THE ROLE OF ORTHOTICS IN THE FOOTBALL

The prevention of injury of foot is the true focus of the biomechanical approach applied to the foot in the sports medicine. This work will analyse the roles of the orthotics devices in the treatment of some injuries of the foot in the soccer players. The pathological processes that can developed in the foot are caused by either simple acute traumas from contact or microtraumas from repeated stressed to the foot. Method and Material: We have examined and treated 120 soccer players afflicted from foot’s pathologies from overload. The follow up is 2 years. The diagnostic approach has included an objective examination with a diagnostic X-rays images, and after an evaluation of reaction behaviour of the ground with the foot. The ground reaction was analyzed during both walking and running, to define as precisely as possible the characteristics of pressures and forces aging on the foot. Results: in our clinic we have realized that the treatment of foot’s injuries (tab.1) involves beyond a biomechanical control with orthotics and after a propioceptional rehabilitative programme for 1 month. The results of the pathologies’ treatment with plantar orthotics have demonstrated that this method has a positive interaction ( tab.2) in the control of the foot’s biomechanical disorders. Discussion: Several studies support the impression that orthotic devices reduce biomechanical stress and the incidence of injury. Taunton et al. have demonstrated a decrease in calcaneal eversion during the support phase of running and Bates et al. have demonstrated a reduction in the period and in the maximum extent of pronation in running wearing orthotic devices. Our experience about the use of the plantar orthotic is that the orthotic devices should be of elastic and absorbing at various level material because our data suggest that controlling the velocity of eversion is more important than controlling the degree of eversion, and also that with those materials is possible to good reduce the vertical forces that are applied on the plantar surface of the foot and to well control the good aliment of the leg with the foot. The technical construction should be related to the pattern of the individual ground reaction. Conclusion: The plantar orthotic is an ideal support able to control excessive motion of S.T.J. and to reduce the vertical and horizontal forces and the rotational movement of the foot

PAIN FROM PLANTAR FASCIITIS

Introduction: Fasciitis of the foot is an inflammatory condition characterized by pain in the medial, central and lateral sectors of the sole accompanied by stiffness. The aim of this study was to examine and interpret the features of the pain focus in this condition from a clinical and esthesiological point of view and in relation to the objective findings of a biomechanical evaluation. Material and Method: Twenty-two subjects (17males, 5 females), aged 19-51 years were examined who practised sport regularly; all presented pain in the sole of the foot. Each subject underwent a clinical and esthesiological examination with measurement of pain thresholds to electrical stimulation of the skin, subcutaneous tissue and muscle in the trigger point zone and unaffected controlateral area and also an evaluation of biomechanical parameters related to function by means of an analysis of the foot-ground reaction and peak force revealed by isokinetic dynamometer. The patient were then fitted with a corrective insole and re-subjected to the above examinations after 30 and 60 days. Results: The subjects were divided into 3 groups on the basis of the TrP site and area of referred pain, as follows:Group A (12 cases) had fascial pain in the calcaneum attachment. The objective examination showed an active TrP determining referred pain in the median part of the sole of the foot. Group B ( 8 cases) had pain localized in the middle third of the medial part of the fascia. The objective examination showed an active TrP causing pain radiating disto-proxiamlly to the attachment of the peroneus muscle at the base of the V metatarsus. The esthesiological evaluation of these groups showed lowered pain thresholds in the skin and muscle compared with the controlateral areas. The isokinetic examination revealed a significant decrease in the peak force in concentric contraction and peak force in eccentric contraction. The foot-ground reaction were abnormal for same spatial and temporal components. A significant reduction of the painful symptoms was observed in these subjects after 30 days with corrective insole, together with a normalization of locomotion. After 60 days, the pain had disappeared and there was an objective reduction of the irritability of the TrPs and absence of the target zone. The esthesiological examination of the pain threshold to electrical stimulation of the skin and muscle showed a further increase with respect to the previous control. All components of the foot-ground reaction were improved. Conclusion: These results show that pain from fasciitis of the sole of the foot is due to an abnormality of movement which gives rise to an imbalance of the force and flexibility of the flexor muscle in this area. The improvement of the ground-foot reaction brings about a gradual disappearance of the painful symptoms

