The development of long-term osteoarthritis following anterior cruciate ligament injury: reconstruction vs no reconstruction.

Purpose: The high incidence of osteoarthritis (OA) in relatively young sportspeople following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is concerning. Surgery is considered to reduce the development of OA compared to conservative management. This long-term study aimed to compare the incidence and severity of tibiofemoral OA (TFOA) and patellofemoral OA (PFOA) between reconstructed and non-reconstructed treatment groups and to determine which factors influence the development of OA.

Implicit motor imagery using laterality recognition in functional movement disorders.

Functional movement disorder (FMD) presents as disabling motor symptoms that cannot be explained by organic processes. Despite the lack of lesion or known central nervous system dysfunction, distortion in sensorimotor processing in movement generation and execution is often observed. A person's capacity to judge laterality of a body part requires processing of sensorimotor information.

Exploring the Effect of Combined Transcranial and Intra-Oral Photobiomodulation Therapy Over a Four-Week Period on Physical and Cognitive Outcome Measures for People with Parkinson's Disease: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study.

Background: Neuroprotection against Parkinson's disease degeneration by photobiomodulation has been reported in animal models but no true placebo-controlled human studies have been published.

Objective: To understand if photobiomodulation therapy can produce clinically significant differences in physical performance measures in people with Parkinson's disease; and what frequency of treatment is necessary to initiate clinical change.

Methods: In a participant and assessor-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study, 22 participants received either sham and/or active laser photobiomodulation (904 nm, 60 mW/diode, 50 Hz) for 33 s to each of 21 points at the cranium and intra-orally, on one, two or three times/week for 4 weeks.

Survey of the perceptions of health practitioners regarding Functional Neurological Disorders in Australia.

Objectives of this study were to identify the knowledge and support needs for a wide range of health professions who come in contact with patients with Functional Neurological Disorders (FND) in Australia. Invitations to an anonymous online survey (36 items) were sent to health professionals (practicing in the fields of neurology, psychiatry, psychology, general practice, nursing and physiotherapy) who are involved in the care of patients suffering from FND. Potential participants were invited via professional and hospital databases, advertising in professional newsletters as well as direct emails.

Meniscal Allograft Transplantation: The Effect of Cartilage Status on Survivorship and Clinical Outcome.

Purpose: To evaluate the survivorship of meniscal allograft transplantations (MATs), their clinical outcomes, and to compare the effect of perioperative cartilage status on survivorship.

Method: A consecutive series of MATs with a minimum postsurgical time of 4 years were included from a prospectively collected database from 2001 to 2015. Mechanical failure was defined as transplant removal or knee arthroplasty.

The effect of anterior cruciate ligament rupture on the timing and amplitude of gastrocnemius muscle activation: a study of alterations in EMG measures and their relationship to knee joint stability.

Changes in hamstring and quadriceps activity are well known in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency (ACLD) to potentially compensate for knee joint instability. However, few studies have explored gastrocnemius activity or its relationship to knee stability. The purpose of this study was therefore to examine the activation characteristics of medial gastrocnemius (MG) in ACLD subjects and relate any changes to knee joint laxity.

The immediate effect of unilateral lumbar Z-joint mobilisation on posterior chain neurodynamics: a randomised controlled study.

Hamstring strain (HS) is a common musculoskeletal condition and abnormal neurodynamics has been shown to influence HS and delay recovery. The efficacy of stretching for preventing and treating HS remains uncertain despite extensive research and wide-spread use. The effects of cervical spine mobilisation on peripheral nervous system function, neurodynamics and muscle force in the upper limb have been reported.

Factors involved in the development of osteoarthritis after anterior cruciate ligament surgery.

Background: The incidence of osteoarthritis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is disturbingly high, with reports of nearly 50% of patients developing mild to moderate osteoarthritis 6 years after surgery. Few studies have assessed the factors involved in the development of osteoarthritis.

Hypothesis: The following 10 factors will be found to be predictive of osteoarthritis: meniscectomy, chondral damage, patellar tendon grafting, age at surgery, time delay between injury and surgery, type and intensity of postsurgery sport, quadriceps strength, hamstring strength, quadriceps-to-hamstring strength ratio, and residual joint laxity.

A 6-year follow-up of the effect of graft site on strength, stability, range of motion, function, and joint degeneration after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: patellar tendon versus semitendinosus and Gracilis tendon graft.

Background: The choice of graft material for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction remains controversial. Despite the need for well-controlled, long-term outcome studies comparing patellar tendon with hamstring grafting, few studies have followed results for more than 5 years.

Hypothesis: Graft source will not affect outcome 6 years after reconstruction.

Physiotherapy after breast cancer surgery: results of a randomised controlled study to minimise lymphoedema.

The development of secondary arm lymphoedema after the removal of axillary lymph nodes remains a potential problem for women with breast cancer. This study investigated the incidence of arm lymphoedema following axillary dissection to determine the effect of prospective monitoring and early physiotherapy intervention. Sixty-five women were randomly assigned to either the treatment (TG) or control group (CG) and assessments were made preoperatively, at day 5 and at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months postoperatively.

Shoulder movement after breast cancer surgery: results of a randomised controlled study of postoperative physiotherapy.

Breast screening programmes have facilitated more conservative approaches to the surgical and radiotherapy management of women diagnosed with breast cancer. This study investigated changes in shoulder movement after surgery for primary, operable breast cancer to determine the effect of elective physiotherapy intervention. Sixty-five women were randomly assigned to either the treatment (TG) or control group (CG) and assessments were completed preoperatively, at day 5 and at 1 month, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months postoperatively.