Kinesio Taping effects on knee extension force among soccer players

Background : Kinesio Taping (KT) is widely used, however the effects of KT on muscle activation and force are contradictory. Objective : To evaluate the effects of KT on knee extension force in soccer players. Method: This is a clinical trial study design. Thirty-four subjects performed two maximal isometric voluntary contractions of the lower limbs pre, immediately post, and 24 hours after tape application on the lower limbs. Both lower limbs were taped, using K-Tape and 3M Micropore tape randomly on the right and left thighs of the participants. Isometric knee extension force was measured for dominant side using a strain gauge. The following variables were assessed: peak force, time to peak force, rate of force development until peak force, time to peak rate of force development, and 200 ms pulse. Results : There were no statistically significant differences in the variables assessed between KT and Micropore conditions (F=0.645, p=0.666) or among testing sessions (pre, post, and 24h after) (F=0.528, p=0.868), and there was no statistical significance (F=0.271, p=0.986) for interaction between tape conditions and testing session. Conclusion: KT did not affect the force-related measures assessed immediately and 24 hours after the KT application compared with Micropore application, during maximal isometric voluntary knee extension. .

Evaluation of clinical and functional abnormalities in Pompe disease: Case Report / Avaliação das anomalias clínico-funcionais na doença de Pompe: Relato de Caso

The patient was a 15 year-old girl who turned out at the Physical Therapy Clinic presenting progressiv escoliosis and angle of 50º Coob by X-Ray. She complained of back pain, headache and weakness of shoulder and pelvic girdle. Physical therapy evaluation came across features of delayed motor development and undernourishment, together with generalized muscle weakness (grade = 4) which was observed by the Kendall test. Lung vital capacity was 40.5%. Clinical Changes: studies of the enzymes with acid alpha-glucosidase assay kits used on filter paper and leukocytes showed low enzyme activity, suggesting a late form of the Pompe disease. The molecular studies proved that the patient had amutation associated with late-onset Pompe disease. Acid alpha-glucosidase enzyme assay studies performed in skin fibroblasts showed a reduction of the enzymatic activity of the acid alpha-glucosidase, confirming the previous results. On account of the results, Pompe disease induced important changes inclinical and functional, as well as metabolic changes, decreased strength and muscle action potentially, biomechanical changes in the spine and changes in respiratory capacity. Furthermore, this case of Pompe disease illustrates the importance of adequate physical therapy evaluation as it can be the starting point of investigation of serious conditions such as late onset Pompe disease

Paciente do sexo feminino com 15 anos, apresentou-se na Clínica de Fisioterapia, devido à presença de escoliose progressiva com ângulo de Coob de 50º pelo Raio-X. Apresentou queixa de dor na coluna e na cabeça, fraqueza de cintura escapular e pélvica. Na avaliação fisioterapêutica observou-se um quadro semelhante ao atraso do desenvolvimento motor e desnutrição, com fraqueza muscular generalizada(grau = 4) observada pelo teste de Kendall. Na função pulmonar a capacidade vital apresentou com 40,5%. Estudos enzimáticos com dosagem da alfa-glicosidade ácida em papel-filtro e leucócitos evidenciaram baixa atividade enzimática, sugestivo de forma tardia da doença de Pompe. No estudo molecular, comprovou-se que a paciente possuía mutação associada à forma tardia da doença; estudos enzimáticos da alfa-glicosidase ácida em fibroblastos cultivados a partir de biópsia de pele evidenciaram redução da atividade enzimática da alfa-glicosidase ácida, confirmando estudos enzimáticos prévios. Perante os resultados, a doença de Pompe apresentou alterações clínicas e funcionais importantes como alteração do metabolismo, diminuição de força e do potencial de ação da musculatura, alterações biomecânicas na coluna e na capacidade respiratória. Adicionalmente, o caso ilustra a importância da avaliação fisioterapêutica adequada, pois ele pode ser o ponto de partida da investigação de doenças graves como o presente caso