Mulligan Knee Taping Using Both Elastic and Rigid Tape Reduces Pain and Alters Lower Limb Biomechanics in Female Patients With Patellofemoral Pain.

Background: Evidence supports the use of Mulligan knee taping in managing patellofemoral pain (PFP). However, no studies have compared the efficacy of rigid and elastic tape using this technique.

Hypothesis: Mulligan knee taping applied with both rigid and elastic tape will produce similar reductions in knee pain, hip internal rotation, and knee flexion moments compared with no tape.

Deceleration characteristics of elite Australian male field hockey players during an Olympic tournament.

Objectives: This study described the deceleration efforts of the Australian men's field hockey team during the 2016 Olympics by categorising efforts into 'bands' of intensity; and comparing the deceleration intensity and frequency by player position, game period and opponent.

Design: Descriptive retrospective analysis.

Methods: Global positioning system sensors (MinimaxX S4, Catapult Sports Pty.

Differences in lower limb biomechanics between ballet dancers and non-dancers during functional landing tasks.

Objectives: To determine the differences in the lower limb landing biomechanics of adolescent ballet dancers compared to non-dancers when performing a hop and a stop jump task.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Laboratory.

On using wearable tri-axial accelerometers to examine the striking phase kinematics of expert specialist drag flickers on-field.

Analysing player kinematics during a match using "gold-standard" 3D video-based motion analysis techniques is a difficult prospect indeed. The development of small, wireless, wearable sensors offers the potential to reduce the challenges of measuring kinematics during match-play without hindering performance. The present study examined the viability of using wireless tri-axial accelerometers to examine whether key performance measures of drag flicks executed by expert specialist drag-flickers are predicted by the kinematics of the striking phase.

A biomechanical comparison in the lower limb and lumbar spine between a hit and drag flick in field hockey.

Research has revealed that field hockey drag flickers have greater odds of hip and lumbar injuries compared to non-drag flickers (DF). This study aimed to compare the biomechanics of a field hockey hit and a specialised field hockey drag flick. Eighteen male and seven female specialised hockey DF performed a hit and a drag flick in a motion analysis laboratory with an 18-camera three-dimensional motion analysis system and a calibrated multichannel force platform to examine differences in lower limb and lumbar kinematics and kinetics.

Lower Limb and Trunk Biomechanics After Fatigue in Competitive Female Irish Dancers.

Context:   Because of the increasing popularity of participation in Irish dance, the incidence of lower limb injuries is high among this competitive population.

Objective:   To investigate the effects of fatigue on the peak lower limb and trunk angles as well as the peak lower limb joint forces and moments of competitive female Irish dancers during the performance of a dance-specific single-limb landing.

Design:   Cross-sectional study.

Effect of External Ankle Support on Ankle and Knee Biomechanics During the Cutting Maneuver in Basketball Players.

Background: Despite the high prevalence of lower extremity injuries in female basketball players as well as a high proportion of athletes who wear ankle braces, there is a paucity of research pertaining to the effects of ankle bracing on ankle and knee biomechanics during basketball-specific tasks.

Purpose: To compare the effects of a lace-up brace (ASO), a hinged brace (Active T2), and no ankle bracing (control) on ankle and knee joint kinematics and joint reaction forces in female basketball athletes during a cutting maneuver.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Does skill specialisation influence individual differences in drag flicking speed and accuracy?

Research has revealed that individual soccer goalkeepers respond differently to penalty shots, depending on their specific perceptual and motor capabilities. However, it remains unclear whether analogous differences exist between individual penalty takers, and if specialising in penalty taking affects the occurrence of differences between individuals. The present study examined individual differences in penalty shot speed and accuracy for specialists in penalty taking versus non-specialists.

Higher anterior knee laxity influences the landing biomechanics displayed by pubescent girls.

Despite an increase in anterior knee laxity (AKL) during the adolescent growth spurt in girls, it is unknown whether landing biomechanics are affected by this change. This study investigated whether pubescent girls with higher AKL displayed differences in their lower limb strength or landing biomechanics when performing a horizontal leap movement compared to girls with lower AKL. Forty-six pubescent girls (10-13 years) were tested at the time of their peak height velocity (PHV).

How Young Girls Change Their Landing Technique Throughout the Adolescent Growth Spurt.

Background: Despite the rapid musculoskeletal changes experienced by girls throughout the adolescent growth spurt, little is known about how their lower limb landing technique changes during this time.

Purpose: To investigate the longitudinal changes in the 3-dimensional lower limb kinematics, joint moments, and muscle activation patterns displayed by girls when performing a horizontal landing task throughout their adolescent growth spurt.

Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study.

The Effect of the Mulligan Knee Taping Technique on Patellofemoral Pain and Lower Limb Biomechanics.

Background: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) affects 25% of the general population, occurring 2 times more often in females compared with males. Taping is a valuable component of the management plan for altering lower limb biomechanics and providing pain relief; however, the effects of alternative taping techniques, such as Mulligan knee taping, appear yet to be researched.

Purpose: To determine whether the Mulligan knee taping technique altered levels of perceived knee pain and lower limb biomechanics during a single-legged squat (SLSq) in adult females with PFP.

Insufficient hamstring strength compromises landing technique in adolescent girls.

Purpose: Women sustain more anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures than men, and this gender disparity is apparent from pubertal onset. Although the hamstring muscles play a vital role in ACL protection during landing by restraining anterior tibial motion relative to the femur, it is unknown whether hamstring strength affects landing biomechanics during a functional movement. This study aimed to determine whether pubescent girls with lower hamstring strength displayed different lower limb biomechanics when landing from a leap compared with girls with higher hamstring strength.

Musculoskeletal and estrogen changes during the adolescent growth spurt in girls.

Introduction: The adolescent growth spurt is associated with rapid growth and hormonal changes, thought to contribute to the increased anterior cruciate ligament injury risk in girls. However, relatively little is known about these musculoskeletal and estrogen changes during the growth spurt in girls.

Purpose: To investigate the longitudinal changes in estrogen as well as anterior knee laxity and lower limb strength and flexibility throughout the adolescent growth spurt in girls.

Why do girls sustain more anterior cruciate ligament injuries than boys?: a review of the changes in estrogen and musculoskeletal structure and function during puberty.

Sport is the leading cause of injury among adolescents and girls incur more non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures than boys, with this gender disparity in injury incidence apparent from the onset of puberty. Although the mechanisms for this gender disparity in ACL injuries are relatively unknown, hormonal, anatomical and biomechanical factors have been implicated. Puberty is associated with rapid skeletal growth and hormonal influx, both of which are thought to contribute to alterations in ACL metabolic and mechanical properties, as well as changes in lower limb strength and flexibility, ultimately influencing landing technique.