The effects of telehealth running gait retraining on biomechanics, pain, and function in patients with lower extremity injuries: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: In-clinic gait retraining has been effective in modifying suspected biomechanical risk factors for running injury, but its feasibility is often limited by multiple clinic visits. This randomized clinical trial investigated the effects of a telehealth-based gait retraining intervention on running biomechanics, pain, and function in previously injured runners.

Methods: Twenty-three participants recovering from lower extremity injuries were randomized to a control or intervention group.

Are Psychological Variables and Time Since Surgery Related to Rotator Cuff Strength and Functional Performance in Cadets After Shoulder Stabilization Surgery?

Background: Traumatic shoulder instability is a common injury in the general population and the military. Surgical stabilization surgery reduces recurrence rates compared with nonsurgical management. Time since surgery is generally the primary measure of return to sport.

Assessing the Relationship of Psychological Sport Readiness, Single-leg Vertical Jump, and Non-Sagittal Single-Leg Hops to Quadriceps Strength After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Background: Limitations exist with current ACLR functional testing assessments that may be mitigated by including single-leg multi-directional testing.

Hypothesis/purpose: To compare Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Return to Sport after Injury Scale (ACL-RSI) scores, limb symmetry index (LSI) of the single-leg vertical jump (SLVJ), single-leg medial rotation hop (SLMRH), single-leg lateral hop (SLLH), and isokinetic quadriceps strength between participants with an ACLR and healthy controls and assess predictors of quadriceps strength asymmetry. It was hypothesized that ACL-RSI scores and LSIs for all tests would differ between ACLR and healthy control groups and within the ACLR group a strong correlation would exist between all outcome measures and quadriceps strength.

The Effect of Cautionary Versus Resiliency Spine Education on Maximum Deadlift Performance and Back Beliefs: A Randomized Control Trial.

Scott, KM, Kreisel, BR, Florkiewicz, EM, Crowell, MS, Morris, JB, McHenry, PA, and Benedict, TM. The effect of cautionary versus resiliency spine education on maximum deadlift performance and back beliefs: A randomized control trial. J Strength Cond Res 38(7): e341-e348, 2024-The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of cautionary information about the spine vs.

Psychological Factors Are Related to Neuromuscular Asymmetries After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Background: After an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), only 47% of military members return to full duty, possibly due to persistent neuromuscular asymmetries. Psychological factors may also contribute to reduced return to duty in military members.

Hypothesis: Psychological factors and time since surgery would be associated negatively with neuromuscular asymmetries, asymmetries would be greater in cadets postsurgery when compared with healthy controls, and asymmetries would be greater at earlier timepoints after ACLR.

Validity and Responsiveness of a Modified Balance Error Scoring System Assessment Using a Mobile Device Application in Patients Recovering from Ankle Sprain.

Background: Static balance is often impaired in patients after ankle sprains. The ability to identify static balance impairments is dependent on an effective balance assessment tool. The Sway Balance Mobile Application (SWAY App) (Sway Medical, Tulsa, OK) uses a smart phone or tablet to assess postural sway during a modified Balance Error Scoring System (mBESS) assessment and shows promise as an accessible method to quantify changes in static balance after injury.

The effectiveness of telehealth gait retraining in addition to standard physical therapy treatment for overuse knee injuries in soldiers: a protocol for a randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: Running is the most common cardiovascular exercise in the military. However, there is a high incidence of running-related overuse injuries that reduces military readiness. Gait retraining is a common intervention to treat running-related injuries, but the high cost of equipment and lack of clinician expertise and availability reduces utilization.

Diagnostic Imaging for Distal Extremity Injuries in Direct Access Physical Therapy: An Observational Study.

Background: Military physical therapists practicing direct-access routinely utilize diagnostic imaging and numerous published case reports demonstrate the ability of physical therapists to diagnose and appropriately disposition patients with foot/ankle and wrist/hand fractures. However, no larger cohort studies have explored the utilization of diagnostic imaging by physical therapists to detect fractures.

Hypothesis/purpose: To describe the utilization of diagnostic imaging in foot/ankle and wrist/hand injuries by physical therapists in a direct-access sports physical therapy clinic.

The Effect of Blood Flow Restriction Therapy on Shoulder Function Following Shoulder Stabilization Surgery: A Case Series.

Background: Traumatic shoulder instability is a common injury in athletes and military personnel. Surgical stabilization reduces recurrence, but athletes often return to sport before recovering upper extremity rotational strength and sport-specific abilities. Blood flow restriction (BFR) may stimulate muscle growth without the need for heavy resistance training post-surgically.

Validity of estimating center of pressure during walking and running with plantar load from a three-sensor wireless insole.

The purpose of this study was to determine if estimated center of pressure (COP) from plantar force data collected using three-sensor loadsol insoles was comparable to the COP from plantar pressure data collected using pedar insoles during walking and running. Ten healthy adults walked and ran at self-selected speeds on a treadmill while wearing both a loadsol and pedar insole in their right shoe. Plantar force recorded from the loadsol was used to estimate COP along mediolateral (COPx) and anteroposterior (COPy) axes.

Inter- and Intra-Rater Reliabilities of the Army Combat Fitness Test Three-Repetition Maximum Deadlift Event Among Raters of Varying Professional Experience.

Introduction: The U.S. Army is updating the physical fitness assessment for soldiers to the six-event Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT).

Normative Data for the NeuroCom Sensory Organization Test in United States Military Academy Boxers.

Background: Balance function is a key indicator in the identification of and recovery from concussion. The NeuroCom Sensory Organization Test (SOT) is used to objectively quantify balance using input from the visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems. Baseline tests are necessary for comparison post-concussion.

