Aging is associated with increased activities of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 in tenocytes.

Background: Most tendon pathology is associated with degeneration, which is thought to involve cyclic loading and cumulative age-related changes in tissue architecture. However, the association between aging and degeneration of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in tendons has not been investigated extensively.

Methods: We examined tenocytes from Achilles tendons taken from rats of three different ages (2, 12, and 24 months).

Ibuprofen inhibition of tendon cell migration and down-regulation of paxillin expression.

Sports-related tendon injuries are commonly treated with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Tendon healing requires migration of tendon cells to the repair site, followed by proliferation and synthesis of the extracellular matrix. This study was designed to determine the effect of ibuprofen on the migration of tendon cells intrinsic to rat Achilles tendon.

Ultrasound-guided shoulder injections in the treatment of subacromial bursitis.

Objective: To investigate the treatment effectiveness between ultrasound-guided and blind injection techniques in the treatment of subacromial bursitis.

Design: A total of 40 patients with sonographic confirmation of subacromial bursitis were recruited into this study. These patients were divided into blind and ultrasound-guided injection groups.

Plantar fasciitis treated with local steroid injection: comparison between sonographic and palpation guidance.

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of sonographically guided and palpation-guided steroid injection for the treatment of proximal plantar fasciitis.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-five consecutive patients with unilateral proximal plantar fasciitis were recruited and randomly divided into a sonographically guided group (n = 12) and palpation-guided group (n = 13). Proximal plantar fascia was assessed with a 5- to 12-MHz linear-array transducer.

Improvement of muscle strength in osteoarthritic knee patients after intraarticular knee injection of hyaluronan.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate whether the knee concentric and eccentric muscle strengths can be improved in patients with bilateral knee osteoarthritis after intraarticular hyaluronan injections.

Design: A total of 25 patients with bilateral knee osteoarthritis and with a radiographic Ahlbäck grading scale of I or II participated in this study. One session of intraarticular knee injection of hyaluronan was given to both knees (weekly intraarticular knee hyaluronan injections for a total of 5 wks).

Ultrasound guidance in caudal epidural needle placement.

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of using ultrasound as an image tool to locate the sacral hiatus accurately for caudal epidural injections.

Methods: Between August 2002 and July 2003, 70 patients (39 male and 31 female patients) with low back pain and sciatica were studied. Soft tissue ultrasonography was performed to locate the sacral hiatus.

Clinical effects of botulinum toxin A and phenol block on gait in children with cerebral palsy.

Objective: To compare the treatment effectiveness of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) and phenol blocks in managing lower limb spasticity and gait dysfunction in children with cerebral palsy.

Design: This is a case-controlled study that took place in a tertiary center's gait laboratory. A total of 27 ambulatory children with cerebral palsy spastic diplegia, aged from 3 to 7 yrs, and 20 normal children were recruited into this study.

Transmetatarsal amputation prosthesis with carbon-fiber plate: enhanced gait function.

Objective: To determine whether the design of a transmetatarsal amputation prosthesis with a carbon-fiber plate would improve gait pattern in patients with transmetatarsal amputations.

Design: In the gait laboratory in a tertiary medical center, eight male patients with transmetatarsal amputations were recruited. Nine able-bodied male volunteers were recruited as the control group.

Measurement of forefoot varus angle by laser technology in people with flexible flatfoot.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure the forefoot varus angles in subjects with and without flexible flatfoot (FF) by using laser foot-scanning technology.

Design: In the rehabilitation laboratory of a tertiary medical center, 70 subjects with FF, ranging in age from 10 to 50 yr, were recruited. The control group consisted of 30 volunteers without clinical evidence of FF.

Sagittal plane loading response during gait in different age groups and in people with knee osteoarthritis.

Objective: To investigate the gait patterns and the sagittal ground reaction forces in different age groups and in people with knee osteoarthritis.

Design: Motion analysis and force platform data were collected for a total of 55 female subjects capable of independent ambulation. Subjects were divided into three groups consisting of the control group, the elderly group, and the osteoarthritis knee group.