Reproducibility of dynamic balance and anterior tibiofibular gap measurements in men and women: A menstrual cycle-based longitudinal study.

Background: The reproducibility of dynamic balance is an essential component of athletic performance and injury prevention, although it is affected by sex differences. This study aimed to confirm the reproducibility of repeated dynamic balance measurements and ultrasonography assessments of the anterior tibiofibular gap that may contribute to changes in dynamic balance for each sex.

Methods: This was a longitudinal study involving 48 feet, with 12 men and 12 women.

Comparison of the distance between the talus and lateral malleolus during the stance phase with and without chronic ankle instability.

The level of dynamic mechanical instability between the bony parts of the ankle joint provides important information on biomechanical function. However, the dynamics of the distance between the talus and lateral malleolus during gait remain unclear. This study aimed to compare the distance between the talus and lateral malleolus and the ankle joint angles during the stance phase of gait between individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) and healthy adults.

Impact of the simultaneous distribution of e-learning and exercise videos on the health literacy and lifestyle of college students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a randomized controlled trial.

[Purpose] The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its associated restrictions have raised concerns regarding the lack of exercise among college students. Videos on digital platforms have addressed this issue, although their effects on student behavior are unclear. The present study investigated whether the simultaneous distribution of e-learning and exercise videos among college students during the lifting of behavioral restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic was effective in promoting health.

The acute effect of throwing training with virtual reality on boccia competitive performance in healthy adults.

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the differences in the acute effects of virtual and actual throwing training on throwing performance. [Participants and Methods] Twenty healthy men and six women with no boccia experience were randomly divided into the virtual and non-virtual groups. The task involved throwing boccia balls at target sets of 2 (short), 5 (middle), and 9 m (long).

The vertical mobility of the first tarsometatarsal joint during demi-plié with forced turnout in ballet dancers.

The forced turnout has a perceived risk of development of hallux valgus (HV) in ballet dancers. We determined how the forced turnout affects the sagittal mobility of the first tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint, which is one of the pathogenic factors of HV development. Seventeen female ballet dancers (body mass index: 18.

Selective Strength Training Changes the Morphology and Ankle Strength of the Peroneus Longus and the Peroneus Brevis.

This study aimed to investigate the 8-week selective training effect of the peroneus longus (PL) and the peroneus brevis (PB) on muscle morphology, echogenicity, and ankle strength and to examine post-intervention detraining effects. Twenty healthy participants without orthopedic disease in the lower extremities were assigned to either the PL intervention group (training consisted of pushing the Thera-Band® out from the ball of the foot to emphasize ankle eversion) or the PB intervention group (training consisted of pulling the Thera-Band® from the base of the fifth metatarsal to enhance ankle valgus and external rotation). Each intervention was performed three times per week for 8 weeks.

Adaptation of Postural Sway in a Standing Position during Tilted Video Viewing Using Virtual Reality: A Comparison between Younger and Older Adults.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of wearing virtual reality (VR) with a head-mounted display (HMD) on body sway in younger and older adults. A standing posture with eyes open without an HMD constituted the control condition. Wearing an HMD and viewing a 30°-tilt image and a 60°-tilt image in a resting standing position were the experimental conditions.

Head impact differences in blind football between Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games: video-based observational study.

Objective: In Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, there were the rule and goal size changes at the blind football competition. This study aimed to compare the scoring and head impact characteristics during blind football competition between the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games using the official videos.

Design: Video-based observational study.

A quantitative assessment of the anterior tibiofibular gap with and without weight-bearing in healthy adults: An ultrasound-based study.

Background: Difficulties in the accurate evaluation of tibiofibular clear space in plain radiographs are diagnostic problems in the clinical setting of syndesmosis injury. This study aimed to quantify the anterior tibiofibular gap (ATFG) with weight-bearing using ultrasonography.

Methods: In total, 32 healthy adults (16 men and 16 women) with 64 feet participated in this cross-sectional study.

Effectiveness of Metaverse Space-Based Exercise Video Distribution in Young Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: In response to the serious lack of physical activity among young adults, recent attempts have been made to encourage young people to exercise through exercise video distribution. However, merely distributing videos does not lead to improved physical activity levels. Metaverse space, which enables web-based interaction through avatars, allows users to watch exercise videos in the same space as other avatars.

Quality of life by dysmenorrhea severity in young and adult Japanese females: A web-based cross-sectional study.

