Short-term cutaneous vasodilatory and thermosensory effects of topical methyl salicylate.

Introduction: Methyl salicylate, the main compound of wintergreen oil, is widely used in topical applications. However, its vascular and thermosensory effects are not fully understood. The primary aim was to investigate the effects of topical methyl salicylate on skin temperature (T), skin microcirculation (MC) and muscle oxygen saturation (SmO) compared to a placebo gel.

Home-Based Nonoperative-Side Quadriceps Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Prevents Muscle Weakness Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

We compared the effectiveness of a home-based neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) program applied to the quadriceps of the nonoperative side against sham-NMES as a complement to standard rehabilitation on knee extensor neuromuscular function in patients following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Twenty-four patients completed the 6 week NMES ( = 12) and sham-NMES ( = 12) post-operative interventions and were tested at different time points for neuromuscular function and self-reported knee function. Isometric, concentric, and eccentric strength deficits (muscle weakness) increased significantly from pre-surgery to 24 weeks post-surgery in the sham-NMES group ( < 0.

Short-term functional advantages after medial unicompartmental versus total knee arthroplasty.

Background: There are many uncertainties about the advantages and disadvantages of using unicompartmental (UKA) versus total knee arthroplasty (TKA) to treat patients with knee osteoarthritis. It is important to have sufficient early postoperative quadriceps strength for long-term, self-reported and gait-related outcomes after knee arthroplasty, but very limited comparative data exist regarding UKA and TKA patients.

Methods: This study assessed isometric quadriceps strength, spatio-temporal gait parameters (walking speed, step length, single-limb support phase) and self-reported outcomes (pain, function, stiffness) in 18 TKA and 18 UKA patients six months after surgery, as well as in 18 healthy controls.

Explosive and maximal strength before and 6 months after total hip arthroplasty.

Patients with unilateral hip osteoarthritis experience impairments in lower limb muscle function due to pain and disuse of the affected limb. The influence of hip osteoarthritis and subsequent total hip arthroplasty (THA) has mostly been evaluated by maximal strength tests, yet the functionally important explosive strength capabilities of hip and knee muscles are largely unknown. We aimed to evaluate hip and knee explosive and maximal strength in hip osteoarthritis patients before and after THA.

Outcome of Hip Impingement Surgery: Does Generalized Joint Hypermobility Matter?

Background: Generalized joint hypermobility (JH) might negatively influence the results of surgical femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) treatment, as JH has been linked to musculoskeletal pain and injury incidence in athletes. JH may also be associated with worse outcomes of FAI surgery in thin females.

Purpose: To (1) determine the results of FAI surgery at a minimum 2-year follow-up by means of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and failure rates, (2) assess the prevalence of JH in FAI patients and its effect on outcomes, and (3) identify other risk factors associated with treatment failure.

Clinical improvement and satisfaction after total joint replacement: a prospective 12-month evaluation on the patients' perspective.

Purpose: To determine short-term improvements, satisfaction rates and the patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) after total joint replacement (TJR) for different patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).

Methods: This prospective cohort study included 426 consecutive patients undergoing total hip (n = 193) or knee arthroplasty (n = 233). The following PROMs were completed before TJR, and at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery, respectively: WOMAC, Oxford Hip or Knee Score, Lower Extremity Functional Scale, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) activity scale and EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D).

Acute effects of multipath electrical stimulation in patients with total knee arthroplasty.

Objective: To compare maximal evoked torque, discomfort, and fatigue-related outcomes between multipath neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and conventional NMES of the quadriceps muscle in patients with total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Design: Randomized, single-blind, crossover study with 2 experimental sessions (multipath NMES, conventional NMES).

Setting: Research laboratory.

The German Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) is reliable, valid and responsive in patients undergoing hip or knee replacement.

Purpose: To determine the measurement properties of a German version of the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) in patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis undergoing total joint replacement (TJR).

Methods: This prospective cohort study included 486 consecutive patients. The LEFS and other self-reported outcome measures were administered at different time points and several classical measurement properties were determined.

Assessment of quadriceps muscle inactivation with a new electrical stimulation paradigm.

Introduction: In this study we evaluated the validity of garment-based quadriceps stimulation (GQS) for assessment of muscle inactivation in comparison with femoral nerve stimulation (FNS).

Methods: Inactivation estimates (superimposed doublet torque), self-reported discomfort, and twitch and doublet contractile properties were compared between GQS and FNS in 15 healthy subjects.

Results: Superimposed doublet torque was significantly lower for GQS than for FNS at 20% and 40% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) (P < 0.