PLANTAR FASCIITIS: AN UPDATE ON CLINICAL AND BIOMECHANICAL FEATURES

Plantar fasciitis is an inflammatory condition, characterized by pain in the medial, central and lateral plantar compartments, accompanied by stiffness. The purpose of this study is to compared 30 runner affected by plantar fasciitis to a. control group and to point out 1) the different areas of pain and referred pain, 2) the isokinetic muscular performance of the plantar flexor muscle, by means of a Cibex 6000 isokinetic dynamometer and tests performed concentrically and eccentrically at 30, 60, 90, 180 deg/sec. 3) the data of the foot-ground reaction got by means of a. dynamometric platform. Results: In all the three sectors of plantar fascia there are different areas of pain and referred pain. An high incidence of plantar flexor muscle strength deficits has been showed both during concentric and eccentric contraction, and in addition the ankle range of motion is reduced. The gait analysis has shown a persistent alteration of the foot-ground reaction's parameters. The Aa. present the results of the treatment based on the correction of biomechanical deficits with follow-up of three years

The FOOT GROUND REACTION ON THE SOCCER AND RUGBY PLAYER

Introduction The body’s motion must be interpreted a succession of elementary movements that can be studied as the combination of translational and rotational motions. The correct expression of a motion is dependent on the balance between internal and external forces. The vector and scalar characteristics of the reaction are related to the physical and mechanical characteristics of two structures coming in contact Methods and Materials The analysis is performed during the normal strike and the running of the soccer and the rugby player. We have used a dynamometric platform Kistler that provided the complete progression of the foot ground reaction which deve1opes during the stage of placing of the fool on the ground.24 soccer p layers of Italian national team and 40 soccer players with high ability and performance and 50 rugby players are examined and the tests are correlated with a control reference group of normal subjects. Results The analysis of the soccer players’ foot-ground reaction on the sagittal plane has revealed: during the normal strike an impact phase characterized by high force both maximum and medium and high velocity of progression of application's point. A support phase characterized by velocity of progression of application point lower compared to the impact phase and by the backward inclination of vectors. A propulsive phase with a presence of a peak of force lower than the first one in the contact phase and with rotational moment significantly increased compared to the normal. The trace diagram show a wider extension of internal rotation during the contact phase and movement with a predominance of an external rotation during the support phase. The analysis of the rugby players' fool-ground reaction has revealed on the sagittal plane: during the normal strike an impact phase with high force both maximum and medium and high velocity of progression of application's point. In comparison of the soccer player’s ground reaction the data show values reduced of force during the impact phase. A support phase shows backward inclination of vectors and a reduced velocity of progression compared to the impact phase. A propulsive phase demonstrate a presence of a peak of force same that the first one during the contact phase. On the horizontal plane, the trace diagram shows a normal extension of internal rotation and a significantly extension of external rotation. Conclusions: The ground reaction pattern of the professional soccer player is repetitive, typical and different by the pattern of the vectorial diagram of the rugby player

Fermi LAT observations of cosmic-ray electrons from 7 GeV to 1 TeV

We present the results of our analysis of cosmic-ray electrons using about 8 million electron candidates detected in the first 12 months on-orbit by the Fermi Large Area Telescope. This work extends our previously-published cosmic-ray electron spectrum down to 7 GeV, giving a spectral range of approximately 2.5 decades up to 1 TeV. We describe in detail the analysis and its validation using beam-test and on-orbit data. In addition, we describe the spectrum measured via a subset of events selected for the best energy resolution as a cross-check on the measurement using the full event sample. Our electron spectrum can be described with a power law $\propto {\rm E}^{-3.08 \pm 0.05}$ with no prominent spectral features within systematic uncertainties. Within the limits of our uncertainties, we can accommodate a slight spectral hardening at around 100 GeV and a slight softening above 500 GeV.Comment: 20 pages, 23 figures, 2 tables, published in Physical Review D 82, 092004 (2010) - contact authors: C. Sgro', A. Moisee

