[Biomechanical Evaluation of Rehabilitation after Surgical Repair of Achilles Tendon Ruptures].

 Muscles and tendons are subjected to a high level of stress in everyday life and sports. This often leads to injuries and is associated with training failure and reduced performance as well as with high costs for treatment and rehabilitation. Fast and successful treatment is therefore very important, both from an athletic and economic point of view.

Influence of calcaneus angle and muscle forces on strain distribution in the human Achilles tendon.

Background: Heterogeneous distribution of tendon strain is considered to contribute to the development of the Achilles tendon overuse injuries. Force distribution between the three portions of the triceps surae muscle and position of the calcaneus might affect the extent of strain differences within the Achilles tendon. Purpose of this study was to determine the effect of changes in force distribution within the triceps muscle and changes in calcaneus position on intratendinous strain distribution of the Achilles tendon.

[The functional sport shoe parameter "torsion" within running shoe research--a literature review].

Within the sport shoe area torsion is described as the twisting and decoupling of the rear-, mid- and forefoot along the longitudinal axis of the foot. Studies have shown that running shoes restrict the torsion of the foot and thus they increase the pronation of the foot. Based on the findings, it is recommended to design running shoes, which allow the natural freedom of movement of the foot.

Intraarticular pressure distribution in the talocrural joint is related to lower leg muscle forces.

Background: It is of paramount importance to know the magnitude and the distribution of joint contact stress within the most heavily loaded structures of the human foot. In the talocrural joint role of external loading and loading applied by muscles on joint contact stress is not extensively studied. The purpose was to determine the distribution of joint contact stress of the talocrural joint with varying axial tibia loading and extrinsic tendon loading.

Efficacy and tolerability of escin/diethylamine salicylate combination gels in patients with blunt injuries of the extremities.

The aim of this confirmative, monocentre, double-blind, controlled clinical trial was to investigate whether different escin combinations show differences in comparison to placebo with regard to pain reactions in the topical treatment of sports injuries. A total of 126 patients with blunt injuries of the extremities were randomly allocated to four parallel groups: Reparil-Gel N (n = 32), Reparil-Gel (n = 31), Reparil-Sportgel (n = 32) and a placebo gel (n = 31). All patients were evaluated for efficacy (intention to treat) and tolerability.

Asymmetrical loading of the human triceps surae: II. Differences in calcaneal moments.

An in vitro experimental study is presented investigating differences in moments calculated at the calcaneus, resulting from tensile forces input in various configurations of triceps surae muscles. Results indicated significantly higher values for plantarflexion moments when forces were input in both gastrocnemii than in the soleus (P < or = 0.05).

Asymmetrical loading of the human triceps surae: I. Mediolateral force differences in the Achilles tendon.

An in vitro experiment was designed to identify whether tensile force on different triceps surae components would result in nonhomogenous force distribution across the human Achilles tendon. Medial tendon forces were significantly higher than lateral (23.2 +/- 6.

[Weber fibular ligament-plasty with plantar tendon with Segesser modification].

Unlabelled: Ankle joint injuries are one of the most frequently diagnosed sports injuries. In our clinic we observed between 1981-92 18% ankle joint injuries in 11.350 patients.

[Lesions of the growth plate caused by sports stress].

Besides the positive physiological, psychological and social aspects, sports activities in adolescents bear the risk of injuries and overuse of the locomotor system. Previous examinations have shown that increased stress to the growth plates by sports activities, in relation to the intensity of strain during growth spurts, can influence normal growth. In female gymnasts, hormonal changes can decrease the growth speed and long-term growth.

[The Achilles tendon in sports].

Achillodynia is a generic term for various types of ailments in the region of the Achilles tendon. For adequate therapy a specific diagnosis is absolutely necessary. Besides an accurate anamnesis and the right choice of terrain and shoes, as well as a clinical examination where one has to specifically keep an eye on muscular imbalance between the gastrocnemius and the soleus muscle and disorders of the ligamentous control of the calcaneus caused by fibular ligament instabilities, a procedure such as radiology, ultrasound, and MR imaging is inevitable.

[The athletic shoes as a therapeutic aid].

