Pressure and Traction Technique Improves Postural Control More Than Tactile Stimulation in Foot Plantar Fascia: A Randomized Single-Blind Trial.

Objective: To check the acute effects of manual pressure and traction technique on balance and plantar footprint variables.

Design: A single-blind clinical study with 2 groups.

Setting: Private practice.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Test-Retest Reliability of the Spanish ROWAN Foot Pain Assessment Questionnaire (ROFPAQ-S).

Background: The ROWAN Foot Pain Assessment Questionnaire (ROFPAQ) may be considered as a self-reported health questionnaire with 45 items to measure foot health problems such as foot pain. To date, the ROFPAQ has only been validated into an English-language version.

Objectives: Therefore this study aim was to perform the cross-cultural adaptation and test-retest reliability of the Spanish ROFPAQ version (ROFPAQ-S).

Fear Avoidance Beliefs and Kinesiophobia Are Presented in Athletes who Suffer from Gastrocnemius Chronic Myofascial Pain.

Objective: To compare and predict kinesiophobia and fear avoidance beliefs between athletes with gastrocnemius myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) and healthy athletes.

Design: Case-control.

Setting: Outpatient clinic.

Reliability Study of Diagnostic Tests for Functional Hallux Limitus.

Background: Functional hallux limitus (FHL) refers to dorsiflexion hallux mobility limitation when the first metatarsal head is under loading conditions but not in the unloaded state. The goal of the study was to evaluate 3 common manual tests (Buell, Dananberg, and Jack tests) for assessing first metatarsophalangeal joint (MPJ) mobility and determining the normal values needed to detect FHL, and clarify the signs and symptoms associated with this pathology.

Methods: Forty-four subjects were included in this reliability study.

Kinesiophobia and Pain Intensity Are Increased by a Greater Hallux Valgus Deformity Degree- Kinesiophobia and Pain Intensity in Hallux Valgus.

Background: Hallux valgus (HV) has been previously associated with psychological disorders. Thus, the purposes of this study were to associate kinesiophobia and pain intensity with HV deformity degrees, as well as predict kinesiophobia and pain intensity based on HV deformity and demographic features.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out recruiting 100 subjects, who were divided into HV deformity degrees, such as I-no HV (n = 25), II-mild (n = 25), III-moderate (n = 25), and IV-severe (n = 25) HV.

QardioArm Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor Against Omron M3 Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Validation Study According to the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol Revision 2010.

Background: Hypertension is considered as a main risk factor for chronic kidney disease development and progression. Thus, the control and evaluation of this disease with new software and devices are especially important in patients who suffer from chronic kidney disease.

Objective: This study aimed to validate the QardioArm mobile device, which is used for blood pressure (BP) self-measurement in patients who suffer from chronic kidney disease, by following the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol 2 (ESH-IP2) guidelines.

Concurrent Validity of the Foot Health Status Questionnaire and Study Short Form 36 for Measuring the Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Foot Problems.

Foot problems may be considered to be a prevalent condition and impact the health-related quality of life (QoL). Considering these Spanish-validated tools, the Foot Health Status questionnaire (FHSQ) may provide a health-related QoL measurement for specific foot conditions and general status. To date, the domains of the FHSQ and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) have not been correlated.

Intra and Inter-rater Reliability between Ultrasound Imaging and Caliper Measures to determine Spring Ligament Dimensions in Cadavers.

The purpose was to evaluate intra and inter-rater reliability, repeatability and absolute accuracy between ultrasound imaging (US) and caliper measures to determine Spring ligament (SL) dimensions in cadavers. SLs were identified from 62 human feet from formaldehyde-embalmed cadavers. Intra and inter-observer reliability, repeatability and absolute accuracy of SL width, thickness and length between US and caliper measurements were determined at intra and inter-session by intraclass correlation coefficients, Pearson´s correlation coefficients, Student t tests, standard errors of measurement, minimum detectable changes, values of normality, 95% limits of agreement, and Bland-Altman plots.

