[Improved prostate cancer diagnostics with a struc-tured pathway including the Stockholm3 test and MRI--targeted biopsies - experiences from Capio S:t Göran Prostate Cancer Center].

Capio S:t Göran Prostate Cancer Center is located in Stockholm and offers testing for prostate cancer using a structured pathway including the blood-test Stockholm3 and MRI-targeted prostate biopsies. The diagnostic pathway is organized by dedicated nurses, offering information, testing, test results, as well as organizing further workup with MRI and biopsies for men with elevated risk. In this article, we describe initial experiences and introduces the Capio S:t Göran Model.

Acute hamstring injuries in Swedish elite sprinters and jumpers: a prospective randomised controlled clinical trial comparing two rehabilitation protocols.

Background: Hamstring strain is a common injury in sprinters and jumpers, and therefore time to return to sport and secondary prevention become of particular concern.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of two rehabilitation protocols after acute hamstring injury in Swedish elite sprinters and jumpers by evaluating time needed to return to full participation in the training process.

Study Design: Prospective randomised comparison of two rehabilitation protocols.

Acute hamstring injuries in Swedish elite football: a prospective randomised controlled clinical trial comparing two rehabilitation protocols.

Background: Hamstring injury is the single most common injury in European professional football and, therefore, time to return and secondary prevention are of particular concern.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of two rehabilitation protocols after acute hamstring injury in Swedish elite football players by evaluating time needed to return to full participation in football team-training and availability for match selection.

Study Design: Prospective randomised comparison of two rehabilitation protocols.

Motor control of the trunk during a modified clean and jerk lift.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the pattern of trunk muscle activation and intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) in a somewhat modified version of the clean and jerk lift. Nine healthy physically active male amateurs performed the exercise with a 30-kg barbell. Muscle activity was registered with electromyography from transversus abdominis (TrA) and obliquus internus (OI) using intramuscular electrodes and from rectus abdominis (RA) and erector spinae (ES) with surface electrodes.

Non-uniform displacement within the Achilles tendon during passive ankle joint motion.

Purpose: An initial step in the understanding of Achilles tendon dynamics is to investigate the effects of passive motion, thereby minimising muscle activation and reducing internal joint forces. Internal tendon dynamics during passive ankle joint motion have direct implications for clinical rehabilitation protocols after Achilles tendon surgery. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that tendon tissue displacement is different in different layers of the Achilles tendon during controlled passive ankle joint movements.

Recruitment order of the abdominal muscles varies with postural task.

Abdominal muscle recruitment strategies in response to a postural perturbation contradict the theory that the deeper abdominal muscles are always recruited in advance of the more superficial muscles. The purpose of this study was to determine whether such contrasting muscle recruitment patterns are due to the postural task or the predictability of a postural task. Participants performed an arm raise task as well as an unpredictable and a predictable balance perturbation task (i.

Calculations of mechanisms for balance control during narrow and single-leg standing in fit older adults: A reliability study.

For older people balance control in standing is critical for performance of activities of daily living without falling. The aims were to investigate reliability of quantification of the usage of the two balance mechanisms M(1) 'moving the centre of pressure' and M(2) 'segment acceleration' and also to compare calculation methods based on a combination of kinetic (K) and kinematic (Km) data, (K-Km), or Km data only concerning M(2). For this purpose nine physically fit persons aged 70-78 years were tested in narrow and single-leg standing.

Effects of prolonged vibration on H-reflexes, muscle activation, and dynamic strength.

Unlabelled: Neural activation is generally lower during maximal voluntary lengthening compared with shortening and isometric muscle actions, but the mechanisms underlying these differences are unclear. In maximal voluntary isometric actions, reduced Ia-afferent input induced by prolonged tendon vibration has been shown to impair neural activation and strength.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate whether reducing Ia-afferent input influences neural activation in maximal voluntary dynamic muscle actions and, if so, whether it affects shortening and lengthening muscle actions differently.

