Relationships among lateral medicine ball throw test performance, HIP and trunk muscle strength, and lower limb kinematics: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: The lateral medicine ball throw (LMBT) test is used to evaluate the throwing action, involving the entire kinetic chain and the principle of force transfer, with association between the strength of the lower limb and trunk muscles and the lower limb kinematics. The LMBT to investigate the association between lower limb kinematics and hip and trunk muscle strength.

Experimental: This was a cross-sectional study with 84 healthy and physically active young people.

Posturography measures in specific ballet stance position discriminate ballet dancers with different occurrences of musculoskeletal injuries.

Background: This study aimed to identify the postural sway variables that can distinguish between ballet dancers with high and low occurrences of musculoskeletal injuries.

Methods: Fourteen professional ballet dancers were assigned to a high-occurrence group (N = 5, reports >2 injuries in the previous 6-months) or a low-occurrence group (N = 9, reports ≤1 injury). Center-of-pressure (COP) data were acquired using a force platform during the following tasks: single-leg stance with eyes open, single-leg stance with eyes closed, and demi-pointe stance with eyes open.

Adding neuromuscular training to a strengthening program did not produce additional improvement in clinical or kinematic outcomes in women with patellofemoral pain: A blinded randomised controlled trial.

Background: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a knee pain condition with multifactorial aetiology, twice common in women. The recommended conservative treatment is based on strengthening of the core, hip, and knee musculatures. Addition of neuromuscular training to a strengthening protocol might provide further benefits on pain, function, and kinematics in PFP individuals.

Immediate effect of manual therapy techniques on the limitation of ankle dorsiflexion: a randomized, controlled, blind clinical trial protocol.

Background: The range of motion (RoM) of dorsiflexion (DF) plays an important role in human mobility, such as absorption of body weight during gait deceleration, jump landings, balance, and eccentric movements. This limitation can generate potentially damaging movements. This way, evaluating techniques for DF RoM increase could help improve immediate performance in such functional activities.

Electromiographic activity during single leg jump in adolescent athletes with chronic ankle instability: A pilot study.

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a common condition in athletes, which can alter the muscular activity of lower limb during jump. The objective of the study was to verify the magnitude of activation, onset timing and order of recruitment of the proximal and local muscles to the ankle of young athletes with CAI during a single leg vertical jump. Thirty-seven athletes were selected and divided into: 1) CAI group and 2) control group.

Additional effect of pain neuroscience education to craniocervical manual therapy and exercises for pain intensity and disability in temporomandibular disorders: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

The objective of this study will be to investigate the additional effect of pain neuroscience education program compared to a craniocervical manual therapy and exercises program for pain intensity and disability in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). This study will be a randomized controlled trial comprising a sample of 148 participants. Subjects between 18 and 55 years, both genders, will undergo a screening process to confirm painful TMD by the Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC/TMD), and then the volunteers will be randomized into two groups (G1: pain neuroscience education + craniocervical manual therapy and exercises vs.

Relationship between upper limb physical performance tests and muscle strength of scapular, shoulder and spine stabilizers: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Performance tests of the upper limb have been frequently used in the evaluation of individuals to identify risk of injury and to determine improvement in physical performance. Understanding the variables related to the performance of the tests is important for better applicability and interpretation of test results. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investige the correlation between isometric strength of scapular, shoulder and spine muscles with physical performance test of upper limb in men and women.

Reliability of 2D kinematics during landing of volleyball athletes after exhaustion.

Introduction: It is possible to quantify changes in movement patterns through kinematic analysis of landing, especially to quantify changes in pre and post exhaustion situations, however the reliability of this post exhaustion analysis is not known.

Objective: To verify the inter and intra-examiner reliability of two-dimensional kinematic analysis during the landing of a vertical jump of volleyball athletes, pre and post exhaustion protocol.

Experimental: Thirty volleyball athletes were recruited, and kinematic analysis was performed during landing, pre and post exhaustion protocol.

