Running quietly reduces ground reaction force and vertical loading rate and alters foot strike technique

This study aimed to determine if a quantifiable relationship exists between the peak sound amplitude and peak vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) and vertical loading rate during running. It also investigated whether differences in peak sound amplitude, contact time, lower limb kinematics, kinetics and foot strike technique existed when participants were verbally instructed to run quietly compared to their normal running. A total of 26 males completed running trials for two sound conditions: normal running and quiet running. Simple linear regressions revealed no significant relationships between impact sound and peak vGRF in the normal and quiet conditions and vertical loading rate in the normal condition. t-Tests revealed significant within-subject decreases in peak sound, peak vGRF and vertical loading rate during the quiet compared to the normal running condition. During the normal running condition, 15.4% of participants utilised a non-rearfoot strike technique compared to 76.9% in the quiet condition, which was corroborated by an increased ankle plantarflexion angle at initial contact. This study demonstrated that quieter impact sound is not directly associated with a lower peak vGRF or vertical loading rate. However, given the instructions to run quietly, participants effectively reduced peak impact sound, peak vGRF and vertical loading rate

The efficacy of resistance training in addition to usual care for adults with acute burn injury: A randomised controlled trial

Resistance training immediately after a burn injury has not been investigated previously. This randomised, controlled trial assessed the impact of resistance training on quality of life plus a number of physical, functional and safety outcomes in adults with a burn injury. Patients were randomly assigned to receive, in addition to standard physiotherapy, four weeks of high intensity resistance training (RTG) or sham resistance training (CG) three days per week, commenced within 72h of the burn injury. Outcome data was collected at six weeks, three and six months after burn injury. Quality of life at 6 months was the primary endpoint. Data analysis was an available cases analysis with no data imputed. Regression analyses were used for all longitudinal outcome data and between-group comparisons were used for descriptive analyses. Forty-eight patients were randomised resistance training (RTG) (n=23) or control group (CG) (n=25). The RTG demonstrated improved outcomes for the functional domain of the Burn Specific Health Scale-Brief (p=0.017) and the Quick Disability of Arm Shoulder and Hand (pp=0.001). Total quality of life scores, lower limb disability, muscle strength and volume were not seen to be different between groups (p\u3e0.05). Resistance training in addition to usual rehabilitation therapy showed evidence of improving functional outcomes, particularly in upper limb burn injuries. Additionally, resistance training commenced acutely after a burn injury was not seen to be harmful to patients. Crown Copyright © 2020 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The effects of vestibular stimulation and fatigue on postural control in classical ballet dancers

This study aimed to investigate the effects of ballet-specific vestibular stimulation and fatigue on static postural control in ballet dancers and to establish whether these effects differ across varying levels of ballet training. Dancers were divided into three groups: professional, pre-professional, and recreational. Static postural control of 23 dancers was measured on a force platform at baseline and then immediately, 30 seconds, and 60 seconds after vestibular stimulation (pirouettes) and induction of fatigue (repetitive jumps). The professional dancers’ balance was unaffected by both the vestibular stimulation and the fatigue task. The pre-professional and recreational dancers’ static sway increased following both perturbations. It is concluded that professional dancers are able to compensate for vestibular and fatiguing perturbations due to a higher level of skill-specific motor training

The effectiveness of session rating of perceived exertion to monitor resistance training load in acute burns patients

Session-rating of perceived exertion (RPE) is a method frequently utilised in exercise and sports science to quantify training load of an entire aerobic exercise session. It has also been demonstrated that session-RPE is a valid and reliable method to quantify training load during resistance exercise, in healthy and athletic populations. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of session-RPE as a method to quantify exercise intensity during resistance training in patients with acute burns. Twenty burns patients (mean age = 31.65 (±10.09) years), with a mean TBSA of 16.4% (range = 6-40%) were recruited for this study. Patients were randomly allocated to the resistance training (n = 10) or control group (n = 10). All patients completed a four week resistance training programme. Training load (session-RPE. ×. session duration), resistance training session-volume and pre-exercise pain were recorded for each exercise session. The influence of; age, gender, %TBSA, exercise group (resistance training vs. control), pre-exercise pain, resistance training history and session-volume on training load were analysed using a multilevel mixed-effects linear regression. Session-volume did not influence training load in the final regression model, however training load was significantly greater in the resistance training group, compared with the control group (p . <. 0.001). Pre-exercise pain significantly influenced training load, where increasing pain was associated with a higher session-RPE (p = 0.004). Further research is indicated to determine the exact relationship between pain, resistance training history, exercise intensity and session-RPE and training load before it can be used as a method to monitor and prescribe resistance training load in acute burns patients

Effect of ankle taping on angle and force matching and strength of the plantar-flexors

Objective: Investigate the effect of ankle taping on plantar-flexion strength, angle matching and force matching. Design: Single group, repeated measures.Setting: Laboratory of an educational institutionParticipants: Twenty uninjured females (22.9 ± 3.6 years).Main Outcome Measures: Tape was applied to the ankle using a conventional hindfoot technique. Angle and force matching, and plantar-flexor strength were assessed using the purpose built dual ankle dynamometer, and measures were taken prior to and following taping. Angle matching was assessed passively and actively at 10, 15 and 20º of plantar-flexion. Participants were required to match the angle of the reference leg with the contralateral leg. Force matching was assessed at 10º of plantar-flexion and participants matched the torque of the reference leg with the contralateral leg.Results: Taping had no effect on absolute errors during active or passive angle matching. Regardless of taping, the ankle angle tested had a significant effect on passive angle matching (p<0.001); subjects were most accurate at matching a plantar-flexion angle of 20º. Ankle taping had no effect on force matching. Taping significantly improved peak plantar-flexion strength by 20% (p=0.028).Conclusion: Ankle taping has little effect on contralateral force and angle matching, but it can enhance peak plantar-flexion strength

