Countermovement Jump Inefficiency Is Mostly Independent of Quadriceps Weakness in Athletes Returning to Sport After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Orishimo, KF, Fukunaga, T, Kremenic, IJ, Rao, S, Magill, R, Ling, WK, McHugh, MP, and Nicholas, SJ. Countermovement jump inefficiency is mostly independent of quadriceps weakness in athletes returning to sport after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-After anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), comparing ground reaction force (GRF) metrics during countermovement jumps (CMJs) and isokinetic quadriceps strength testing may aid in return-to-sport decision-making.

Acute Dosing Strategy with Vistula Tart Cherries for Recovery of Strenuous Exercise-A Feasibility Study.

Tart cherry (TC) consumption has become a popular nutritional strategy for recovery, particularly for the attenuation of markers associated with muscle damage. However, there are relatively few studies that have examined an acute dosing strategy. The aim of this pilot study was to explore the feasibility of using powdered Vistula TC for recovery following a bout of muscle-damaging exercise.

Habitual physical activity and COVID-19.

Background: Physical activity (PA) is known to decrease COVID-19 risk factors and can attenuate symptoms of viral infections. However, difficulty exercising and fatigue are common complaints after COVID-19. It is unknown whether prior habitual PA will improve outcomes and what the time course is until full recovery of PA after COVID-19.

Lower extremity kinematic and kinetic factors associated with bat speed at ball contact during the baseball swing.

The purpose of this study was to determine which biomechanical variables measured during the baseball swing are associated with linear bat speed at ball contact (bat speed). Twenty collegiate baseball players hit a baseball from a tee into a net. Kinematics were recorded with a motion capture system sampling at 500 Hz and kinetics were measured by force plates under each foot sampling at 1000 Hz.

Does High Medial Elbow Stress During Pitching Compromise the Dynamic Stabilizers of The Elbow?

Background: The flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) and flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) are thought to provide dynamic stability to the medial elbow, with a lesser contribution from the pronator teres (PT).

Hypothesis/purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if baseball pitchers with higher valgus elbow torque experience greater FCU and FDS strength loss.

Study Design: Controlled Laboratory Study.

Adductor Strains in Athletes.

Acute adductor injuries are a common occurrence in sport. The overall incidence of adductor strains across 25 college sports was 1.29 injuries per 1000 exposures, with men's soccer (3.

Flexor-Pronator Mass Training Exercises Selectively Activate Forearm Musculature.

Purpose/hypothesis: The flexor-pronator mass of the forearm contributes dynamic stability to the medial elbow. Training this muscle group is essential for overhead athletes, however, there is lack of evidence supporting use of training exercises. The purpose of this study was to measure the extent of EMG activity of the flexor pronator musculature during two distinct forearm strengthening exercises using resistance bands.

Use of a Non-Pharmacological Pain Relief Kit to Reduce Opioid Use Following Orthopedic Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Study.

Introduction: Opioid prescription to treat pain among orthopedic surgery patients remains common practice in the United States but overprescribing opioids can lead to abuse. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a multimodal non-pharmacological 'pain relief kit' on pain, function, and opioid consumption in individuals recovering from orthopedic surgery.

Hypothesis: Patients provided with the pain relief kit would consume less opioid medication, report lower pain levels, and have better functional outcome scores than the control group.

Physician reported outcomes of hip arthroscopy without a perineal post: an international survey.

Although the current literature reports an acceptable rate of complications with the use of a perineal post in hip arthroscopy, they are still possible and preventable. The purpose of this study was to survey International Society for Hip Arthroscopy (ISHA) members on their use of postless distraction in hip arthroscopy. A 19-question survey was emailed to hip preservation surgeons that are members of ISHA.

Role of Pelvis and Trunk Biomechanics in Generating Ball Velocity in Baseball Pitching.

Orishimo, KF, Kremenic, IJ, Mullaney, MJ, Fukunaga, T, Serio, N, and McHugh, MP. Role of pelvis and trunk biomechanics in generating ball velocity in baseball pitching. J Strength Cond Res 37(3): 623-628, 2023-The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of pelvis rotation velocity, trunk rotation velocity, and hip-shoulder separation on ball velocity during baseball pitching.

Resisted adduction sit-up test (RASUT) as a screening tool for pelvic versus hip pathology.

