Biomechanical parameters assessed during running among running-related athletes with recurrent hamstring strain injury: A scoping review

Background@#Hamstring strain injury (HSI) is the most common cause of missing practices and sporting events among running-related athletes. The incidence rate of recurrence in individuals with HSI ranges from 12% to 63%. While various risk factors for HSI have been identified, the alterations and role of biomechanical factors as potential causes of injury have been largely overlooked. @*Objectives@#To report the critical biomechanical parameters assessed among running-related athletes with a recurrent HSI and to present common testing protocols in assessing the biomechanical parameters among running-related athletes with a recurrent HSI. @*Methods@#Eligibility Criteria: Included studies investigated biomechanical parameters assessed among collegiate or elite running-related athletes with recurrent HSI. Sources of Evidence: This scoping review was registered in OSF and was conducted based on PRISMA-ScR. Six electronic databases were systematically searched from 1993 to May 2022. Charting Methods: The reviewers created a data charting tool for the scoping review.@*Results@#Out of 874 articles, a total of 10 articles were included in the scoping review. The critical biomechanical parameters assessed include trunk flexion, hip flexion, and knee extension angles (kinematic variables), flight and stance times and velocity (spatiotemporal variables), and EMG activity of biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus, vastus lateralis, and rectus femoris, knee flexion and extension angle peak joint torque (kinetic variables). The most common running test protocols used were the 30-meter overground repeated sprint test, a percentage of maximum running velocity (treadmill), and repeated sprints on a non-motorized treadmill. The most common protocols for isokinetic muscle testing were 60 degrees (concentric), 300 degrees (concentric), and 180 degrees (eccentric) per second angular velocities.@*Conclusion@#The review demonstrated a need for more research on this topic, leading to only limited biomechanical parameters being discussed in the literature. This underscores the need for more rigorous research that could have practical applications for athletes and coaches.

Biotherapeutic Applications of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Regenerative Medicine

BACKGROUND@#Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a blood-based product containing platelets and growth factors, is being utilized to treat numerous non-hemostatic disorders. Studies have explored the use of PRP to provide rapid repair, healing, and recovery from various injuries; some studies mentioned the effectiveness of PRP as compared with other forms of treatment like the use of hyaluronic acid. Commercially available PRP systems are available now, and each varies from one another depending on how it is prepared, thus causing variations in platelet concentration and growth factor content. These variations also implicated different therapeutic applications. @*METHODS@#The paper reviews the various applications of PRP, including factors to consider before using PRP therapy, and provides an extensive list of PRP applications. @*RESULTS@#The administration of PRP as a standalone treatment or as a co-therapy results in observed positive outcomes.However, there is a lack of standardization for PRP preparation, increasing the risks for heterogeneity and bias amongst results. @*CONCLUSION@#The use of PRP is indeed an option for regenerative therapy, but more research is needed before it can fully be recommended as a primary treatment modality.

Comparison of core stability and hip muscular strength in selected collegiate football players with and without Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS)

BACKGROUND@#Muscular imbalance in the core and hip is one of the major risk factors associated with PFPS. There is evidence that decreased strength of the hip musculature is present in individuals with PFPS. This decrease in hip strength can also affect the stability of the core and further predisposes an athlete to injury.@*OBJECTIVES@#This is a cross-sectional study that compares the hip muscle strength and core stability of collegiate football players with and without PFPS.@*METHODS@#25 participants (10 with PFPS and 15 without PFPS) participated in the study. Hip strength was measured using a digital handheld dynamometer. Core stability was assessed through the McGill Core Strength test and the 8-stage stability test.@*RESULTS@#The hip adductors showed to be significantly weaker in those with PFPS as compared to those without PFPS ( p=0.040). No differences were found in the hip flexor (p=0.812), hip extensor (p=0.460) and abductors (p=0.126) strength while the core musculature showed that there is a statistically significant difference on the endurance of the lateral core musculature (p<0.001) and trunk flexors (p=0.027) between the two groups.@*CONCLUSION@#Football athletes without PFPS in this study demonstrated greater core stability and hip adductor muscle strength compared to those without PFPS.

Association between lower extremity movement compensations in the presence of PFPS among female collegiate football athletes: A cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION@#Fifteen to fifty percent of all sports injuries commonly occur in the knee joint. Active women are more susceptible to Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) than men. Aims: This study aims to associate the presentation of different movement compensations at the different body segments such as the hip, knee, and foot with the presence of PFPS among female collegiate football players at the University of Santo Tomas.@*METHODS@#In this descriptive observational cross-sectional study, purposive sampling was used to recruit participants. A total of 11 participants were included. PFPS has a strong association with Anterior Knee Pain (AKP), and it was diagnosed using the Physical Examination questionnaire. With the use of dynamic and transitional assessments, namely overhead squat test (OST) and tuck jump test (TJT), movement patterns were observed using standardized data sheets and video analysis.@*RESULTS@#Among those 11 female participants (mean age 19 ± 1.7 years old), 8 were diagnosed with PFPS and 3 were negative of PFPS. An association between different compensations and PFPS was sought using Fisher’s exact statistical tool. In the OST, compensations such as the foot turning out, foot flattening, knee directing inward and outward, lumbo-pelvic-hip complex patterns. In the TJT, PFPS was associated with three general compensations: foot placement, landing contact noise, and lower extremity valgus. @*CONCLUSION@#There was no direct association found between movement compensations and PFPS in dynamic and transitional assessments among female collegiate football players in this study. Although there are a few associations between different lower extremity movement compensations with PFPS. The majority of those with PFPS had knee out and LPHC compensations with the OST. With the TST, those with PFPS have positive foot placement compensations as compared to the majority of those without PFPS.