Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the fixed plumb line for postural and scoliosis assessment in the sagittal plane: a pilot study.

Background: The plumb line (PL) is a common tool for assessing the sagittal curvatures of the spine, but its accuracy depends on the ability of the physician to use it correctly. This study aimed to present a fixed plumb line (FPL) no longer held by a physician but fixed to a support, evaluating the reliability in posture assessment, comparing it with PL in both adolescent with and without scoliosis.

Methods: The study evaluated the sagittal distances of the spine using a PL and a FPL in 80 young adults aged between 28.

How Physical Activity Affects Knee Cartilage and a Standard Intervention Procedure for an Exercise Program: A Systematic Review.

(1) Background: Cartilage degeneration with the natural aging process and the role of physical activity on cartilage wellness is still not clear. The objective of the present review was to understand how different physical activity interventions affect the cartilage and to propose a Standard Operating Procedure for an exercise program to maintain knee joint health; (2) Methods: Articles were collected on three different electronic databases and screened against the eligibility criteria. Results were collected in tables and the main outcomes were discussed narratively; (3) Results: A total of 24 studies have been included after the screening process and aerobic, strength, flexibility, postural balance, and mobility interventions were detected.

Early elbow osteoarthritis in competitive enduro motorcyclist.

This case report speculates that prolonged vibration from enduro off-road sport is deleterious for the elbow joint. This contribution could also aid sports physicians in better understanding this complex unknown phenomenon. No published data are present in the current literature that demonstrates the correlation between early elbow osteoarthritis in enduro motorcyclist overuse.

Assessment of Vitamin D Supplementation on Articular Cartilage Morphology in a Young Healthy Sedentary Rat Model.

Deficiency in vitamin D (Vit D) has been widely associated with several musculoskeletal diseases. However, the effects of the exogenous Vit D supplementation are still unclear in the prevention of the latter, especially in the cartilage developmental period. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of Vit D supplementation and restriction on the articular cartilage development in healthy young sedentary rats.

Moderate Physical Activity as a Prevention Method for Knee Osteoarthritis and the Role of Synoviocytes as Biological Key.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of moderate physical activity (MPA) on the expression of osteoarthritis (OA)-related (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, MMP-13) and anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective (IL-4, IL-10, lubricin) biomarkers in the synovium of an OA-induced rat model. A total of 32 rats were divided into four groups: Control rats (Group 1); rats performing MPA (Group 2); anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT)-rats with OA (Group 3); and, ACLT-rats performing MPA (Group 4). Analyses were performed using Hematoxylin & Eosin (H & E) staining, histomorphometry and immunohistochemistry.

Clinical evidence of traditional fast track recovery methodologies after total arthroplasty for osteoarthritic knee treatment. A retrospective observational study.

Background: During the last years, programs to enhance postoperative recovery and decrease morbidity after total knee arthroplasty, have been developed across a variety of surgical procedures and referred to as "Fast-Track Surgery". In this study we aimed to find some answers in the management of osteoarthritic patients subjected to total knee arthroplasty, by using the Fast-Track methodology. To this purpose we evaluated parameters such as early mobilization of patients, better pain management, bleeding, possible complications, reduced hospitalization time, an overall improved recovery and patient satisfaction.

Engineered cartilage regeneration from adipose tissue derived-mesenchymal stem cells: A morphomolecular study on osteoblast, chondrocyte and apoptosis evaluation.

The poor self-repair capacity of cartilage tissue in degenerative conditions, such as osteoarthritis (OA), has prompted the development of a variety of therapeutic approaches, such as cellular therapies and tissue engineering based on the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The aim of this study is to demonstrate, for the first time, that the chondrocytes differentiated from rat adipose tissue derived-MSCs (AMSCs), are able to constitute a morphologically and biochemically healthy hyaline cartilage after 6 weeks of culture on a Collagen Cell Carrier (CCC) scaffold. In this study we evaluated the expression of some osteoblasts (Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and osteocalcin), chondrocytes (collagen I, II and lubricin) and apoptosis (caspase-3) biomarkers in undifferentiated AMSCs, differentiated AMSCs in chondrocytes cultured in monolayer and AMSCs-derived chondrocytes seeded on CCC scaffolds, by different techniques such as immunohistochemistry, ELISA, Western blot and gene expression analyses.

Single and dual incision technique for acute distal biceps rupture: clinical and functional outcomes.

Background: Distal bicep tendon injuries are a traumatic event though rather rare. The pathogenesis is not entirely clear. The most common cause for injury is an unexpected load on the biceps when the elbow is in an extended position.

Fibrin clot prevents bone tunnel enlargement after ACL reconstruction with allograft.

Purpose: Bone tunnel enlargement is a feared complication after ACL reconstruction. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether adding a fibrin clot to the allograft for anatomic single-bundle ACL reconstruction would reduce tunnel widening.

Methods: Fifty patients who underwent anatomic single-bundle ACL reconstruction were included.

Tibial ACL insertion site length: correlation between preoperative MRI and intra-operative measurements.

Purpose: This study was undertaken primarily to identify the tibial insertion site length of ruptured ACL fibres in patients undergoing primary ACL reconstruction. A secondary aim was to evaluate the correlation of pre- and intra-operative measurements.

Methods: In 146 patients undergoing primary ACL reconstruction, a preoperative measurement on MRI of the tibial ACL insertion site length was taken by two raters and then compared with single surgeon's intra-operative measurements using a specialized ruler.