Pelvic and hip kinematics during single-leg drop-landing are altered in sports participants with long-standing groin pain: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the differences in three-dimensional pelvic and hip kinematics during a single-leg drop-landing task in active sports participants with long-standing groin pain compared to healthy matched controls. DESIGN: This was a descriptive study incorporating a cross-sectional design. SETTING: The study was conducted at the Unit for Human Movement Analysis, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. PARTICIPANTS: The study sample was comprised of 20 male club level soccer, rugby, running and cycling participants between the ages of 18 and 55 years. Ten cases with long-standing groin pain and ten asymptomatic matched controls participated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Three-dimensional pelvic and hip kinematics were captured with an optical motion capture system during a single-leg drop-landing task. RESULTS: Participants with groin pain landed with more downward lateral pelvic tilt (0.77°, p = 0.01, r = 0.35), hip abduction (2.05°, p < 0.001. r = 0.49), and hip external rotation (0.86°, p = 0.03, r = 0.29) at initial contact and more pelvic internal rotation (1.06°, p = 0.02, r = 0.30) at lowest vertical position than the healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Sports participants with long-standing groin pain have altered pelvic and hip kinematics during single-leg drop-landing compared to healthy controls. The kinematic differences may contribute towards the persistent nature of groin pain, although these strategies may also be present as a result of the presence or the expectation of pain.

Prevalence of neck pain and headaches: impact of computer use and other associative factors.

Headaches and neck pain are reported to be among the most prevalent musculoskeletal complaints in the general population. A significant body of research has reported a high prevalence of headaches and neck pain among adolescents. Sitting for lengthy periods in fixed postures such as at computer terminals may result in adolescent neck pain and headaches. The aim of this paper was to report the association between computer use (exposure) and headaches and neck pain (outcome) among adolescent school students in a developing country. A cross-sectional study was conducted and comprehensive description of the data collection instrument was used to collect the data from 1073 high-school students. Headaches were associated with high psychosocial scores and were more common among girls. We found a concerning association between neck pain and high hours of computing for school students, and have confirmed the need to educate new computer users (school students) about appropriate ergonomics and postural health.