Effects of neuromuscular training and strengthening of trunk and lower limbs muscles in women with Patellofemoral Pain: A protocol of randomized controlled clinical trial, blinded.

Background: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) often affects young women, and the etiology is multifactorial and poorly understood. Conservative intervention has been focused on risk factors or aggravating factors and is composed of hip- and knee-strengthening exercises, as this population often has muscle weakness and poor motor control during daily and sports activities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the additional effects of neuromuscular training in a conservative treatment of trunk-, hip-, and knee-muscle strengthening on pain, function, and kinematics of the trunk, pelvis, and lower limb in women with PFP.

Electromyographic activity of the quadriceps and gluteus medius muscles during/different straight leg raise and squat exercises in women with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PPS) is characterized by anterior knee pain and affects young female adults. Physiotherapy is the most indicated treatment. The objective of the study was to analyze electromyographic activity of the quadriceps and gluteus medius muscles during different open and closed kinetic chain exercises in women with PPS.

Electromyographic ratio of masseter and anterior temporalis muscles in children with and without temporomandibular disorders.

Objective: This study investigated differences in surface electromyography (sEMG) activity of the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles in children with and without temporomandibular disorders (TMD).

Participants: Thirty-four children aged 8-12 years were recruited, comprising 17 children with TMD and 17 without TMD (control group [CG]). The children were quasi-matched for sex, age, weight, and height.

Biomechanical Analysis of the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper-Extremity Stability Test.

Context: The closed kinetic chain upper-extremity stability (CKCUES) test is a functional test for the upper extremity performed in the push-up position, where individuals support their body weight on 1 hand placed on the ground and swing the opposite hand until touching the hand on the ground, then switch hands and repeat the process as fast as possible for 15 s.

Objective: To study scapular kinematic and kinetic measures during the CKCUES test for 3 different distances between hands.

Design: Experimental.

Muscular weakness represents the main limiting factor of walk, functional independence and quality of life of myelopathy patients associated to HTLV-1.

Unlabelled: HTLV-1-associated myelopathy is a progressive disabling disease associated with gait abnormalities.

Objective: To identify and quantify the main muscles affected by weakness and spasticity, their impact on gait, functional capacity and on quality of life of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy patients.

Method: We evaluated lower limbs muscular strength according to the Medical Research Council scale, spasticity according to the modified Ashworth scale, daily activities according to the Barthel Index and quality of life according to the Short-Form Health Survey-36 of 26 HTLV-1-associated myelopathy patients.

Characteristics and prevalence of musculoskeletal injury in professional and non-professional ballet dancers.

Background: Ballet is a high-performance activity that requires an advanced level of technical skills. Ballet places great stress on tendons, muscles, bones, and joints and may act directly as a trigger of injury by overuse.

Objectives: 1) to describe the main types of injuries and affected areas related to classical ballet and 2) to compare the frequency of musculoskeletal injuries among professional and non-professional ballet dancers, considering possible gender differences among the professional dancers.

Influence of exercises on patellar height in women with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate the patellar height of volunteers with and without patellofemoral pain syndrome (PPS) during maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) in open kinetic chain (OKC) and closed kinetic chain (CKC) exercises.

Methods: Twenty healthy women, and nineteen women with patellofemoral pain syndrome were evaluated and subjected to nuclear magnetic resonance imaging during rest and MVIC in OKC and CKC at 15°, 30°, and 45° knee flexion. The patellar height was assessed by the K-Pacs program,using the Insall-Salvati index.

Pain, Work-related Characteristics, and Psychosocial Factors among Computer Workers at a University Center.

[Purpose] Complaint of pain is common in computer workers, encouraging the investigation of pain-related workplace factors. This study investigated the relationship among work-related characteristics, psychosocial factors, and pain among computer workers from a university center. [Subjects and Methods] Fifteen subjects (median age, 32.

The effect of a patellar bandage on the postural control of individuals with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

A patellar bandage is often used by individuals with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PPS) to reduce pain and the additional sensorial input improves proprioception of the knee joint. The aim of this work was to assess the effect of a patellar bandage on the postural control of individuals with and without PPS. [Subjects and Methods] An analysis was performed of variables of center of pressure (CoP) as recorded by a force plate.

