Reviewing an Original Research Manuscript for the International Journal of Exercise Science: A Guide for Students and Professionals

Considerations for the review process of manuscripts submitted to the International Journal of Exercise Science are presented. Initial steps to evaluation include reading the abstract to determine your ability as a reviewer, becoming familiar with the journal requirements, and formulating an initial impression of the manuscript. At this point an assessment is made to determine how the reviewer should treat the manuscript. If it is determined that the manuscript is acceptable with minor revisions, or may be acceptable with major changes, a full review should be performed. A full review of the manuscript requires a thorough examination of the major headings including the Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion. The written review is composed of two parts, a section with the decision that is composed of comments only for the editor, and a section that provides feedback to the authors. Specific comments to the authors should include an honest critique that aids in improving the manuscript

A BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF THE TAKE-OFF PHASE IN BELOW-KNEE AMPUTEE HIGH JUMP

An analysis of below-knee amputee take-off technique was performed on two athletes competing in the high jump finals of the 2004 Paralympic Games. Two digital video cameras were used to film the event with the data later digitised and reconstructed using standard 3-0 OLT procedures. Some similarities with non-amputee high jump technique were noted in that centre of mass height was low at touch-down (TO), there was a similar reported magnitude of negative vertical velocity at TO, and most of the vertical velocity generated occurred in the first half of the take-off phase. However, both below-knee amputee athletes exhibited a slower horizontal approach velocity, a lower positive vertical take-off velocity, a more upright leg position at touch-down and a greater range of motion of the hip throughout the take-off phase compared to what is known about non-amputee high jump technique. These differences may be associated with taking off from the prosthetic limb on the last stride of approach. Understanding why these differences occur has implications for coaching and improving technique

THE EFFECTS OF CLEAT LOCATION ON MUSCLE RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES OF CYCLING

Foot placement may play an important role in muscle recruitment patterns and affect cycling performance. The purpose of this study was to determine if magnitude of activation increased in more proximal muscles when a more posterior compared to standard cleat location is used. Surface electromyography (8 muscles) and kinematics were collected from 11 experienced cyclists pedalling at 80 rpm rate during standard and posterior cleat location conditions. Root mean square (RMS) EMG were analyzed using paired t-tests. Peak RMS magnitude and crank angle of peak RMS were affected by cleat conditions. Posterior cleat locations alter the magnitude and muscular recruitment strategies of seated cycling when compared to neutral cleat placement

Patellar tendon straps decrease pre-landing quadriceps activation in males with patellar tendinopathy

Objective: To determine if patellar tendon straps altered quadriceps’ muscle activity during a drop-jump landing in males with and without patellar tendinopathy. Design: Case-control. Settings: Biomechanics Research Laboratory. Participants: Twenty recreationally-active males participated: ten (age=21.3±2.4 years, height=182.8±5.3cm, mass=81.7±8.6kg) with patellar tendinopathy; ten (age=22.0±1.6 years, height=185.7±4.5 cm, mass=82.2±9.8kg) were healthy with no history of tendinopathy. Main Outcome Measures: Electromyography (EMG) data for the vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF), and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles were collected. Five 2-legged 40cm drop-jumps were performed wearing a patellar tendon strap and 5 with no-strap in a counterbalanced order. Root-mean square EMG (REMG) values of the VM, RF, and VL were averaged for a pre-landing and post-landing interval. Multiple mixed-model two-way ANOVAs were performed to determine the effect of tendinopathy and strapping condition on REMG values for each muscle. Results: For the pre-landing interval, all participants displayed lesser VL EMG activation (0.44±0.19%, 0.53±0.27%, respectively; p=.007, d=0.39) in the no-strap compared with the strap condition. Conclusions: When wearing a strap, all participants demonstrated lower VL activation prior to landing which may be helpful in reducing tensile stress at the tendon. These effects may be clinically important in modulating pain in those with patellar tendinopathy

Patellar Tendon Straps Decrease Pain and May Alter Lower Extremity Kinetics in Those With Patellar Tendinopathy During Jump Landing

Patellar tendinopathy is often managed with a patellar tendon strap, however, their effectiveness is unsubstantiated. The purpose of this study was to determine if straps altered pain or lower extremity kinetics of individuals with patellar tendinopathy during landing. Thirty participants with patellar tendinopathy and 30 controls completed drop jumps with and without patellar tendon straps. Wearing the strap, tendinopathy participants demonstrated significantly decreased pain and reduced knee adductor moment; all participants displayed significantly decreased anterior ground reaction force while wearing a strap. Patellar tendon strapping may reduce pain due to alterations in direction and magnitude of loading

Review of Physical Activity Benefits and Potential Considerations for Individuals with Surgical Fusion of Spine for Scoliosis

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(2): 166-177, 2017 Evidence-based recommendations for physical activity following spinal fusion surgeries for idiopathic scoliosis are limited, specifically in the adolescent population. Individuals with scoliosis treated operatively or non-operatively have been reported to participate in less than 1-3 days/week of even mildly strenuous physical exercises. Over 40% of individuals with scoliosis returned to sports at a level lower than pre-operative participation levels or did not return at all post spinal fusion. It is particularly important for human movement specialists, such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, athletic trainers and kinesiologists to assist these individuals effectively transition to and maintain engagement in physical activity. This review provides a snapshot of common considerations and potential factors influencing individuals with spinal-fusion for scoliosis to participate in safe physical activity

Lower Extremity Kinematics During a Drop Jump in Individuals With Patellar Tendinopathy