Ultrasound evaluation of the abductor hallucis muscle: Reliability study

© 2008 Cameron et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

IL-4 as a Repurposed Biological Drug for Myocardial Infarction through Augmentation of Reparative Cardiac Macrophages: Proof-of-Concept Data in Mice.

Recent research has shown that reparative (alternatively activated or M2) macrophages play a role in repair of damaged tissues, including the infarcted hearts. Administration of IL-4 is known to augment M2 macrophages. This translational study thus aimed to investigate whether IL-4 administration is useful for the treatment of myocardial infarction. Long-acting IL-4 complex (IL-4c; recombinant IL-4 mixed with anti-IL-4 monoclonal antibody as a stabilizer) was administered after coronary artery ligation in mice. It was observed that IL-4c administration increased accumulation of CD206+F4/80+ M2-like macrophages predominantly in the injured myocardium, compared to the control. Sorted cardiac M2-like macrophages highly expressed wide-ranging tissue repair-related genes. Indeed, IL-4c administration enhanced cardiac function in association with reduced infarct size and enhanced tissue repair (strengthened connective tissue formation, improved microvascular formation and attenuated cardiomyocyte hypertrophy). Experiments using Trib1 -/- mice that had a depleted ability to develop M2 macrophages and other in-vitro studies supported that these IL-4-mediated effects were induced via M2-like macrophages. On the other hand, when administered at Day 28 post-MI, the effects of IL-4c were diminished, suggesting a time-frame for IL-4 treatment to be effective. These data represent proof-of-concept of efficacy of IL-4 treatment for acute myocardial infarction, encouraging its further development.This project was funded by the Heart Research UK Translational Research Grant (RG2653/15/16), British Heart Foundation Programme Grant (RG/15/31236), and Queen Mary Innovation Proof of Concept Grant (2015). The National Institute for Health Researchfunded Barts Cardiovascular Biomedical Research Unit also supported this project.This project was funded by the Heart Research UK Translational Research Grant (RG2653/15/16), British Heart Foundation Programme Grant (RG/15/31236), and Queen Mary Innovation Proof of Concept Grant (2015). The National Institute for Health Research-funded Barts Cardiovascular Biomedical Research Unit also supported this project

The On-orbit Calibrations for the Fermi Large Area Telescope

The Large Area Telescope (LAT) on--board the Fermi Gamma ray Space Telescope began its on--orbit operations on June 23, 2008. Calibrations, defined in a generic sense, correspond to synchronization of trigger signals, optimization of delays for latching data, determination of detector thresholds, gains and responses, evaluation of the perimeter of the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), measurements of live time, of absolute time, and internal and spacecraft boresight alignments. Here we describe on orbit calibration results obtained using known astrophysical sources, galactic cosmic rays, and charge injection into the front-end electronics of each detector. Instrument response functions will be described in a separate publication. This paper demonstrates the stability of calibrations and describes minor changes observed since launch. These results have been used to calibrate the LAT datasets to be publicly released in August 2009.Comment: 60 pages, 34 figures, submitted to Astroparticle Physic

Fermi Large Area Telescope Performance after 10 Years of Operation

The Large Area Telescope (LAT), the primary instrument for the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (Fermi) mission, is an imaging, wide field-of-view, high-energy gamma-ray telescope, covering the energy range from 30 MeV to more than 300 GeV. We describe the performance of the instrument at the 10 yr milestone. LAT performance remains well within the specifications defined during the planning phase, validating the design choices and supporting the compelling case to extend the duration of the Fermi mission. The details provided here will be useful when designing the next generation of high-energy gamma-ray observatories