US Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps Cadets' Knowledge of Exercise-related Musculoskeletal Injuries.

Musculoskeletal injuries, especially resulting from physical training, are a significant threat to military readiness. Due to costs related to treating injuries and the high probability of chronic, recurrent injuries, prevention should be a primary focus to maximize human performance and military success. However, in the US Army, many personnel are uninformed on injury prevention topics, and no research has identified injury prevention knowledge gaps in military leaders.

Collegiate Football Players' Ankle Range of Motion and Dynamic Balance in Braced and Self-Adherent-Taped Conditions.

Context:   Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries in the physically active population. Previous researchers have shown that supporting the ankle with taping or bracing is effective in preventing ankle sprains. However, no authors have compared the effects of self-adherent tape and lace-up ankle braces on ankle range of motion (ROM) and dynamic balance in collegiate football players.

Correlation of Shoulder and Elbow Kinetics With Ball Velocity in Collegiate Baseball Pitchers.

Context: Throwing a baseball is a dynamic and violent act that places large magnitudes of stress on the shoulder and elbow. Specific injuries at the elbow and glenohumeral joints have been linked to several kinetic variables throughout the throwing motion. However, very little research has directly examined the relationship between these kinetic variables and ball velocity.

Acute effects of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization for improving posterior shoulder range of motion in collegiate baseball players.

Background: Due to the repetitive rotational and distractive forces exerted onto the posterior shoulder during the deceleration phase of the overhead throwing motion, limited glenohumeral (GH) range of motion (ROM) is a common trait found among baseball players, making them prone to a wide variety of shoulder injuries. Although utilization of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), such as the Graston® Technique, has proven effective for various injuries and disorders, there is currently no empirical data regarding the effectiveness of this treatment on posterior shoulder tightness.

Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of IASTM in improving acute passive GH horizontal adduction and internal rotation ROM in collegiate baseball players.

The acute effects of two passive stretch maneuvers on pectoralis minor length and scapular kinematics among collegiate swimmers.

Purpose/background: To compare the acute effects of two passive stretches on pectoralis minor length and scapular kinematics among a group of collegiate swimmers.

Methods: The study was a descriptive design with repeated measures. All procedures were conducted in a biomechanics laboratory and collegiate swimming facility.

Acute lower extremity running kinematics after a hamstring stretch.

Context: Limited passive hamstring flexibility might affect kinematics, performance, and injury risk during running. Preactivity static straight-leg raise stretching often is used to gain passive hamstring flexibility.

Objective: To investigate the acute effects of a single session of passive hamstring stretching on pelvic, hip, and knee kinematics during the swing phase of running.

Hip- and trunk-muscle activation patterns during perturbed gait.

Context: Selected muscles in the kinetic chain may help explain the body's ability to avert injury during unexpected perturbation.

Objective: To determine the activation of the ipsilateral rectus femoris (RF), gluteus maximus (MA), gluteus medius (ME), and contralateral external obliques (EO) during normal and perturbed gait.

Design: Single-factor, repeated measures.

The immediate effects of muscle energy technique on posterior shoulder tightness: a randomized controlled trial.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To compare a muscle energy technique (MET) for the glenohumeral joint (GHJ) horizontal abductors and an MET for the GHJ external rotators to improve GHJ range of motion (ROM) in baseball players.

Background: Overhead athletes often exhibit loss of GHJ ROM in internal rotation, which has been associated with shoulder pathology.

The effect of plyometric training on peroneal latency.

Context: Peroneal reaction to sudden inversion has been determined to be too slow to overcome the joint motion. A focused plyometric training program may decrease the muscle's reaction time.

Objective: To determine the effect of a 6-wk plyometric training program on peroneus longus reaction time.

A task failure has no effect on the electromechanical delay of the peroneus longus.

Objective: Ankle inversion injuries represent the most common trauma sustained by athletes. Muscle fatigue from activity may contribute to a delay in the response of the ankle proprioceptors and dynamic restraints during unexpected inversion. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if the electromechanical delay (EMD) of the peroneus longus is influenced by a task failure exercise.

