The Ankle-Joint Complex: A Kinesiologic Approach to Lateral Ankle Sprains.

Copious research exists regarding ankle instability, yet lateral ankle sprains (LASs) persist in being among the most common recurrent musculoskeletal injuries. Key anatomical structures of the ankle include a triform articulating structure that includes the inferior tibiofibular, talocrural, and subtalar joints. Functionally, force absorption and propulsion through the ankle complex are necessary for any task that occurs in weight bearing.

Reliability of 3-Dimensional Measures of Single-Leg Cross Drop Landing Across 3 Different Institutions: Implications for Multicenter Biomechanical and Epidemiological Research on ACL Injury Prevention.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are physically and financially devastating but affect a relatively small percentage of the population. Prospective identification of risk factors for ACL injury necessitates a large sample size; therefore, study of this injury would benefit from a multicenter approach.

Purpose: To determine the reliability of kinematic and kinetic measures of a single-leg cross drop task across 3 institutions.

Reliability of 3-Dimensional Measures of Single-Leg Drop Landing Across 3 Institutions: Implications for Multicenter Research for Secondary ACL-Injury Prevention.

Context: Due to the limitations of single-center studies in achieving appropriate sampling with relatively rare disorders, multicenter collaborations have been proposed to achieve desired sampling levels. However, documented reliability of biomechanical data is necessary for multicenter injury-prevention studies and is currently unavailable.

Objective: To measure the reliability of 3-dimensional (3D) biomechanical waveforms from kinetic and kinematic variables during a single-leg landing (SLL) performed at 3 separate testing facilities.

Consistency of clinical biomechanical measures between three different institutions: implications for multi-center biomechanical and epidemiological research.

Purpose/background: Multi-center collaborations provide a powerful alternative to overcome the inherent limitations to single-center investigations. Specifically, multi-center projects can support large-scale prospective, longitudinal studies that investigate relatively uncommon outcomes, such as anterior cruciate ligament injury. This project was conceived to assess within- and between-center reliability of an affordable, clinical nomogram utilizing two-dimensional video methods to screen for risk of knee injury.

Trends in concussion return-to-play timelines among high school athletes from 2007 through 2009.

Context: Whereas guidelines about return-to-play (RTP) after concussion have been published, actual prognoses remain elusive.

Objective: To develop probability estimates for time until RTP after sport-related concussion.

Design: Descriptive epidemiology study.

Effect of a 2-week joint mobilization intervention on single-limb balance and ankle arthrokinematics in those with chronic ankle instability.

Context: A single talocrural joint-mobilization treatment has improved spatiotemporal measures of postural control but not ankle arthrokinematics in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). However, the effects of multiple treatment sessions on these aspects of function have not been investigated.

Objective: To examine the effect of a 2-wk anterior-to-posterior joint-mobilization intervention on instrumented measures of single-limb-stance static postural control and ankle arthrokinematics in adults with CAI.

Return-to-play probabilities following new versus recurrent ankle sprains in high school athletes.

Objectives: Although ankle sprains have the highest recurrence rate of any musculoskeletal injury, objective estimates of when an athlete is likely to return-to-play (RTP) are unknown. The purpose was to compare time to return-to-play probability timelines for new and recurrent ankle sprains in interscholastic athletes.

Design: Observational.

Comparing Responsiveness of Six Common Patient-Reported Outcomes to Changes Following Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies.

Objective: To compare the responsiveness of six common patient-reported outcomes (PROs) following autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI).

Design: A systematic search was conducted to identify reports of PROs following ACI. Study quality was evaluated using the modified Coleman Methodology Score (mCMS).

Compliance with neuromuscular training and anterior cruciate ligament injury risk reduction in female athletes: a meta-analysis.

Context: No consensus exists about the influence of compliance with neuromuscular training programs on reduction of the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Objective: To systematically review and synthesize the published literature to determine if compliance with neuromuscular training is associated with reduced incidence of ACL injury in young female athletes.

Data Sources: We searched PubMed, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, and MEDLINE for articles published from 1995 to 2010 using the key words anterior cruciate ligament prevention, ACL prevention, knee prevention, prospective knee prevention, neuromuscular training, and neuromuscular intervention.

Longitudinal documentation of serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein and patient-reported outcomes in collegiate soccer athletes over the course of an athletic season.

Background: Serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (sCOMP) is a biomarker for cartilage degradation. Patient-reported outcomes (PRO) are used to document postinjury recovery and may be used to prospectively identify changes in the course of a season. It is unknown what effect intense, continuous physical activity has on sCOMP levels and PRO values in athletes over the duration of a soccer season.

Two-week joint mobilization intervention improves self-reported function, range of motion, and dynamic balance in those with chronic ankle instability.

We examined the effect of a 2-week anterior-to-posterior ankle joint mobilization intervention on weight-bearing dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM), dynamic balance, and self-reported function in subjects with chronic ankle instability (CAI). In this prospective cohort study, subjects received six Maitland Grade III anterior-to-posterior joint mobilization treatments over 2 weeks. Weight-bearing dorsiflexion ROM, the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral reach directions of the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), and self-reported function on the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) were assessed 1 week before the intervention (baseline), prior to the first treatment (pre-intervention), 24-48 h following the final treatment (post-intervention), and 1 week later (1-week follow-up) in 12 adults (6 males and 6 females) with CAI.

Dorsiflexion and dynamic postural control deficits are present in those with chronic ankle instability.

Objectives: To determine if differences in weight-bearing ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (DFROM) and Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) reach distances were present between participants with chronic ankle instability (CAI) and healthy individuals. A secondary objective was to re-examine the relationship between these measures in participants with and without CAI.

Design: Case-control.

Determination of the Interday and Intraday Reliability of Serum Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein in a Physically Active Population.

Objective: To determine the intraday and interday reliability of serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (sCOMP) in a physically active population with no history of lower extremity surgery.

Design: A repeated-measures reliability study was employed to determine the intraday and interday reliability of sCOMP in a physically active cohort. A total of 23 subjects were recruited to the laboratory on 3 separate occasions for nonfasting serum collection.

Sex differences and discriminative value of lower extremity alignments and kinematics during two functional tasks.

The purpose of this study was to formulate a predictive equation to discriminate males from females using static and dynamic lower extremity (LE) alignments. Twenty-four healthy adults volunteered to participate. Three-dimensional motion analysis was used to assess the kinematics of the right hip and knee during two functional tasks.

Sex differences and representative values for 6 lower extremity alignment measures.

Context: A discrepancy in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury rates exists between men and women. Structural differences between the sexes often are implicated as a factor in this discrepancy. Researchers anecdotally assume that men and women tend to display different normative values for certain lower extremity alignments, but published information about these values is limited.

Neural gliding techniques for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: a systematic review.

Context: There are discrepancies regarding the efficacy of neural gliding exercises for the management of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Objective: To conduct a systematic review assessing the efficacy of neural gliding in comparison to alternative nonsurgical treatment for the management of CTS.

Evidence Acquisition: A computerized search was performed in April 2008.