Groin pain is a common symptom in hip and pelvic pathology and differentiating between the two remains a challenge. The purpose of this study was to examine whether a test combining resisted adduction with a sit-up (RASUT) differentiates between pelvic and hip pathology. The RASUT was performed on 160 patients with complaints of hip or groin pain who subsequently had their diagnosis confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or surgery.

Band Pull-Apart Exercise: Effects of Movement Direction and Hand Position on Shoulder Muscle Activity.

Background/purpose: The Elastic band pull-apart exercise is commonly used in rehabilitation. It involves pulling an elastic resistance band with both hands in horizontal abduction or diagonal arm movements. The extent of muscle activation during this exercise is unknown.

Predictive value of magnetic resonance imaging in outcomes of nonsurgical treatment of lateral epicondylitis.

Background: The diagnosis of lateral epicondylitis is typically made on the basis of clinical history and examination. However, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often used to supplement evaluation of the patient with a painful elbow and can identify extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) tendon tears. The objective of this study was to determine if ECRB tear size on MRI could be used as a prognostic indicator for patients with recalcitrant lateral epicondylitis and partial ECRB tears.

"Precovery" versus recovery: Understanding the role of cherry juice in exercise recovery.

Cherry juice has become a standard component of athlete recovery strategies. This review covers the history of cherry juice as a recovery drink to give context to its current use. Fifteen studies were identified that included a measure of muscle function, soreness, or inflammation on the days following exercise and had an exercise insult sufficient to assess the effectiveness of the tart cherry intervention.

Importance of Transverse Plane Flexibility for Proficiency in Golf.

McHugh, MP, O'Mahoney, CA, Orishimo, KF, Kremenic, IJ, and Nicholas, SJ. Importance of transverse plane flexibility for proficiency in golf. J Strength Cond Res 36(2): e49-e54, 2022-The extent to which the flexibility requirements for golf proficiency vary between the planes of motion has not been examined.

Comparison of Hip and Low Back Loads between Normal Gait, Axillary Crutch Ambulation and Walking with a Hands-free Crutch in a Healthy Population.

Background: Instead of using axillary crutches, using a hands-free crutch (HFC) has been associated with higher functional outcome scores. However, hip and back pain have been reported as side effects.

Purpose/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to compare range of motion and joint reaction forces at the hip and low back between HFC walking, normal walking, and standard crutch walking.

Electromyographic analysis of select eccentric-focused rotator cuff exercises.

Background: Eccentric-focused rotator cuff exercises are clinically useful in rehabilitation; however, to what extent these exercises activate shoulder musculature is unknown.

Purpose: Investigate peak electromyographic (EMG) activity of shoulder musculature during eccentric-focused rotator cuff exercises to inform clinical decision-making.

Methods: Surface EMG activity was measured in 15 healthy subjects from 5 muscles of the dominant shoulder: supraspinatus, infraspinatus, upper trapezius, lower trapezius, and middle deltoid.

The cold truth: the role of cryotherapy in the treatment of injury and recovery from exercise.

Cryotherapy is utilized as a physical intervention in the treatment of injury and exercise recovery. Traditionally, ice is used in the treatment of musculoskeletal injury while cold water immersion or whole-body cryotherapy is used for recovery from exercise. In humans, the primary benefit of traditional cryotherapy is reduced pain following injury or soreness following exercise.

Don't Lose Your Cool With Cryotherapy: The Application of Phase Change Material for Prolonged Cooling in Athletic Recovery and Beyond.

Strenuous exercise can result in muscle damage in both recreational and elite athletes, and is accompanied by strength loss, and increases in soreness, oxidative stress, and inflammation. If the aforementioned signs and symptoms associated with exercise-induced muscle damage are excessive or unabated, the recovery process becomes prolonged and can result in performance decrements; consequently, there has been a great deal of research focussing on accelerating recovery following exercise. A popular recovery modality is cryotherapy which results in a reduction of tissue temperature by the withdrawal of heat from the body.

ASSESSMENT OF HUMERAL TORSION BY PALPATION IN BASEBALL PITCHERS: A VALIDATION STUDY.

Background/purpose: Greater humeral retroversion has been associated with shoulder and elbow injuries. Methods for measuring torsion include radiography, computed tomography (CT) and sonography (US) which may be costly or unavailable. A palpation method might be a reliable alternative to imaging techniques.