Sex differences in the kinematics and kinetics of the foot and plantar aponeurosis during drop-jump

Abstract Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries in runners and jumpers, with a higher incidence in females. However, mechanisms underlying sex-associated differences in its incidence remain unclear. This study investigated the possible differences in landing and jumping kinematics and kinetics of the foot between sexes during drop-jump activities. Twenty-six participants, including 13 males and 13 females, performed drop-jumps from a platform onto force plates. Nineteen trials including ten males and nine females were selected for inverse dynamics analysis. The patterns of stretch and tensile force generated by the plantar aponeurosis (PA) were estimated using a multi-segment foot model incorporating the PA. Our results demonstrated that dorsiflexion, angular velocity, and normalized plantarflexion moment of the midtarsal joint right after the heel landed on the floor were significantly larger in females than in males. Consequently, the PA strain rate and tensile stress tended to be larger in females than in males. Such differences in the kinematics and kinetics of the foot and the PA between sexes could potentially lead to a higher prevalence of foot injuries such as plantar fasciitis in females

Switching from Twice-Daily Basal Insulin Injections to Once-Daily Insulin Degludec Injection for Basal-Bolus Insulin Regimen in Japanese Patients with Type 1 Diabetes: A Pilot Study

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of insulin degludec used for basal-bolus insulin regimen after switching from twice-daily basal insulin in Japanese patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. The subjects were 22 type 1 diabetes patients treated with basal-bolus insulin regimen with twice-daily basal insulin. Basal insulin was switched to once-daily injection of insulin degludec with 10% dose reduction. HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) were measured before and 12 weeks after switching. The frequency of hypoglycemic episodes, standard deviation (SD) of blood glucose, and mean of daily difference (MODD) were evaluated by continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) before and 4 weeks after switching. HbA1c and FPG before and 12 weeks after switching were comparable (HbA1c 8.5 ± 1.4 versus 8.7 ± 1.6%, P=0.28; FPG 203.2 ± 81.2 versus 206.5 ± 122.4 mg/dL, P=0.91). The frequency of hypoglycemia during nighttime was not significantly different at 4 weeks after switching (14.4 ± 17.0 versus 11.1 ± 15.0%, P=0.45). In addition, SD and MODD before and 4 weeks after switching were also comparable. In conclusion, glycemic control under once-daily insulin degludec injection was almost comparable to that under twice-daily basal insulin injections in Japanese type 1 diabetes patients. This study was registered with ID: UMIN000010474