved. In addition, the specific technical constrains (inertias, limits, etc.) on the pilot are explicitly taken into account for improved experimental feasibility. In this drying application, three experiments with non-constant drying conditions are shown to be quite as effective as a two-factor three-level grid of nine experiments at constant conditions, with only one third of the experimental effort

The Effect of a Pilates Exercise Programme on Perceived Functional Disability and Pain Associated with Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain

Non-specific low back pain (LBP) is a symptom of unknown cause affecting one third of the UK adult population, accounting for more than 15 million lost work days and an estimated annual cost of £12.3 billion. Pilates based exercise is becoming increasingly incorporated in to spinal rehabilitation, yet there is limited evidence on the efficacy of the technique. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a 6-week Pilates based exercise programme on perceived functional disability, pain, local muscular endurance and lumbar range of motion in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain. Participants (n=13) with chronic non-specific LBP (>12-weeks) were recruited to a pre-post intervention trial. All participants were assigned to a 6-week control period. Subsequently, participants undertook one hour of a Pilates based exercise intervention twice per week for 6-weeks. Perceived functional disability and pain were assessed using the Oswestry functional disability questionnaire (ODQ) and visual analogue scale (VAS) respectively. Local muscular endurance (CE) and lumbar range of motion (LF) were assessed using the core endurance test and the fingertip to floor distance (FFD) respectively. Functional disability (ODQ), pain (VAS), local muscular endurance and lumbar flexion (FFD) improved after the intervention period (P0.05). The results of this pre-post intervention trial suggest that Pilates based exercise can be administered safely and is well tolerated by the majority of patients with nonspecific chronic LBP

Pain and Function in the Runner a Ten (din) uous Link

A male runner (30 years old; 10-km time: 33 min, 46 sec) had been running with suspected insertional Achilles tendinopathy (AT) for ~2 years when the pain reached a threshold that prevented running. Diagnostic ultrasound (US), prior to a high-volume stripping injection, confirmed right-sided medial insertional AT. The athlete failed to respond to injection therapy and ceased running for a period of 5 weeks. At the beginning of this period, the runner completed the Victoria institute of sports assessment-Achilles questionnaire (VISA-A), the foot and ankle disability index (FADI), and FADI sport prior to undergoing an assessment of bi-lateral gastrocnemius medialis (GM) muscle architecture (muscle thickness (MT) and pennation angle (PA); US), muscle contractile properties (maximal muscle displacement (Dm) and contraction time (Tc); Tensiomyography (TMG)) and calf endurance (40 raises/min). VISA-A and FADI scores were 59%/100% and 102/136 respectively. Compared to the left leg, the right GM had a lower MT (1.60 cm vs. 1.74 cm), a similar PA (22.0° vs. 21.0°), a lower Dm (1.2 mm vs. 2.0 mm) and Tc (16.5 ms vs. 17.7 ms). Calf endurance was higher in the right leg compared to the left (48 vs. 43 raises). The athlete began a metronome-guided (15 BPM), 12-week progressive eccentric training protocol using a weighted vest (1.5 kg increments per week), while receiving six sessions of shockwave therapy concurrently (within 5 weeks). On returning to running, the athlete kept daily pain (Numeric Rating Scale; NRS) and running scores (miles*rate of perceived exertion (RPE)). Foot and ankle function improved according to scores recorded on the VISA-A (59% vs. 97%) and FADI (102 vs. 127/136). Improvements in MT (1.60 cm vs. 1.76 cm) and PA (22.0° vs. 24.8°) were recorded via US. Improvements in Dm (1.15 mm vs. 1.69 mm) and Tc (16.5 ms vs. 15.4 ms) were recorded via TMG. Calf endurance was lower in both legs and the asymmetry between legs remained (L: 31, R: 34). Pain intensity (mean weekly NRS scores) decreased between week 1 and week 12 (6.6 vs. 2.9), while running scores increased (20 vs. 38) during the same period. The program was maintained up to week 16 at which point mean weekly NRS was 2.2 and running score was 47

