Temporal-spatial gait adaptations during stair ascent and descent in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) accounts for more functional disability of the lower extremity than any other disease. We recruited 18 patients with knee OA and 18 healthy age-, height-, mass-, and gender-matched control subjects to investigate the effects knee OA has on select spatial and temporal gait variables during a stair climbing task. No group-by-direction interaction was observed; however, significant effects did occur for group and direction.

Mechanical joint laxity associated with chronic ankle instability: a systematic review.

Context: Lateral ankle sprains can manifest into chronic mechanical joint laxity when not treated effectively. Joint laxity is often measured through the use of manual stress tests, stress radiography, and instrumented ankle arthrometers.

Purpose: To systematically review the literature to establish the influence of chronic ankle instability (CAI) on sagittal and frontal plane mechanical joint laxity.

Lower extremity joint kinematics during stair climbing in knee osteoarthritis.

Purpose: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most prevalent chronic lower extremity diseases, causing profound limitation of movement and ability to perform activities of daily living. The purpose of this study was to compare various hip, knee, and ankle joint kinematic variables between knee OA subjects and matched healthy controls during stair ascent and descent.

Methods: Eighteen subjects with knee OA (age = 60.

Talar positional fault in persons with chronic ankle instability.

Objective: To determine whether sagittal plane talar position differs between uninjured controls and individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) using lateral ankle radiographs.

Design: Single-blind case control.

Setting: University-based sports medicine research laboratory.

Effect of ankle taping on mechanical laxity in chronic ankle instability.

Background: The high percentage of re-injury after an initial ankle sprain necessitates examination of preventative methods. The purpose of this project was to investigate the effect ankle tape has on mechanical laxity in subjects with CAI.

Materials And Methods: Twenty subjects with unilateral CAI (seven males and 13 females; age, 20.

Changes in ankle mechanical stability in those with knee osteoarthritis.

Unlabelled: Hubbard TJ, Hicks-Little C, Cordova M. Changes in ankle mechanical stability in those with knee osteoarthritis.

Objective: To examine ankle joint mechanical stability in patients who had mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Ankle sprain: pathophysiology, predisposing factors, and management strategies.

With the high percentage (up to 75%) of initial lateral ankle sprains (LAS) leading to repetitive sprains and chronic symptoms, it is imperative to better understand how best to treat and rehabilitate LAS events. The purpose of this paper is to review LAS pathophysiology, predisposing factors, and the current evidence regarding therapeutic modalities and exercises used in the treatment of LAS. Functional rehabilitation, early mobilization with support, is the current standard of care for LAS.

Mechanical instability after an acute lateral ankle sprain.

Objective: To examine the natural recovery of mechanical laxity after an ankle sprain over an 8-week period.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Biodynamics research laboratory.

Mechanical and sensorimotor implications with ankle osteoarthritis.

Objective: To understand the mechanical and sensorimotor adaptations that may occur with ankle osteoarthritis (OA).

Design: Case-control.

Setting: Biodynamics research laboratory.

Sensorimotor function as a predictor of chronic ankle instability.

Background: Recurrent ankle injury occurs in 70% of individuals experiencing a lateral ankle sprain. The cause of this high level of recurrence is currently unknown. Researchers have begun to investigate sensorimotor deficits as one possible cause with inconclusive and often conflicting results.

Contributing factors to medial tibial stress syndrome: a prospective investigation.

Purpose: To conduct a prospective, multisite, cohort study investigating the possible risk factors for medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) in college athletes.

Methods: One hundred and forty-six healthy, collegiate athletes from NCAA Division I and Division II institutions participated in the study. Subjects first completed a health history questionnaire to establish previous history of injury and underwent a physical examination to assess their ankle/foot strength, ankle/foot range of motion, tibial varum, and navicular drop before the start of their respective athletic season.

Segmental spinal reflex adaptations associated with chronic ankle instability.

Objective: To further understanding of the role that segmental spinal reflexes play in chronic ankle instability (CAI).

Design: A 2 x 2 repeated-measures case-control factorial design. The independent variables were ankle group with 2 levels (healthy, CAI) and stance with 2 levels (single, double legged).

Ankle ligament healing after an acute ankle sprain: an evidence-based approach.

Objective: To perform a systematic review to determine the healing time of the lateral ankle ligaments after an acute ankle sprain.

