Assessing the effect of prophylactic ankle taping on ankle and knee biomechanics during landing tasks in healthy individuals: A cross-sectional observational study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Current research supports the fact that prophylactic ankle taping (AT) is effective in preventing ankle injuries in amateur and elite sports athletes. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of AT on balance, knee valgus during drop jump and single-leg countermovement jump (SL-CMJ) landings, and ankle range of motion (ROM) restriction in healthy participants. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. METHODS: Participants: Thirty-nine healthy individuals participated in this study and performed the movements under two conditions (with and without tape). Outcome measurements: ankle ROM, balance, SL-CMJ height, flight time, ground time, and knee valgus. Before any intervention, a random process was developed with a 1:1 allocation ratio, and the participants were assigned to groups A (tape-no tape) and B (no tape-tape). RESULTS: Significant differences between tape and no-tape moments were observed for drop jump knee valgus flexion (P = 0.007), with an increase in knee valgus in participants with ankle taping. Similarly, the Y-balance testshowed a significant decrease in all variables (P = 0.001 and), ankle dorsiflexion (P = 0.001) in participants with ankle taping. CONCLUSIONS: AT is effective for immediate ankle ROM restriction. However, an increase in knee valgus during drop jump task and a decrease in lower limb balance were observed during drop jump task. Based on these results, it can be concluded that AT application in healthy individuals should not be recommended as it results in increase in injury risk factors.

Ciprofibrate therapy in patients with hypertriglyceridemia and low high-density lipoprotein [HDL]-cholesterol: greater reduction of non-HDL cholesterol in subjects with excess body weight [the ciproamlat study]

Background: hypertriglyceridemia, in combination with low HDL cholesterol levels, is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of Ciprofibrate for the treatment of this form of dyslipidemia and to identify factors associated with better treatment response

Methods: multicenter, international, open-label study. Four hundred and thirty seven patients were included. The plasma lipid levels at inclusion were fasting triglyceride concentrations between 1.6 - 3.9 mM/L and HDL cholesterol ?1.05 mM/L for women and ?0.9 mM/L for men. The LDL cholesterol was below 4.2 mM/L. All patients received Ciprofibrate 100 mg/d. Efficacy and safety parameters were assessed at baseline and at the end of the treatment. The primary efficacy parameter of the study was percentage change in triglycerides from baseline

Results: after 4 months, plasma triglyceride concentrations were decreased by 44% [p <0.001]. HDL cholesterol concentrations were increased by 10% [p < 0.001]. Non-HDL cholesterol was decreased by 19%. A greater HDL cholesterol response was observed in lean patients [body mass index <25 kg/m2] compared to the rest of the population [8.2 vs 19.7%, p <0.001]. In contrast, cases with excess body weight had a larger decrease in non-HDL cholesterol levels [-20.8 vs -10.8%, p <0.001]. There were no significant complications resulting from treatment with Ciprofibrate

Conclusions: ciprofibrate is efficacious for the correction of hypertriglyceridemia/low HDL cholesterol. A greater decrease in non-HDL cholesterol was found among cases with excess body weight. The mechanism of action of Ciprofibrate may be influenced by the pathophysiology of the disorder being treated