Motor Point as an Alternative to Femoral Nerve Stimulation for the Assessment of Quadriceps Muscle Inhibition in Healthy Women.

Context: The evaluation of quadriceps muscle inhibition with the interpolated twitch technique is usually performed by stimulating the femoral nerve (FN). However, there are some problems related to the use of this stimulation site, which may be partially overcome by delivering the stimulation over the motor point (MP). This study sought to compare MP to FN stimulation at different joint angles for the evaluation of quadriceps muscle inhibition, resting peak torque, and discomfort in healthy women.

Hip Joint Biomechanical Parameters and Their Relationship With the Esthetic Functional Performance of the Développé à la Seconde Movement in Classical Ballet Dancers.

Développé à la seconde is a classic ballet movement that requires the maintenance of a high hip joint range of motion (ROM) and muscle strength. However, the contribution of these hip joint biomechanical parameters to this movement's esthetic performance is unclear. Therefore, this study evaluated hip joint biomechanical characteristics of 21 experienced ballet dancers (15-29 y old) and verified the relationship between these variables with the développé à la seconde static and dynamic performance.

Can we replace exercises targeted on core/hip muscles by exercises targeted on leg/foot muscles in women with patellofemoral pain? A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To verify the effects of replacing exercises targeted on core/hip muscles by exercises targeted on leg/foot muscles in a rehabilitation program for patellofemoral pain (PFP).

Design: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Participants: Fifty women with PFP.

Proximal and distal muscle thickness is different in women with patellofemoral pain but is not associated with knee frontal plane projection angle.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare proximal and distal muscle thickness between patellofemoral pain (PFP) and asymptomatic women (CG) and to verify the possible association between morphology and lower limb alignment during single leg-squat.

Methods: Thirty women (PFP, n = 15 and CG, n = 15) performed the following evaluations: (i) muscle thickness of external oblique (EO), gluteus medius (GMed), tensor fascia latae (TFL), peroneus (PER) and tibialis anterior (TA); (ii) knee frontal plane projection angle (FPPA) during single-leg squat.

Results: Compared with the CG, PFP showed: (1) smaller GMed (-10.

Effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and low-level laser therapy on neuromuscular parameters and health status in elderly women with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized trial.

Objective: To determine the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and low-level laser therapy on neuromuscular parameters and health status in elderly subjects with knee osteoarthritis.

Design: A randomized evaluator-blinded clinical trial.

Subjects: Forty-five elderly women with knee osteoarthritis.

Effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and low-level laser therapy on the muscle architecture and functional capacity in elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To determine the effects of low-level laser therapy in combination with neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the muscle architecture and functional capacity of elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Design: A randomized, evaluator-blinded clinical trial with sequential allocation of patients to three different treatment groups.

Setting: Exercise Research Laboratory.