Quadriceps and Patient-Reported Function in ACL-Reconstructed Patients: A Principal Component Analysis.

Context: Assessment of physical function for individuals after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R) is complex and warrants the use of diverse evaluation strategies. To maximize the efficiency of assessment, there is a need to identify tests that provide the most meaningful information about this population.

Objective: To investigate underlying constructs of quadriceps muscle function that uniquely describe aspects of performance in patients after ACL-R and establish clinical thresholds for measures able to classify patients with and without ACL-R.

Differential rates of recovery after acute sport-related concussion: electrophysiologic, symptomatic, and neurocognitive indices.

Purpose: To determine if motor evoked potentials (MEPs), postconcussion signs and symptoms, and neurocognitive functions follow a similar recovery pattern after concussion.

Methods: Nine collegiate athletes with acute concussion (>24 hours after injury) participated in this retrospective time series design. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was applied over the motor cortex, and MEPs were recorded from the contralateral upper extremity.

Knee-extension exercise's lack of immediate effect on maximal voluntary quadriceps torque and activation in individuals with anterior knee pain.

Context: Weight-bearing (WB) and non-weight-bearing (NWB) exercises are commonly used in rehabilitation programs for patients with anterior knee pain (AKP).

Objective: To determine the immediate effects of isolated WB or NWB knee-extension exercises on quadriceps torque output and activation in individuals with AKP.

Design: A single-blind randomized controlled trial.

The effectiveness of traditional and sling exercise strength training in women.

Strength training often combines closed-kinetic-chain exercises (CKCEs) and open kinetic-chain exercises (OKCEs). The CKCE may be more effective for improving performance in lower-body training. Recently, we reported upper-body CKCE (using a commercially available system of ropes and slings, Redcord AS, Staubo, Norway) was as effective as OKCE training for strength gains and that CKCE was more effective than OKCE for improving throwing performance.

A preliminary investigation of motor evoked potential abnormalities following sport-related concussion.

Background: Assessment of concussion is primarily based on self-reported symptoms, neurological examination and neuropsychological testing. The neurophysiologic sequelae and the integrity of the corticomotor pathways could be obtained by evaluating motor evoked potentials (MEPs).

Objectives: To compare MEPs obtained through transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in acutely concussed and non-concussed collegiate athletes.

Anterior shoulder laxity is not correlated with medial elbow laxity in high school baseball players.

Context: Uninjured baseball players have been shown to have increased anterior glenohumeral joint laxity, which may result in adaptive changes at the medial elbow.

Objective: To determine the relationship between anterior shoulder laxity and medial elbow laxity in both arms of baseball and nonbaseball high school athletes and compare the laxity of dominant and nondominant shoulders and elbows of high school baseball and nonbaseball players.

Design: Cohort design.

The effect of protective equipment on cervical spine alignment in collegiate lacrosse players.

Background: Contact sports place athletes at risk for cervical spine injury. Protective helmets and shoulder pads worn by football and ice hockey athletes alter cervical spine alignment. The effect of helmet and shoulder pads on neck alignment in lacrosse athletes is not known.