Contribution of the evaluation of the clinical signals in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Objective: As patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common disorder characterized by multifactorial etiology and whose the most prevalent symptom is a diffuse pain, usually located on the retropatellar region, however, it also shows signs and symptoms that can be related as excessive subtalar pronation, external tibial torsion, patellar displacement alterations, painful range of motion of the knee, pain in the patellar borders, muscular tightness and changes in quadriceps angle (Q Angle), the objective of this work was to determine the frequency of these signs and symptoms associated to a previous knee pain questionnaire.

Methods: Thirty-nine sedentary female volunteers had been evaluated, divided in two groups, PFPS (19) and Control (20). These subjects were evaluated for signs and symptoms described above, in addition to pain assessment by questionnaire.

Quantitative MRI of vastus medialis, vastus lateralis and gluteus medius muscle workload after squat exercise: comparison between squatting with hip adduction and hip abduction.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the use MRI to quantify the workload of gluteus medius (GM), vastus medialis (VM) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles in different types of squat exercises. Fourteen female volunteers were evaluated, average age of 22 ± 2 years, sedentary, without clinical symptoms, and without history of previous lower limb injuries. Quantitative MRI was used to analyze VM, VL and GM muscles before and after squat exercise, squat associated with isometric hip adduction and squat associated with isometric hip abduction.

Correlation between trochlear groove depth and patellar position during open and closed kinetic chain exercises in subjects with anterior knee pain.

The purpose of this study was to correlate the trochlear shape and patellar tilt angle and lateral patellar displacement at rest and maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) exercises during open (OKC) and closed kinetic chain (CKC) in subjects with and without anterior knee pain. Subjects were all women, 20 who were clinically healthy and 19 diagnosed with anterior knee pain. All subjects were evaluated and subjected to magnetic resonance exams during OKC and CKC exercise with the knee placed at 15, 30, and 45 degrees of flexion.

Analysis of angular reading distortions of photographic images.

Background: Although photogrammetry is a widespread technique in the health field, despite of the methodological efforts distortions in the angular readings of the images are common.

Objective: To measure the error of angular measurements in photo images with different digital resolutions in an object with pre-determined angles.

Methods: We used a rubber ball with 52 cm in circumference.

Analysis of the center of pressure displacement, ground reaction force and muscular activity during step exercises.

Anterior Knee Pain (AKP) is considered as one of the most common, yet misunderstood, knee pathologies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the displacement area of the center of pressure, Ground Reaction Force (GRF), and the electromyography activity of the hip and the quadriceps muscles in healthy and AKP individuals during the step-up and step-down exercises. Both groups (Control group and AKP group) were composed of 15 volunteers submitted to the exercises on a force plate.

Muscular activity of patella and hip stabilizers of healthy subjects during squat exercises.

Background: Hip and knee muscle weaknesses have been associated with the onset of anterior knee pain (AKP). Therefore, the understanding of how squats exercises can be performed in order to optimize the electrical activity of these muscles is relevant for physical therapy treatments.

Objective: To compare the electromyographic activity of patella and pelvic stabilizers during traditional squat and squat associated with isometric hip adduction or abduction in subjects without AKP.

Analysis of patellar stabilizers muscles and patellar kinematics in anterior knee pain subjects.

Patella stabilizer muscle response and patellar kinematics were evaluated in 19 women with anterior knee pain (AKP) and 20 healthy women during maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) with the knee positioned at 15°, 30° and 45° flexion during open (OKC) and closed (CKC) kinetic chain exercises. Patellar kinematics was evaluated through patellar tilt and displacement, and the electrical activity of patellar stabilizers through the root mean square normalized during MVIC and OKC with the knee at 90° flexion. Data revealed that the vastus medialis oblique muscle (VMO) was more active in the control group compared to the AKP group during OKC exercises with the knee at 45° flexion.