Dysmenorrhea is a monthly menstrual pain that can limit a woman's quality of life (QOL). The relationship between dysmenorrhea severity and QOL has been reported in several countries; however, the results cannot be generalized because lifestyle and cultural background affect menstrual pain. This study sought to uncover whether 1) different factors, such as emotions and ways of coping with symptoms, vary with the severity of dysmenorrhea and 2) the severity of dysmenorrhea ultimately affects QOL in Japan.

Characteristics of Wheelchair Basketball Falls During the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics by Sex and Physical Impairment Classification: A Video-Based Observational Study.

Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate the fall characteristics of wheelchair basketball players by sex and impairment classification using the official videos of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympic Games.

Design: This was a video-based observational study. In total, 42 men's and 31 women's wheelchair basketball game videos were obtained from the official International Paralympic Committee.

Head Impact in Blind Football During the Tokyo Paralympics: Video-Based Observational Study.

Head impacts during blind football are common and have high injury rates; however, their characteristics and impact are still underreported. We compared head impact characteristics in blind football players with and without falls on all 18 official blind football match videos from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic games. The rate of head impacts with falls was significantly higher in the preliminary phase, offense phase, and during dribbling.

Effect of flexion-resist and extension-assist knee orthosis on electromyographic activities of quadriceps during lateral stepping.

Knee orthoses can potentially reduce muscular activities of the quadriceps. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a custom flexion-resist and extension-assist knee orthosis on electromyographic activities of quadriceps during lateral stepping (step-up and step-down). Flexion resistance and extension assistance mechanisms were set by a pair of linear springs built into the orthotic knee joints.

Characteristics of Falls Among Men's Wheelchair Rugby Players in the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympic Games: A Video Analysis.

Wheelchair rugby is a contact sport in which falls are common and injury rates are high, yet the characteristics of the falls are still under-reported. We investigated the fall characteristics of men's wheelchair rugby players by functional classification, using all 36 official match videos from the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 summer Paralympic Games. The videos were analyzed to evaluate the number of falls, playing time when the fall occurred, playing phase (offense or defense), contact with other players, foul judgement, direction of the fall, and the body part first in contact with the floor.

The effects of the tension of figure-8 straps of a soft ankle orthosis on the ankle joint kinematics while walking in healthy young adults: A pilot study.

Background: Figure-8 straps are commonly used in ankle orthoses, which are provided to reduce the risks of primary and recurrent sprain by providing functional support. Functional treatment with ankle orthoses can provide better rehabilitation than immobilization for a mild ankle sprain. However, it is not known how much tension should be applied to the straps while donning the orthosis to optimize its effectiveness.

Investigation of the Relationship Between the Morphology of the Toe Flexor Muscles in Ballet Dancers and the Postural Stability During Standing on Demi-Pointe: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study investigated how toe flexor muscles are related to postural stability in 11 ballet dancers and 12 non-dancers.
Methods: Toe flexor strength (TFS), cross-sectional areas (CSA) of the abductor hallucis, flexor hallucis brevis, flexor digitorum brevis, flexor hallucis longus (FHL), and flexor digitorum longus, and center of pressure (COP) displacement during single-leg demi-pointe were measured. Correlations between toe flexor strength and COP displacement and between CSA and COP displacement within each group were calculated using Pearson's correlation coefficient or Spearman's correlation coefficient.

Analysis of wheelchair falls in team sports at the Paralympic Games: video-based descriptive comparison between the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 games.

Objectives: To identify the fall characteristics of athletes in wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and descriptively compare these with those of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis.

Primary And Secondary Outcome Measures: We obtained video footage from the International Paralympic Committee of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games that included 8 teams from each of the 18 wheelchair rugby and 10 wheelchair basketball games (men and women).

Effect of thoracic expansion restriction on scapulothoracic and glenohumeral joint motion during shoulder external rotation.

Background: Shoulder external rotation in the throwing motion involves movement of the scapulothoracic and glenohumeral joints, thoracic spine, and the thorax. Restriction of thoracic expansion may decrease scapulothoracic joint motion and compensate by excessive glenohumeral joint motion. However, it is unclear how restricting the expansion of the thorax alters shoulder motion.

Quantitative evaluation of the vertical mobility of the first tarsometatarsal joint during stance phase of gait.

We determined how the in vivo mobility of the first tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint can be quantified during gait. Twenty-five healthy participants (12 females) with no history of foot disorders were included. Non-invasive ultrasound (US) with a three-dimensional motion analysis (MA) system was used to evaluate the kinematic characteristics of first TMT joint during stance phase of gait.