The impact of diabetic neuropathy on the distal versus proximal comparison of weakness in lower and upper limb muscles of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the impact of diabetic neuropathy (dNP) on the distal versus proximal comparison of weakness in lower and upper limb muscles of patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: 19 healthy male controls without neuropathy (HC) and 35 male T2DM patients, without dNP (n=8), with sensory dNP (n=13) or with sensorimotor dNP (dNPsm; n=14), were enrolled in this study. Maximal isometric (IM) and isokinetic (IK) muscle strength and IK muscle endurance of the dominant knee, ankle and elbow, and maximal IM handgrip strength were measured by means of dynamometry.

Measuring shoulder external and internal rotation strength and range of motion: comprehensive intra-rater and inter-rater reliability study of several testing protocols.

Background: Shoulder range of motion (ROM) and strength measurements are imperative in the clinical assessment of the patient's status and progression over time. The method and type of assessment varies among clinicians and institutions. No comprehensive study to date has examined the reliability of a variety of procedures based on different testing equipment and specific patient or shoulder position.

The effect of combined exercise training in adolescents who are overweight or obese with intellectual disability: the role of training frequency.

Data about effects of exercise training in adolescents with intellectual disability (ID) are very limited. This study investigated the effect of 2 different frequencies of the same intensity and total training volume of combined exercise training on indices of body composition, physical fitness, and lipid profile in overweight and obese adolescents with ID. A total of 45 overweight and obese adolescents with ID aged 14-22 years with a total IQ 45-70 received combined exercise training 3 times a week (CET3) for 30 sessions (10 weeks; n = 15), twice a week (CET2) for 30 sessions (15 weeks; n = 15), or no training (10 weeks; n = 15).

Computed tomographic analysis of the quality of trunk muscles in asymptomatic and symptomatic lumbar discectomy patients.

Background: No consensus exists on how rehabilitation programs for lumbar discectomy patients with persistent complaints after surgery should be composed. A better understanding of normal and abnormal postoperative trunk muscle condition might help direct the treatment goals.

Methods: A three-dimensional CT scan of the lumbar spine was obtained in 18 symptomatic and 18 asymptomatic patients who had undergone a lumbar discectomy 42 months to 83 months (median 63 months) previously.

Descriptive profile of scapulothoracic position, strength and flexibility variables in adolescent elite tennis players.

Study Design: Descriptive study, cross-sectional design.

Background: Tennis requires repetitive overhead movement patterns that can lead to upper extremity injury. The scapula plays a vital role in injury-free playing.

Isokinetic scapular muscle performance in young elite gymnasts.

Context: During gymnastic exercises, considerable force output is required in the shoulder girdle muscles. Isokinetic performance of the scapular muscles in young, elite gymnasts has not been examined.

Objective: To compare the isokinetic muscle performance of the scapular muscles between elite adolescent gymnasts and nonathletic adolescents to identify differences in strength, endurance, and muscle balance based on high-level sport participation.

Reliability of a functional clinical test battery evaluating postural control, proprioception and trunk muscle activity.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the repeatability and reproducibility of the different tests of a clinical test battery evaluating the components of functional spinal stability: postural control (sway velocity data), proprioception (repositioning error), and muscle activation (electromyographic data).

Design: A total of 28 healthy volunteers participated in this study: 14 in the repeatability study and 14 in the reproducibility study. Each subject was tested three times, with an interval of 1 wk between the test sessions.

Green light emitting diode irradiation enhances fibroblast growth impaired by high glucose level.

Background And Objective: The chronic metabolic disorder diabetes mellitus is an important cause of morbidity and mortality due to a series of common secondary metabolic complications, such as the development of severe, often slow healing skin lesions. In view of promoting the wound-healing process in diabetic patients, this preliminary in vitro study investigated the efficacy of green light emitting diode (LED) irradiation on fibroblast proliferation and viability under hyperglycemic circumstances.

Materials And Methods: To achieve hyperglycemic circumstances, embryonic chicken fibroblasts were cultured in Hanks' culture medium supplemented with 30 g/L glucose.

Increased fibroblast proliferation induced by light emitting diode and low power laser irradiation.

Background And Objective: As Light Emitting Diode (LED) devices are commercially introduced as an alternative for Low Level Laser (LLL) Therapy, the ability of LED in influencing wound healing processes at cellular level was examined.

Study Design/materials And Methods: Cultured fibroblasts were treated in a controlled, randomized manner, during three consecutive days, either with an infrared LLL or with a LED light source emitting several wavelengths (950 nm, 660 nm and 570 nm) and respective power outputs. Treatment duration varied in relation to varying surface energy densities (radiant exposures).

Scapular muscle recruitment patterns: trapezius muscle latency with and without impingement symptoms.

Background: Altered muscle activity in the scapular muscles is commonly believed to be a factor contributing to shoulder impingement syndrome. However, one important measure of the muscular coordination in the scapular muscles, the timing of the temporal recruitment pattern, is undetermined.

Purpose: To evaluate the timing of trapezius muscle activity in response to an unexpected arm movement in athletes with impingement and in normal control subjects.

Scapular muscle recruitment pattern: electromyographic response of the trapezius muscle to sudden shoulder movement before and after a fatiguing exercise.

Study Design: Test-retest reliability study and single-group repeated measures design.

Objectives: To evaluate the muscle latency times of the 3 portions of the trapezius muscle to a sudden arm movement in normal shoulders and to determine if this recruitment pattern is altered as a result of fatigue.

Background: It has been suggested that shoulder impingement may be related to altered muscle activity and muscle fatigue in the scapular stabilizers.