Musculoskeletal Imaging for Low Back Pain in Direct Access Physical Therapy Compared to Primary Care: An Observational Study.

Background: Overutilization of diagnostic imaging is associated with poor outcomes and increased costs. Physical therapists demonstrate the ability to order diagnostic imaging safely and appropriately, and early access to physical therapy reduces unnecessary imaging, lowers healthcare costs, and improves outcomes.

Hypothesis/purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to compare rates of compliance with the National Committee for Quality Assurance - Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) recommendations for diagnostic imaging in low back pain between physical therapists and primary care providers in young, athletic patients.

Wearable Technology May Assist in Retraining Foot Strike Patterns in Previously Injured Military Service Members: A Prospective Case Series.

A rearfoot strike (RFS) pattern with increased average vertical loading rates (AVLR) while running has been associated with injury. This study evaluated the ability of an instrumented sock, which provides real-time foot strike and cadence audio biofeedback, to transition previously injured military service members from a RFS to a non-rearfoot strike (NRFS) running pattern. Nineteen RFS runners (10 males, 9 females) were instructed to wear the instrumented socks to facilitate a change in foot strike while completing an independent walk-to-run progression and lower extremity exercise program.

Agreement Between the OptoGait and Instrumented Treadmill System for the Quantification of Spatiotemporal Treadmill Running Parameters.

The measurement of spatiotemporal gait parameters is commonly utilized to assess gait in healthy and injured individuals. The OptoGait system is a portable system and can be mounted to a treadmill to collect data in a clinical, training, or research setting. The purpose of this method comparison study was to examine the agreement of spatiotemporal gait parameters calculated by the OptoGait compared to an instrumented treadmill system during running.

The effectiveness of battlefield acupuncture in addition to standard physical therapy treatment after shoulder surgery: a protocol for a randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: There is a large incidence of shoulder instability among active young athletes and military personnel. Shoulder stabilization surgery is the commonly employed intervention for treating individuals with instability. Following surgery, a substantial proportion of individuals experience acute post-operative pain, which is usually managed with opioid pain medications.

Test-retest reliability of the Vestibular Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) tool and modified Balance Error Scoring System (mBESS) in US military personnel.

Unlabelled: The Military Acute Concussion Evaluation 2 (MACE 2), which includes the Vestibular-Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) tool and the single-leg stance component of the modified Balance Error Scoring System (mBESS), was introduced in 2018 as an assessment of acute mTBI in US military personnel. However, the reliability of the VOMS and mBESS in this population has not been established.

Objectives: The primary purpose of this study was to examine the reliability of the VOMS across a 6-month period in healthy, uninjured US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) personnel.

IS STEP RATE ASSOCIATED WITH RUNNING INJURY INCIDENCE? AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY WITH 9- MONTH FOLLOW UP.

Background: Several strategies have been proposed to reduce loading of the lower extremity while running including step rate manipulation. It is unclear however, whether step rate influences the incidence of lower extremity injuries.

Purpose: To examine the association between step rate and risk of injury in an adult recreational runner population.

A case-control study of gait balance control in veterans with chronic symptoms following mTBI.

Background: Numerous investigations suggest mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) may result in persistent gait balance control deficits. Furthermore, military Veterans with symptoms of chronic mTBI often present with physical symptoms that may be associated with impaired gait balance control which may lead to prolonged recovery, difficulty performing activities of daily living, and increased disability. It is therefore important to objectively quantify gait balance deficits in Veterans with chronic mTBI.

Association Between Running Shoe Characteristics and Lower Extremity Injuries in United States Military Academy Cadets.

Background: Running-related overuse injuries are very common among recreational runners, with the reported annual injury rates ranging from 39% to 85%. Relatively few large prospective cohort studies have been conducted to investigate injury risk associated with different running shoe characteristics, and the results of the existing studies are often contradictory.

Purpose/hypothesis: The purpose was to investigate the relationship between running shoe characteristics and lower extremity musculoskeletal injury.

INTER-RATER RELIABILITY OF THE SELECTIVE FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT ASSESSMENT (SFMA) BY SFMA CERTIFIED PHYSICAL THERAPISTS WITH SIMILAR CLINICAL AND RATING EXPERIENCE.

Background: The Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) assesses posture, muscle balance, and movement patterns in order to identify relevant musculoskeletal dysfunction in a clinical population.

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to: (1) determine if raters with similar clinical experience and rating experience exhibit adequate agreement of the scoring for the SFMA during clinical use; (2) determine the reliability of the categorical scoring of the SFMA in a clinical population; (3) determine the reliability of the criterion checklist scoring of the SFMA in a clinical population; (4) compare the reliability of real-time assessment to recorded assessment.

Design: Inter-rater reliability study.

CORRELATION OF SELF-REPORTED OUTCOME MEASURES AND THE SELECTIVE FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT ASSESSMENT (SFMA): AN EXPLORATION OF VALIDITY.

Background/purpose: The Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) is a clinical model used to assist diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders by identifying dysfunctions in movement patterns. Based on the premise that addressing movement dysfunction is associated with an improvement in patient outcomes, the validity of the SFMA would be strengthened by observed improvement in self-reported function being associated with change in movement patterns. The purpose of this study was to explore the validity of the SFMA by determining if a correlation exists between a change in self-reported outcome measures and attributes of the assessment.

Evaluation of a Novel Field Expedient Musculoskeletal Readiness Screening Tool in an Army Basic Training Population.

Background: Musculoskeletal injuries present a significant challenge to military readiness accounting for over 29% of ambulatory medical visits and 25 million limited duty days across the U.S. Army.