Elite golfers' kinematic sequence in full-swing and partial-swing shots.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether kinematic proximal-to-distal sequencing (PDS) and speed-summation are common characteristics of both partial and full-swing shots in golf players of different skill levels and genders. A total of 45 golfers participated, 11 male tournament professionals, 21 male and 13 female elite amateurs. They performed partial shots with a wedge to targets at three submaximal distances, 40, 55 and 70 m, and full-swing shots with a 5 iron and a driver for maximal distance.

Activation of transversus abdominis varies with postural demand in standing.

Transversus abdominis (TrA) is a multifunctional muscle, being involved in pressure regulation within the abdominal cavity and thereby in direction independent stabilization of the spine and resistance to imposed trunk flexion moments. Indirect evidence suggests a role of TrA also in postural control of the erect human trunk. The main purpose here was to investigate if the magnitude of TrA activation is related to postural demand.

A new hamstring test to complement the common clinical examination before return to sport after injury.

Purpose: The aim was to introduce and evaluate the reliability and validity of an active hamstring flexibility test as a complement to common clinical examination when determining safe return to sport after hamstring injury.

Methods: Eleven healthy subjects (28 years) were tested on repeated occasions, and 11 athletes (21 years) with MRI-verified acute hamstring strain were tested when common clinical examination revealed no signs of remaining injury, i.e.

Deep and superficial abdominal muscle activation during trunk stabilization exercises with and without instruction to hollow.

The deepest muscle of the human ventro-lateral abdominal wall, the Transversus Abdominis (TrA), has been ascribed a specific role in spine stabilization, which has motivated special core stability exercises and hollowing instruction to specifically involve this muscle. The purpose here was to evaluate the levels of activation of the TrA and the superficial Rectus Abdominis (RA) muscles during five common stabilization exercises performed in supine, bridging and four-point kneeling positions, with and without instruction to hollow, i.e.

Age-related changes in postural responses revealed by support-surface translations with a long acceleration-deceleration interval.

Objectives: The objectives were to examine (a) whether surface translations with a long, compared to a short, acceleration-deceleration interval could reveal more age-related differences in postural control and (b) whether age-related differences were associated with reactive or anticipatory postural mechanisms.

Methods: Ten older (66-81years) and ten young adults (22-39years) stood on a moveable platform that was unexpectedly translated in the backward direction. Subjects' electromyographic (EMG) and kinematic responses were recorded in response to translations with either a SHORT (100ms) or LONG (2s) acceleration-deceleration interval presented in either a predictable or random order.

Trunk muscle reactions to sudden unexpected and expected perturbations in the absence of upright postural demand.

The aim was to increase the understanding of the multifunctional role of the trunk muscles in spine control, particularly transversus abdominis (TrA). In 11 healthy males, intramuscular fine-wire electromyography (EMG) was obtained bilaterally from TrA, obliquus externus (OE), rectus abdominis (RA) and erector spinae (ES). The subjects lay on their right side on a horizontal swivel-table with immobilized pelvis and lower limbs and the trunk strapped to a movable platform.

Trunk muscle activation in a person with clinically complete thoracic spinal cord injury.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess if, and how, upper body muscles are activated in a person with high thoracic spinal cord injury, clinically classified as complete, during maximal voluntary contractions and in response to balance perturbations.

Methods: Data from one person with spinal cord injury (T3 level) and one able-bodied person were recorded with electromyography from 4 abdominal muscles using indwelling fine-wire electrodes and from erector spinae and 3 upper trunk muscles with surface electrodes. Balance perturbations were carried out as forward or backward support surface translations.

Proximal hamstring strains of stretching type in different sports: injury situations, clinical and magnetic resonance imaging characteristics, and return to sport.

Background: Hamstring strains can be of at least 2 types, 1 occurring during high-speed running and the other during motions in which the hamstring muscles reach extreme lengths, as documented for sprinters and dancers.

Hypothesis: Hamstring strains in different sports, with similar injury situations to dancers, also show similarities in symptoms, injury location, and recovery time.

Study Design: Case series (prognosis); Level of evidence, 4.

Differential control of abdominal muscles during multi-directional support-surface translations in man.