A standardised protocol for the assessment of lower limb muscle contractile properties in football players using Tensiomyography

Tensiomyography is used to measure skeletal muscle contractile properties, most notably muscle displacement (Dm) and contraction time (Tc). Professional football medical departments are currently using the equipment to profile the muscle function of their squad and subsequently evaluate change due to injury or intervention. However, at present there are no published standardised operating procedures for identifying probe position for muscle assessment. In this technical report we propose standardised operating procedures for the identification of precise probe position as part of an on-going study in male professional footballers

Inter-rater reliability, internal consistency and common technique flaws of the tuck jump assessment in elite female football players

Injury rates between elite female and male players are comparable, although female players are more likely to sustain an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The common mechanism of ACL injury is non-contact trauma sustained when landing from a jump. The Tuck Jump Assessment (TJA) is commonly used in football to assess jump landing technique. The aims of this study were to determine inter-rater agreement and internal consistency of the TJA and to identify commonly occurring technique flaws. Sixty elite female football players (mean (SD): age = 20.27 ± 3.44yrs) were video recorded whilst undertaking the TJA and independently assessed by four raters. Clinically acceptable levels of agreement were reached for ‘Lower extremity valgus at landing’ k = .83 (95% CI, .72 – .93); ‘Thighs do not reach parallel’ k = .84 (95% CI, .74 - .94); ‘Thighs not equal side to side’ k = .86 (95% CI, .75 - .96). The level of agreement for the composite score of all 10 criteria ranged from kw = .62 (95% CI, .48 – .76) to kw = .80 (95% CI, .70 – .90) suggesting a ‘fair-to-very good’ level of inter-rater agreement. The most common technique flaws were found for criterion 2 ‘Thighs do not reach parallel’ (N=147/665) and criterion 1 ‘Knee valgus on landing’ (N=80/665). However, internal consistency results suggest that the TJA is not unidimensional. We suggest ‘Knee valgus on landing’ may have clinical utility although further research is needed

Aspect des échanges franco-coréens (la réception de la littérature romantique et les traductions du "Rouge et le Noir")