Sports shoe research discovered several possibilities of influencing the heel-to-toe walking behaviour of the foot which can be made use in the construction of therapeutic shoes. Early functional therapy aims at imparting moderate load stimuli to the injured and/or surgically reconstructed tissue to ensure quicker orientation of the collagen fibres of the cicatricial structures and an improved blood supply to the tissue. Modified sports shoes with variable mobility restriction and functional heel-to-toe walking support of the foot have become a meaningful therapeutic aid in the treatment of fibular ligament lesions and injuries to the Achilles tendon, both in orthopaedic and neurological problems requiring support of the sequential movements of the foot (arthrodeses, arthroses, peroneal paralyses [dangle foot], etc.

[Orthopedic and biomechanical concepts of sports shoe construction].

Based on anatomical, orthopaedic and epidemiological considerations two sets of concepts relevant for sport shoe construction have been proposed and discussed, one for the reduction of excessive load and one for the improvement of performance. The concepts for excessive load reduction are cushioning, support and guidance. These can be achieved by altering the material properties or the construction of the shoe.

[Rehabilitation after cruciate ligament repair with the middle third of the patellar ligament in the athlete].

Rehabilitation of athletes following surgical reconstruction of complex instabilities of the knee joint focuses on four goals: 1. the restoration of ligament stability, 2. the restoration of muscular stabilisation ability, 3.

A trial with diclofenac HEP plaster as topical treatment in minor sport injuries.

Diclofenac HEP plaster was tested in an open study in the treatment of different traumatic sport and overload injuries, to confirm the results of efficacy and tolerability already shown in other clinical studies. A total of 101 patients were assigned to treatment and were eligible for the evaluation of results at the end of a 14-day treatment period. The average score of spontaneous pain, assessed by means of a verbal scale and a visual analogical scale, showed a clear difference in pain rating between the beginning and end of treatment.

Biomechanical and orthopedic concepts in sport shoe construction.

Two sets of concepts for sport shoe construction are discussed, based on anatomical, orthopedic, and epidemiological considerations: one for the prevention of excessive load and related injuries, and one for the improvement of performance. The proposed concepts for prevention of excessive load and related injuries in the foot and the lower extremities are cushioning, support, and guidance. The goals outlined in the concepts can be achieved by altering the material properties or the construction of the shoe.

[Biomechanical considerations of the load on the ankle joint].

The biomechanical approach to the characteristics of load on the ankle joint and the surrounding structures allows a better understanding of the cause and effect of externally acting forces in human movement (walking, running, jumping). This detailed understanding of the mechanics involved (not only in the functional anatomical sense) makes preventive measures possible that can reduce the risk of distortion at the ankle. With the same mechanical models, clinically applicable methods allow biomechanically monitored rehabilitation.

[Torsion movement of the foot in landing after a jump].

The risk of injury during landing after a jump is considered high, because large moments can force the foot into a distortion. The goals of this investigation were to measure the foot-movements during landing and to check the hypothesis, whether with changes at the shoe sole the rearfoot can be brought into a vertical and therefore stable position during the landing movement. The results show, that during landing the foot twists between forefoot and rearfoot.

[Torsion --a new concept in construction of sports shoes. Motion excursion of the foot in athletic stress--anatomical and biomechanical observations and their effects on construction of sports shoes].

In recent years several construction elements resulted in an increasing stiffening of the sport shoe so that the foot was partly forced to make its own movements inside the shoe. A new sport shoe concept is presented basing on the results of anatomic and biomechanical studies, its innovative feature being decoupling of the foot movement between the calcaneal part of the foot and the metatarsus (= torsion). The foot is given an opportunity to transmit its freedom of movement in the longitudinal axis of the foot to the shoe without the shoe acting as a lever, this goal being achieved by a limited liberation of the metatarsal pronation/supination and a controlled uncoupling of the metatarsus from the calcaneal part of the foot.

The influence of playing surfaces on the load on the locomotor system and on football and tennis injuries.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the influence of playing surfaces on the forces and moments acting on the human body and the injuries they may cause for 2 selected sports activities, American football and tennis. The review is based on data from the literature and from our own investigations. A review of the effect of sports surfaces on injuries in American football leads to the conclusion that surfaces with artificial turf produce non-severe injuries more frequently than surfaces with natural grass.