Data Sources: We identified English-language research studies from 1964 to 2007 by searching MEDLINE, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), SportDiscus, and CINAHL using the terms ankle sprain, ankle rehabilitation, ankle injury, ligament healing, and immobilization.

Study Selection: We selected studies that described randomized, controlled clinical trials measuring ligament laxity either objectively or subjectively immediately after injury and at least 1 more time after injury.

Ligament laxity following inversion injury with and without chronic ankle instability.

Background: Not all patients develop chronic ankle instability (CAI) after one or more lateral ankle sprains; some seem to heal or adjust to the ankle laxity after injury. Why do some patients develop CAI and others are able to cope and return to normal function? The purpose of this study was to examine ligament laxity between subjects with and without CAI.

Materials And Methods: Sixteen subjects with unilateral CAI and 16 subjects without participated in the study.

Correlations among multiple measures of functional and mechanical instability in subjects with chronic ankle instability.

Context: Although dozens of individual mechanical and functional insufficiencies have been reported in those with chronic ankle instability (CAI), no authors to date have examined the relationship of the insufficiencies to each other. Therefore, studying both the functional and mechanical insufficiencies in the same experimental design will provide valuable information.

Objective: To determine the relationships among the numerous functional and mechanical insufficiencies purported to cause CAI.

Contributing factors to chronic ankle instability.

Background: The development of repetitive ankle sprains and persistent symptoms after initial ankle sprain has been termed chronic ankle instability (CAI). There is no clear indication of which measures are most important in discriminating between individuals with and without CAI.

Methods: Thirty subjects with unilateral CAI and controls had measures of ankle laxity and hypomobility, static and dynamic balance, ankle and hip strength, lower extremity alignments, and flexibility taken on both limbs.

Anterior positional fault of the fibula after sub-acute lateral ankle sprains.

Recent evidence has suggested a positional fault of the fibula exists in chronically unstable ankles. However, there has been little research examining positional faults after a sub-acute lateral ankle sprain (LAS). Our purpose was to measure the position of the distal fibula in relation to the distal tibia in subjects with sub-acute LASs and to determine if there is a relationship between the amount of swelling and fibular position.

Mechanical contributions to chronic lateral ankle instability.

Lateral ankle sprains are one of the most common athletic injuries. Even more concerning is the high recurrence rate after an initial sprain. The development of repetitive ankle sprains and persistent symptoms after injury has been termed chronic ankle instability (CAI).

Fibular position in individuals with self-reported chronic ankle instability.

Study Design: Case control study.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the position of the distal fibula in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI).

Background: Recent literature has suggested that a positional fault of the fibula on the tibia may contribute to CAI; however, there is a lack of objective scientific evidence to support this claim.

Does Cryotherapy Improve Outcomes With Soft Tissue Injury?

REFERENCE: Bleakley C, McDonough S, MacAuley D. The use of ice in the treatment of acute soft-tissue injury: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Am J Sport Med.

Quantitative assessment of mechanical laxity in the functionally unstable ankle.

Purpose: Delineating between functional and mechanical instability in those with chronic ankle dysfunction is a challenging task. Current methods of assessing ankle ligamentous laxity are subjective in nature and limit our ability to identify the site and extent of instability; therefore, a need exists for objective laxity measurements. The purpose of this study was to determine whether subjects with self-reported, functional ankle instability (FAI) demonstrated increased mechanical laxity when tested with instrumented arthrometry and stress radiography.

Does Cryotherapy Hasten Return to Participation? A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To search the English-language literature for original research addressing the effect of cryotherapy on return to participation after injury. DATA SOURCES: We searched MEDLINE, the Physiotherapy Evidence Database, SPORT Discus, the Cochrane Reviews database, and CINAHL from 1976 to 2003 to identify randomized clinical trials of cryotherapy. Key words used were cryotherapy, return to participation, cold treatment, ice, injury, sport, edema, and pain.

Kinesthesia Is Not Affected by Functional Ankle Instability Status.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether subjects with functional ankle instability suffered kinesthetic deficits in the injured ankle compared with the healthy ankle and to examine the effect of prophylactic ankle bracing on kinesthesia in uninjured and functionally unstable ankles. DESIGN AND SETTING: We tested subjects over 4 consecutive days in a climate-controlled athletic training/sports medicine laboratory setting. A single-group time-series design enabled all subjects to serve as their own controls.