The Sole Arch Indices Of Adolescent Basketball Players

Objective: The aim of this study was to find out the difference between sole arch indices of adolescent basketball players and an age matched non-athletic group. Methods: This study was carried out in the Sports Education, Health and Research Center, Ankara, Turkey, between November 1998 and December 1998. In junior (16-18 years) categories 48 male basketball players and 45 age matched controls were included in the study. Body mass index and podoscopic sole images of subjects were recorded, and the arch index was calculated for each group. Results: The sole arch index has no difference between basketball players and controls. The right foot arch index of the control group was 59.62 +/- 23.26 and 56.74 +/- 17.21 in players (p=0.497). The left foot arch index was 54.54 +/- 23.72 in control groups and 55.13 +/- 17.33 in players (p=0.890). There was a significant negative correlation between sole arch index and training age in basketball players (r=-0.3312 for right sole arch index, p<0.05; r=-0.3056 for left sole arch index, p<0.05). Conclusion: These results have shown that basketball might result in specific adaptation on sole arches of adolescent players.Wo

The effects of menstrual cycle on the knee joint position sense: preliminary study

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of menstrual cycle on proprioception by using the active knee joint position sense test (JPST). The 19 healthy women (ages between 20 years and 27 years) who have normal regular menstrual cycle were included in the study. We applied JPSTs at two different directions throughout the three different phases of the menstrual cycle, i.e. menstrual, follicular, and early luteal in dominant knees. When we started from flexion (90 degrees), target angles were 70 degrees, 50 degrees, and 30 degrees and we started from extension (0 degrees), target angles were 20 degrees, 40 degrees and 60 degrees. The absolute reposition errors from the target angles have been evaluated. Results have shown that reposition errors from the target angle at 40 degrees, 50 degrees and 70 degrees of knee angles were higher in the menstrual phase than that of the follicular phase (P < 0.05). In addition, higher value of reposition error from the target angle at 40 degrees was found in the menstrual phase compared to luteal phase (P < 0.05). In conclusion, we have demonstrated that active JPST was significantly reduced in the menstruation period

The sole arch indices of adolescent basketball players

Objective: The aim of this study was to find out the difference between sole arch indices of adolescent basketball players and an age matched non-athletic group

Cervical and lumbar spinal changes diagnosed in four-view radiographs of 732 military pilots

Background: Pilots who fly jet fighters or helicopters frequently experience vertebral problems due to acceleration and vibration, wearing helmets and other headgear, and sitting in suboptimal postures. Methods: We looked for spondylarthritic or spondylitic changes in 4-view radiographs (AP, lateral, left and right oblique) of the cervical and lumbar vertebrae of 732 pilots and 202 non-flying controls. The subjects included 91 F-16 jet pilots, 363 other jet pilots, 119 transport pilots, and 159 helicopter pilots. Results: The prevalence of cervical changes in helicopter pilots was 19%, significantly higher than those for other pilots (8-13%) or controls (10%). There was no difference among groups with respect to prevalence of lumbar changes. Among all pilots, compression fractures were more common in the lumbar region than in the cervical region. Age was the most important variable related to spondylarthritic or spondylitic changes in all subjects, whereas height was an important factor only among jet pilots. Conclusion: We found an increased prevalence of cervical changes, especially osteoarthritis, in helicopter pilots. Increasing age and tall stature were associated with an increased prevalence of vertebral spondylarthritic or spondylitic changes in jet pilots