Background: Patellar tendinopathy (PT) is a common degenerative condition in physically active populations. Knowledge regarding the biomechanics of landing in populations with symptomatic PT is limited, but altered mechanics may play a role in the development or perpetuation of PT. Purpose: To identify whether study participants with PT exhibited different landing kinematics compared with healthy controls. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Sixty recreationally active participants took part in this study; 30 had current signs and symptoms of PT, including self-reported pain within the patellar tendon during loading activities for at least 3 months and ≤80 on the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment Scale–Patella (VISA-P). Thirty healthy participants with no history of PT or other knee joint pathology were matched by sex, age, height, and weight. Participants completed 5 trials of a 40-cm, 2-legged drop jump followed immediately by a 50% maximum vertical jump. Dependent variables of interest included hip, knee, and ankle joint angles at initial ground contact, peak angles, and maximum angular displacements during the landing phase in 3 planes. Independent-samples t tests (P ≤ .05) were utilized to compare the joint angles and angular displacements between PT and control participants. Results: Individuals with PT displayed significantly decreased peak hip (PT, 59.2° ± 14.6°; control, 67.2° ± 13.9°; P = .03) and knee flexion angles (PT, 74.8° ± 13.2°; control, 82.5° ± 9.0°; P = .01) compared with control subjects. The PT group displayed decreased maximum angular displacement in the sagittal plane at the hip (PT, 49.3° ± 10.8°; control, 55.2° ± 11.4°; P = .04) and knee (PT, 71.6° ± 8.4°; control, 79.7° ± 8.3°; P \u3c .001) compared with the control group. Conclusion: Participants with PT displayed decreased maximum flexion and angular displacement in the sagittal plane, at both the knee and the hip. The altered movement patterns in those with PT may be perpetuating symptoms associated with PT and could be due to the contributions of the rectus femoris during dynamic movement. Clinical Relevance: Based on kinematic alterations in symptomatic participants, rehabilitation efforts may benefit from focusing on both the knee and the hip to treat symptoms associated with PT

LOWER EXTREMITY BIOMECHANICS OF AN ANKLE 'GIVING WAY' CASE DURING THE DROP LANDlNG

The purpose of our study was to present an accidental ankle 'giving way' case of a participant with chronic ankle instability (CAI) during drop landing test and compare lower extremity biomechanics with that of the participant's normal landing trials. A 7-camera Vicon system was used to capture motions of the participant drop landing from a 30-cm high box. Ground reaction forces were collected using two force plates. Lower extremity joint angles and moments were generated. Subjective comparisons were made between the giving way trial and normal trials. For the giving way trial, the participant exhibited greater ankle inversion, internal rotation and less hip abduction angle in pre-landing phase compared to the normal trials. In addition, the ankle exhibited greater eversion moment and external rotation moment in the landing phase. Center of pressure was more lateral in the giving way trial. We suggest that a more inverted and internally rotated ankle position before landing may place ankle at a high risk of giving way and sprain for CAI individuals

Validation of the Human Ozone Challenge Model as a Tool for Assessing Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Early Development

This study aimed to test the utility of the ozone challenge model for profiling novel compounds designed to reduce airway inflammation. The authors used a randomized, doubledummy, double-blind, placebo-controlled 3-period crossover design alternating single orally inhaled doses of fluticasone propionate (inhaled corticosteroids, 2mg), oral prednisolone (oral corticosteroids, 50mg), ormatched placebo. At a 2-week interval, 18 healthy ozone responders (>10% increase in sputum neutrophils) underwent a 3-hour ozone (250 ppb)/intermittent exercise challenge starting 1 hour after drug treatment. Airway inflammation was assessed at 2 hours (breath condensate) and 3 hours (induced sputum) after ozone challenge. Compared to placebo, pretreatment with inhaled corticosteroids or oral corticosteroids resulted in a significant reduction (mean [95% confidence interval]) of sputum neutrophils by 62% (35%, 77%) and 64% (39%, 79%) and of sputum supernatant myeloperoxidase by 55% (41%, 66%) and 42% (25%, 56%), respectively. The authors conclude that an optimized ozone challenge model (including ozone responders and ensuring adequate drug levels during exposure) may be useful for testing novel anti-inflammatory compounds in early development

Does interlimb knee symmetry exist after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty? Knee

BACKGROUND: Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) has long been a treatment option for patients with disease limited primarily to one compartment with small, correctable deformities. However, some surgeons presume that normal kinematics of a lateral compartment UKA are difficult to achieve. Furthermore, it is unclear whether UKA restores normal knee kinematics and interlimb symmetry. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We determined knee kinematics exhibited during stair ascent by patients with medial- (MED-UKA) or lateral-UKA (LAT-UKA) and if the knee kinematics of the operated and nonoperated limbs were symmetrical. METHODS: Participants were 17 individuals with MED-UKA and nine with LAT-UKA, all with nondiseased contralateral limbs. For each limb, participants walked up four stairs for five trials while a motion-capture system obtained reflective marker locations. Temporal events were determined by force platform signals. Interlimb symmetry was classified for temporal gait and knee angular kinematics by comparing observed interlimb differences with clinically meaningful differences set at 5% of stride time for temporal variables and 5° for angular variables. The minimum postoperative followup was 6 months (median, 24 months; range, 6-53 months). RESULTS: Neither group demonstrated clinically meaningful mean interlimb differences. However, approximately half of participants of each UKA group displayed asymmetry favoring the operative or nonoperative limb with similar frequency. CONCLUSIONS: Many patients undergoing UKA demonstrate kinematic interlimb symmetry during stair ascent. Interlimb asymmetry may be affected by a variety of factors unrelated to the UKA. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A MED- or LAT-UKA can potentially restore normal knee function for a demanding task of daily life