Multidimensional impact of low-Dye taping on low-load hopping in individuals with and without plantar fasciitis

Objectives: Evaluate the acute effect of low-Dye, placebo and no tape on motor behaviour in individuals with plantar fasciitis (PF). Design: Prospective, experimental. Setting: Motion analysis laboratory. Participants: Ten participants with PF and ten matched controls. Main outcome measures: Hopping behaviour (lower-limb stiffness and ankle angle at peak loading) were evaluated during low-load sleigh hopping, during three taping conditions. Stiffness and ankle angle were determined using three-dimensional motion analysis. Pain during submaximal loading was assessed with a numeric pain rating scale. Results: The lower-limb stiffness response to therapeutic taping was modulated by the presence of PF (interaction, F = 4.48, p = 0.018). Matched controls demonstrated a significant increase in stiffness post application of low-Dye taping (p = 0.001), stiffness was unchanged in the PF group. In the PF group, low-Dye taping decreased hopping pain in comparison to placebo (p = 0.037) and no-tape (p = 0.024). There was no difference in ankle angle at peak loading between the groups or across taping conditions. Conclusions: Low-Dye taping reduces nociceptive inputs more than placebo in the presence of PF pain. Low-Dye tape alters stiffness in the control group but not the PF group. The motor behavioural outputs such as stiffness, during low-load hopping is modulated by both pathology and therapeutic taping

Effect of Mulligan's and Kinesio knee taping on adolescent ballet dancers knee and hip biomechanics during landing

Taping is often used to manage the high rate of knee injuries in ballet dancers; however, little is known about the effect of taping on lower-limb biomechanics during ballet landings in the turnout position. This study investigated the effects of Kinesiotape (KT), Mulligan’s tape (MT) and no tape (NT) on knee and hip kinetics during landing in three turnout positions. The effect of taping on the esthetic execution of ballet jumps was also assessed. Eighteen pain-free 12–15-year-old female ballet dancers performed ballet jumps in three turnout positions, under the three knee taping conditions. A Vicon Motion Analysis system (Vicon Oxford, Oxford, UK) and Advanced Mechanical Technology, Inc. (Watertown, Massachusetts, USA) force plate collected lower-limb mechanics. The results demonstrated that MT significantly reduced peak posterior knee shear forces (P = 0.025) and peak posterior (P = 0.005), medial (P = 0.022) and lateral (P = 0.014) hip shear forces compared with NT when landing in first position. KT had no effect on knee or hip forces. No significant differences existed between taping conditions in all landing positions for the esthetic measures. MT was able to reduce knee and the hip forces without affecting the esthetic performance of ballet jumps, which may have implications for preventing and managing knee injuries in ballet dancers

Exercise training to improve health related quality of life in long term survivors of major burn injury: A matched controlled study

Objective: Patients often experience reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL) following burn injury. Exercise training has been demonstrated to improve HRQOL in a number of clinical populations, yet it is unknown whether exercise can improve HRQOL in burns patients.Procedures: Nine burn-injured participants (42 18.38%TBSA: 6.56 3.68 years after injury) and 9 matched controls participated in a 12-week exercise programme. HRQOL was assessed via the Burn Specific Health Scale-Brief (BSHS-B) and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form (SF-36). Activity limitation was measured using the quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH).Results: The burns group had decreased HRQOL compared to the controls at baseline, as reported by the BSHS-B (t (16) = 3.51, p = 0.003) and some domains of the SF-36 including role physical (t (16) = 3.79, p = 0.002). Burned participants reported decreased activity levels compared to the controls as measured by the QuickDASH (t (16) = 2.19, p = 0.044). Exercise training improved SF-36 scores in both burn (t (8) = 3.77, p = 0.005) and control groups (t (8) = 2.71, p = 0.027). Following training there was no difference between the groups on the SF-36 or QuickDASH.Conclusion: Exercise training improves HRQOL and activity limitations in burn-injured patients to a level that is equivalent to that of their uninjured counterparts

Pulmonary function, exercise capacity and physical activity participation in adults following burn

Purpose: To determine the relationship between pulmonary function, aerobic exercisecapacity and physical activity participation in adults following burn.Methods: Eight burn injured males aged 20–55 years (%TBSA 33.3 18.7, 5.1 years 1.8 post injury), and 30 healthy adult controls participated. Pulmonary function was assessed during rest via spirometry. A graded exercise test measuring peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) and oxygen saturation (SpO2) was conducted, and physical activity was assessed via the Older Adult Exercise Status Inventory (OA-EI).Results: No significant correlation was observed between resting pulmonary function, aerobic capacity and physical activity participation for burn injured patients or controls. Two burn injured patients presented with obstructive ventilatory defects, and one displayed a restrictive ventilatory defect. Burn injured patients had a significantly lower VO2peak ( p < 0.001) and time to fatigue ( p = 0.026), and a greater degree of oxygen desaturation ( p = 0.063, Effect Size = 1.02) during a graded exercise test. Burn injured patients reported significantly less participation in leisure-related activity > 9 METs ( p = 0.01), and significantly greater participation in work-related activity ( p = 0.038), than healthy controls.Conclusion: Compromised lung function, decreased aerobic capacity and reduced participation in leisure-related physical activity may still exist in some adults, even up to 5 years post injury. Limitations and long term outcomes of cardiopulmonary function and physical fitness need to be considered in the prescription of exercise rehabilitation programmes following burn