The role of shoe design in ankle sprain rates among collegiate basketball players.

Context: Much of the recent focus in shoe design and engineering has been on improving athletic performance. Currently, this improvement has been in the form of "cushioned column systems," which are spring-like in design and located under the heel of the shoe in place of a conventional heel counter. Concerns have been raised about whether this design alteration has increased the incidence of ankle sprains.

Muscle activation following sudden ankle inversion during standing and walking.

Dynamic response characteristics of ankle musculature following sudden ankle inversion have traditionally been tested in a static, standing position. However, this model does not take into consideration muscle activity and loading characteristics associated with active gait. This study compared muscle reaction times and amplitudes from sudden ankle inversion during standing (standing group) and walking (walking group) using one of two similar devices for each of these conditions.

The effects of external support on electromechanical delay of the peroneus longus muscle.

Ankle taping and bracing is commonly used in athletics and both have been shown to be effective in reducing injury. Ankle proprioception has been shown to increase with external support due to the activation of cutaneous mechanoreceptors, however, the sensorimotor effect has not been studied Electromechanical delay (EMD) is defined as the time lag from the onset of electrical activity in the muscle to the subsequent mechanical response. The purpose of this investigation was to measure and compare the EMD of the peroneus longus muscle during ankle unsupported, braced, and taped conditions.

Optimal burst duration during a facilitated quadriceps femoris contraction.

Objective: To determine the most efficient burst duty cycle for eliciting an involuntary quadriceps femoris contraction in healthy subjects. This information will allow clinicians to make an informed decision about the optimal burst duty cycle based upon a specific treatment goal. The logical goal for such a treatment choice is to enhance motor unit recruitment in an effort to maintain postoperative or postinjury strength, when voluntary contractions may be less effective.

Effects of ankle joint cooling on peroneal short latency response.

While cryotherapy has direct physiological effects on contractile tissues, the extent to which joint cooling affects the neuromuscular system is not well understood. The purpose of the study was to detect changes in ankle dynamic restraint (peroneal short latency response and muscle activity amplitude) during inversion perturbation following ankle joint cryotherapy. A 2x3 factorial design was used to compare reaction time and EMG amplitude data of treatment conditions (cryotherapy and control) across time (pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 30 min post-treatment).

Effects of a task failure exercise on the peroneus longus and brevis during perturbed gait.

Ankle inversion injuries represent the most common trauma sustained by athletes. Muscle fatigue from activity may contribute to a delay in the response of the ankle proprioceptors and dynamic restraints during unexpected inversion. The purpose of this investigation was to determine changes in peroneal average EMG, peak EMG, and time to peak EMG following a task failure exercise.

Low-Level Laser Therapy Facilitates Superficial Wound Healing in Humans: A Triple-Blind, Sham-Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVE: Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been promoted for its beneficial effects on tissue healing and pain relief. However, according to the results of in vivo studies, the effectiveness of this modality varies. Our purpose was to assess the putative effects of LLLT on healing using an experimental wound model.

EMG analysis of peroneal and tibialis anterior muscle activity prior to foot contact during functional activities.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the pre-activity of the tibialis anterior (TA), peroneus longus (PL), and peroneus brevis (PB) prior to foot contact during three conditions. Twenty-six subjects (age 22 +/- 2 yrs; 15 male, 11 female) with no lower extremity injuries reported for data collection. Data were collected from each subject's dominant leg using surface electromyography (EMG).

National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement: Emergency Planning in Athletics.

OBJECTIVES: To educate athletic trainers and others about the need for emergency planning, to provide guidelines in the development of emergency plans, and to advocate documentation of emergency planning. BACKGROUND: Most injuries sustained during athletics or other physical activity are relatively minor. However, potentially limb-threatening or life-threatening emergencies in athletics and physical activity are unpredictable and occur without warning.