Evaluation of the Isokinetic Calf Muscle Strength and the Range of Motion of Joint in C₃ Chronic Venous Insufficiency

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to compare the isokinetic muscle strength and range of motion (ROM) values of the ankle between patients diagnosed with C₃ chronic venous insufficiency (group 1, n=57) and healthy individuals (group 2, n=30). MATERIALS AND METHODS: After identifying the venous refilling time (VRT) of all participants, the active ROM of the ankle joint and plantar flexion (PF) and dorsi-flexion (DF) muscle strength in the concentric/concentric mode at angular velocities of 60°/sec and 120°/sec were measured. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found between the demographic data of groups 1 and 2 (P>0.05). In total, 102 lower extremities were included in group 1 and 60 lower extremities in group 2. The VRT of the patients in group 1 was 15.5±5.6 seconds, the PF ROM of the ankle joint was 39.3°±9.5°, and the DF ROM of the ankle joint was 27°±8°; in group 2, the VRT, PF ROM, and DF ROM were 36±8.1 seconds, 41°±6.2°, and 27.2°±7.5°, respectively. Statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of VRT (P0.05). Statistically significant difference was found in terms of all parameters of isokinetic muscle strength measurements, such as peak torque, peak torque/body weight, total work done, and ratio (DF/PF) in group 1 (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: The lower extremity muscle strength of patients with chronic venous insufficiency was low, and this weakness was prominent particularly in the direction of PF.

Effect of anterior tibial displacement on the proprioceptive functions of soccer players' knee joints

To investigate the effects of joint laxity on proprioceptive functions of the knee joints of soccer players. In this study, we measured anterior tibial displacements and thresholds to detect the knee joint passive motion of 20 healthy soccer players [18.1 +/- 1.6 years of age]. We performed all the measurements in Autumn 2000 in Ankara, Turkey. We applied the Mann-Whitney U test to analyze the relationship between the anterior tibial displacement and threshold to detect the passive motion [TDPM]. There were no statistically significant differences between the TDPM values of the knee joints with insignificant laxity differences at different angles, and direction of motion [p>0.05]. At 45° of knee flexion and externally directed motion, we found the TDPM of looser knees to be significantly greater [p<0.05]. Increased knee laxities without any clinical pathologic findings, have negative effects on knee joint proprioception. This is possibly due to the overuse degeneration of the anterior cruciate ligaments, which are the main stabilizers of knee joints

Effects of swimming training and free mobilization on bone mineral densities of rats with the immobilization-induced osteopenia

To investigate the possible effects of regular swimming exercise on bone mineral density [BMD] compared with free activity after cast immobilization of rats. We carried out the study from April 2005 to June 2005 at the Department of Sports Medicine, Medical School of Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey. The study included a total of 24 female Wistar rats. The rats were randomized to control [n = 6] swimming training [ST] n = 9, and free mobilization [FM] n = 9 groups. We measured Bone mineral densities of femur and vertebra of all rats with a total body scanner using software specifically designed for small animals, before study started and at weeks 3 and 7. Timepoints corresponded to basal, after cast removal [ACIM], and after 3 weeks of free mobilization [AFM] or swimming training [AST]. We immobilized the right hindlimb of each ST and FM animal with a cast while the left hindlimbs were kept free. After 3 weeks, the casts were removed. Then we allowed the rats to move freely in their cage for one week, after which the animals in ST group started to swim for 5 days a week for 3 weeks for 30 minutes per day. The group FM rats moved freely in the cage. Bone mineral density of the femur and vertebra after cast immobilization was significantly decreased compared with both their basal and age-matched control group. After mobilization, significant increases occurred in both groups according to ACIM. Similar but milder changes were observed in free limbs femur BMD of rats. Interestingly, vertebra BMD of swimming group was also higher than its age-matched control group [P<0.05]. Our study showed that swimming exercise had a significant rehabilitative effect on BMD loss associated with immobilization. Further studies are needed to investigate the effects of swimming on other bone properties