Intrinsic foot muscles morphological modifications in patients with Achilles tendinopathy: A novel case-control research study.

Objective: To compare the thickness and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the Abductor Hallucis Brevis (AHB), Flexor Digitorum Brevis (FDB) and Flexor Hallucis Brevis (FHB) in subjects with and without chronic mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy (AT).

Design: A case-control research study.

Setting: A private clinic.

Effectiveness of Leukocyte and Platelet-Rich Fibrin versus Nitrofurazone on Nail Post-Surgery Bleeding and Wound Cicatrization Period Reductions: A Randomized Single Blinded Clinical Trial.

Leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) may be considered a co-adjuvant intervention that may play a key role in blood coagulation and tissue repair after nail surgeries. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of L-PRF versus nitrofurazone on the post-surgical bleeding and wound cicatrization period in patients with bilateral onychocryptosis during surgeries of chemical matrixectomies with 88% phenol solution. A randomized single-blind clinical trial was registered with the European Clinical Trials Database (EudraCT) with identification number 2016-002048-18.

Effectiveness of Deep Dry Needling vs Ischemic Compression in the Latent Myofascial Trigger Points of the Shortened Triceps Surae from Triathletes on Ankle Dorsiflexion, Dynamic, and Static Plantar Pressure Distribution: A Clinical Trial.

Objective: To determine the immediate efficacy of a single session of deep dry needling (DDN) vs ischemic compression (ICT) in a latent myofascial trigger point (MTrP) of the shortened triceps surae from triathletes for ankle dorsiflexion and redistribution of plantar pressures and stability.

Design: A randomized simple blind clinical trial (NCT03273985).

Setting: An outpatient clinic.

Stability of Three Different Sanitary Shoes on Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The main purpose of this research was to determine the stability of three different sanitary shoes on nurses with eyes open and closed with respect to barefoot condition. In addition, the secondary aim was to determine the reliability of stability measurements under these different conditions.

Methods: A crossover quasi-experimental study (NCT03764332) was performed.

Quality of life related to foot health status in women with fibromyalgia: a case-control study.

Introduction: To date, the Foot Health Status Questionnaire (FHSQ) has not been applied to women who suffer from fibromyalgia. The main purpose of this study was to compare both foot and general health-related quality of life between women with fibromyalgia and healthy matched women. We hypothesized that women with fibromyalgia may present an impaired quality of life related to foot and general health.

Relationship of Depression Scores and Ranges in Women Who Suffer From Fibromyalgia by Age Distribution: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Fibromyalgia may be defined as a chronic widespread pain condition that generates a functional impairment with various symptoms, such as depression.

Purpose: The main aim of this research was to compare the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores and depression ranges in women who suffered from fibromyalgia with respect to healthy controls, overall and by age distributions.

Methods: A case-control observational study was performed.

Ultrasonography comparison of diaphragm thickness and excursion between athletes with and without lumbopelvic pain.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare diaphragm thickness and excursion between athletes with and without lumbopelvic pain (LPP) by trans-costal and trans-hepatic rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI), respectively.

Design: A case-control study.

Setting: Amateur and semiprofessional athletes teams.

Using a smartphone app in changing cardiovascular risk factors: A randomized controlled trial (EVIDENT II study).

Background And Objective: The last few years have seen the appearance many mobile applications aimed at improving health, but studies analyzing their effectiveness on cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) are few and far between. Our aim was to assess the effect on CVRFs such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes and global CVR, of adding the use of a smartphone app to an intervention consisting of standard counseling on physical activity and the Mediterranean diet.

Method: This is a multicenter, randomized and controlled clinical trial.

Validation in the General Population of the iHealth Track Blood Pressure Monitor for Self-Measurement According to the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol Revision 2010: Descriptive Investigation.