The current study aimed to understand how deep and superficial abdominal muscles are coordinated with respect to activation onset times and amplitudes in response to unpredictable support-surface translations delivered in multiple directions. Electromyographic (EMG) data were recorded intra-muscularly using fine-wire electrodes inserted into the right rectus abdominis (RA), obliquus externus (OE), obliquus internus (OI) and transversus abdominis (TrA) muscles. Twelve young healthy male subjects were instructed to maintain their standing balance during 40 support surface translations (peak acceleration 1.

Sway-dependent modulation of the triceps surae H-reflex during standing.

Previous research has shown that changes in spinal excitability occur during the postural sway of quiet standing. In the present study, it was of interest to examine the independent effects of sway position and sway direction on the efficacy of the triceps surae Ia pathway, as reflected by the Hoffman (H)-reflex amplitude, during standing. Eighteen participants, tested under two different experimental protocols, stood quietly on a force platform.

Central fatigue affects plantar flexor strength after prolonged running.

The primary aim of this study was to examine central fatigue of the plantar flexor muscle group after prolonged running using the twitch interpolation technique. Eight healthy, habitually active male subjects ran on a motorized treadmill for 2 h at a speed corresponding to 75% of peak oxygen uptake (VO(2peak)). Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) strength as well as the electrically induced twitch produced during MVC [interpolated twitch (IT)] and at rest [resting twitch (RT)] were measured before and after running.

Trunk muscle coordination in reaction to load-release in a position without vertical postural demand.

The aim of this study was to investigate the coordination between the innermost muscle layer of the ventro-lateral abdominal wall, the transversus abdominis (TrA), and other trunk muscles, in reaction to a load-release without the postural demand of keeping the trunk upright. Eleven healthy male volunteers participated. Intramuscular fine-wire electromyography (EMG) was obtained bilaterally from the TrA, rectus abdominis (RA), obliquus externus (OE) and erector spinae (ES) muscles.

Control of the triceps surae during the postural sway of quiet standing.

Aim: The present study investigated how the triceps surae are controlled at the spinal level during the naturally occurring postural sway of quiet standing.

Methods: Subjects stood on a force platform as electrical stimuli were applied to the posterior tibial nerve when the center of pressure (COP) was either 1.6 standard deviations anterior (COP(ant)) or posterior (COP(post)) to the mean baseline COP signal.

Acute first-time hamstring strains during slow-speed stretching: clinical, magnetic resonance imaging, and recovery characteristics.

Background: Hamstring strains can be of 2 types with different injury mechanisms, 1 occurring during high-speed running and the other during stretching exercises.

Hypothesis: A stretching type of injury to the proximal rear thigh may involve specific muscle-tendon structures that could affect recovery time.

Study Design: Case series (prognosis); Level of evidence, 2.

Patellar tendon load in different types of eccentric squats.

Background: Differences in mechanical loading of the patellar tendon have been suggested as a reason for varying effects in rehabilitation of patellar tendinopathy using different eccentric squat exercises and devices. The aim was to characterize the magnitude and pattern of mechanical load at the knee and on the patellar tendon during four types of eccentric squat.

Methods: Subjects performed squats with a submaximal free weight and with maximal effort in a device for eccentric overloading (Bromsman), on a decline board and horizontal surface.

Dynamic trunk stability is improved in paraplegics following kayak ergometer training.

The purpose of the study was to assess whether postural stability in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) could be affected by training. Ten post-rehabilitated persons with thoracic SCI performed 30 sessions of kayak ergometer training during a 10-week period. The ergometer was modified with a balance module adjustable in the medio-lateral direction.

Acute first-time hamstring strains during high-speed running: a longitudinal study including clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings.

Background: Hamstring muscle strain is one of the most common injuries in sports. Still, knowledge is limited about the progression of clinical and magnetic resonance imaging characteristics and their association with recovery time in athletes.

Hypothesis: Knowing the anatomical location and extent of an acute first-time hamstring strain in athletes is critical for the prognosis of recovery time.