Le présent travail intitulé Aspect des échanges franco coréens : la réception de la littérature romantique et les traductions du Rouge et le Noir témoigne de l existence d un réel échange culturel entre Coréens et Français ; il veut rapprocher la culture, la littérature des deux pays autour de quelques traductions. Le but est ici de démontrer les divergences de sens entre littérature romantique française et coréenne.Le romantisme coréen commence avec un siècle de retard sur le romantisme français ce qui explique des différences importantes avec le romantisme français. D après nos recherches, nous voyons que les déterminants et les effets du romantisme coréen sont différents de ceux du romantisme français. D ailleurs, le romantisme est introduit en Corée sous l occupation japonaise, son contenu dépendait donc d interprétations japonaises préexistantes et ne pouvait pas avoir le même aspect qu en France.Ainsi, les fondements du romantisme coréen ne correspondent pas à un rejet du style classique comme ce fut le cas en France. Néanmoins, les Coréens ont adapté ce mouvement littéraire à leur manière surtout quant à la psychologie et aux procédés d écriture. Il ne s agissait donc pas d une création pure et simple mais plutôt d un processus de réception, d adaptation et de réutilisation d un mouvement littéraire étranger : le romantisme français.La Corée, se situant, géographiquement et culturellement aussi bien que linguistiquement, aux antipodes de la France, la traduction d oeuvres françaises en langue coréenne, et vice versa, pose probablement beaucoup plus de problèmes que la traduction d oeuvres françaises en toute autre langue occidentale, a fortiori quand il s agit de la traduction d oeuvres coréenne en une autre langue extrême-orientale. La traduction des oeuvres romantiques françaises a connu une difficulté supplémentaire à cause des retraductions multiples imposées aux livres avant qu ils parviennent aux lecteurs coréens sous l occupation japonaise. Nous constatons que même les traductions directes du français en coréen ne réussissent pas toujours à rendre correctement la signification du discours littéraire. Ainsi, certains choix du traducteur ne changent pas le sens de la phrase mais ils annulent un effet stylistique important voulu par l auteur français.Précisément, un lecteur coréen qui lit Stendhal en coréen ne comprend pas du tout le vrai Stendhal, celui du lecteur français. C est particulièrement exact pour Le Rouge et le Noir. En effet, c est bien connu, hors de France, la littérature française subit le prisme de la différence culturelle qui affecte le lecteur et de la traduction en cascadeThis paper, The exchange aspect on France and South Korea; The translation of The Red and the Black (Le Rouge et le Noir) plus acceptance of romantic literature of France, was started in order to find out exchanging the aspect of literature and culture of France. Literature, culture and translation between two countries and compared and show us the various aspects of literature of Korean and French romanticism. It is to find out what is the in common and different point of view about the Romantic movement of the two countries. The reason that it is considered to be interesting to compare with the Asian and European romanticism and they have a difference about the period of time almost one century. Started late almost one century then France, 1920 s Korean romanticism has very different aspects. The romanticism of Korea was influx through Japan under the Japanese colonial reign and showed personal, sentimental and decadent tendencies during the end of a century romanticism. The trends showed negative aspects of reality than the characteristic of romanticism early did.A situation under the Japanese colonial reign, Korean writers felt sorts of kinship at The French romanticism. The romanticism expressed freedom, youth and love under the reality of colony, but soon it changed into depression and hopelessness because of national ordeal. The indigenous feature of Romanticism was varied and accepted to us.Finally, we found the important element and the result of the romanticism of Korea have very perspective.Eventually, Korean romanticism began not a historical necessity like French romanticism, but the imitate homogeneity. So the Korean romantic movement was finished very shortly not lasting long. Another reason for the other aspects of the literary romantic movement between France and Korea is inaccurate translation.Acceptance of romantic literature of France in Korea at that time, was understood differently from the essence. Because of the regulation of Japanese though the double or triple translation.Culturally, geographically and linguistically, Korea is located in the opposite side of France. So, Korean translation of French literatures has a lot of trouble relatively than the translation in Western European languages of French literatures. It is difficult for to understand the actual Stendhal for korean readers who read literature of Stendhal in Korean. In particular, The Red and the Black of Stendhal is the one. French literatures outside of France show not only the problem of translation also f the curve about different of culture (which is called prism ), which makes us understood differentlyPARIS-EST-Université (770839901) / SudocPARIS12-Bib. électronique (940280011) / SudocSudocFranceF

The effect of limb position on measured values of vastus lateralis muscle morphology using B Mode ultrasound

It is not known whether different leg positions influence measurements of muscle thickness, pennation angle, and fascicle length. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether extension or flexion of the leg affected measurements of muscle morphology in the vastus lateralis. Thirty-two male professional football players participated in the study. B mode ultrasound (LOGIQ e, GE Healthcare, United States) was used to capture images of the vastus lateralis from the dominant leg of each participant when their leg was (a) extended at the knee and (b) flexed at the knee by 90 degrees. Data were analyzed using paired t tests. Muscle thickness and pennation angle were greater when the leg was extended (2.43 ± 0.18cm vs 2.36 ± 0.17 cm; t(31) = 2.76, P < .010; 18.47 ± 1.18° vs 16.87 ± 1.14°; t(31) = 7.59, P < .001, respectively). Fascicle length was greater when the leg was in flexion (9.87 ± 0.53 cm, flexion vs 9.04 ± 0.92 cm; t(31) = −7.652, P < .001). The intra-rater reliability of the investigator was assessed using a 2-way mixed-effects model. In conclusion, leg position affects measurements of muscle morphology in vastus lateralis; this should be considered when comparing findings between studies