Background: High blood pressure is one of the most common reasons why patients seek assistance in daily clinical practice. Screening for hypertension is fundamental and, because hypertension is identified only when blood pressure is measured, accurate measurements are key to the diagnosis and management of this disease. The European Society of Hypertension International Protocol revision 2010 (ESH-IP2) was developed to assess the validity of automatic blood pressure measuring devices that are increasingly being used to replace mercury sphygmomanometers.

Heel Height as an Etiology of Hallux Abductus Valgus Development: An electromagnetic Static and Dynamic First Metatarsophalangeal Joint Study.

Hallux abductus valgus (HAV) is a forefoot condition produced by extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Shoes with a high heel height and a typical narrow tip toe box can induce deviations in both the proximal phalanx of the hallux (PPH) and the first metatarsal (IMTT) bones. Nevertheless, the isolated role of heel height remains unclear in the development of HAV pathology.

Ultrasonography effectiveness of the vibration vs cryotherapy added to an eccentric exercise protocol in patients with chronic mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy: A randomised clinical trial.

Tendinopathy is a very common disease in the general population as well as in athletes. The aim of the present study was to examine the tendon thickness and cross-sectional area (CSA) in subjects with chronic mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy (AT) who engaged in either an eccentric exercise (EE) programme with vibration training or an EE programme combined with cryotherapy. A sample of 61 patients with chronic mid-portion AT were recruited and divided into two groups: EE programme vibration training (n = 30) and EE programme combined with cryotherapy (n = 31).

Adrenergic Regulation of Macrophage-Mediated Innate/Inflammatory Responses in Obesity and Exercise in this Condition: Role of β2 Adrenergic Receptors.

Background: The effects of exercise on the innate/inflammatory immune responses are crucially mediated by catecholamines and adrenoreceptors; and mediations in both stimulatory and anti-inflammatory responses have been attributed to them. Obesity and metabolic syndrome are included among low-grade chronic inflammatory pathologies; particularly because patients have a dysregulation of the inflammatory and stress responses, which can lead to high levels of inflammatory cytokines that induce insulin resistance, contributing to the onset or exacerbation of type 2 diabetes. Macrophages play a crucial role in this obesity-induced inflammation.

Relationship Between Decreased Subcalcaneal Fat Pad Thickness and Plantar Heel Pain. A Case Control Study.

Background: Heel pain is one of the most frequent complaints in medical clinical practice for conditions affecting the feet during weight-bearing tasks.

Objective: The goal of this study was to measure and compare the thickness of the fat pad in a sample of patients with current unilateral heel pain and patients without unilateral heel pain with normalized reference parameters.

Study Design: This was an observational case-control study.

Effect of generalized ligamentous hyperlaxity related of quality of life in the foot: a case controlled study.

Generalized ligamentous hyperlaxity (GLH) has been shown to predispose an individual to a number of orthopaedic conditions. Little is known about how GLH affects people' foot health-related quality of life. This study analyses a sample of people with GLH and people without GLH with normalised reference values of the scores collected with regard to using the Foot Health Status Questionnaire (FSHQ).

Acute Effects of Intermittent Versus Continuous Bilateral Ankle Plantar Flexor Static Stretching on Postural Sway and Plantar Pressures: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Postural balance and fall efficacy (self-perceived confidence in performing daily physical activities) have been found to be risk factors associated with falls in older adults. Stretching is one intervention that has been investigated to improve balance and therefore reduce fall risk. Various forms of stretching have been evaluated with different outcomes, but there is a lack of knowledge about the effect of stretching (continuous and intermittent) on plantar pressures and balance.

Depression Symptoms Among Older Adults With and Without Subacute Low Back Pain.

Purpose: Lumbago, or low back pain (LBP), is a common musculoskeletal complaint among older adults that may also be associated with depression. The study objective was to investigate differences in Beck Depression Inventory depression symptoms scores among older adult patients with and without LBP.

Design: This was a case-control study.