Patellar tendinopathy outcome predictors in jumping athletes: feasibility of measures for a cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: The main aim was to assess feasibility by testing data collection procedures for a cohort study. Measurements validity and reliability were secondary objectives. DESIGN: Feasibility study. SETTING: Combination of remote contact, assessment in clinic and biomechanical evaluation. PARTICIPANTS: 36 jumping athletes (female:17, male:19) equally spread between those with patellar tendinopathy, other knee problems and controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Measurements validity, reliability and feasibility. RESULTS: There was no systematic difference between administration methods for patient reported outcome measures and miscellaneous questions (range of d = -0.32 to 0.26) without any order effect (all p > 0.05) except KOOS-PF (p = 0.02). Questionnaires' inter-session reliability was moderate to excellent (ICCs = 0.68-0.93). Pain maps were 94% matched between methods. Training load recall percentage decreased until week-3 with only 20% maintaining a training diary completing the full 6 weeks. The graded loaded challenge was clinically applicable, biomechanically valid with increasing load through progression and reliable (ICCs = 0.63-0.98). CONCLUSION: The tested questionnaires were valid and reliable for online use, therefore being suitable for clinical and research purposes. A shorter survey to reduce burden and collecting training load using shorter recall duration should improve feasibility. Biomechanical measures were valid and reliable, and a graded loaded challenge, suitable for further testing, has been defined.

Neurophysiological changes after cognitive-motor tasks in Parkinson's disease patients with deep brain stimulation.

Chronic deep brain stimulation (CDBS) is a surgical treatment that reduces the cardinal signs of Parkinson's disease (PD). Although CDBS has been in use for a long time, very little has been reported on its supposed effects on cognition, particularly in relation to implants in the subthalamic nucleus. The results of the rare studies that do exist are controversial, and in many cases the studies have several design flaws. The present study compared cortical activation during three tasks (action execution, action observation and motor imagery) in PD patients with and without subthalamic implants. The study sample consisted of 36 volunteers, divided into three groups: healthy controls, PD patients with CDBS of the subthalamic nucleus, and PD patients without CDBS. Through a quantitative electroencephalogram assessment, absolute beta power was examined to observe the interaction between group and cognitive motor tasks. The electrodes at sites Fp1, Fp2, F7, F8, F3, Fz and F4, located in the prefrontal and frontal regions, were analyzed and a Group x Task interaction (p < 0.05) was observed for all of them. These findings suggest that CDBS of the subthalamic nucleus is efficient in reducing some of the effects of PD in these study tasks. At the same time, the dysfunctions found in several cortical areas, characteristic of PD, limited the effects of the CDBS. The results of this study suggest that CDBS of the subthalamic nucleus can modulate cognitive-motor aspects of PD.

Effect of a specific exercise strategy on strength and proprioception in volleyball players with infraspinatus muscle atrophy.

Infraspinatus muscle atrophy is common in professional volleyball players, but it is unclear whether commonly observed strength and proprioception deficits can be reversed with training. Fifty-four participants were recruited into an infraspinatus atrophy group (IAG, n = 18) and a non-atrophy group (NAG, n = 18) of elite volleyballers plus a healthy non-athletic control group (CG, n = 18). IAG were trained with a progressive, specific shoulder external rotator strengthening routine for 32 sessions over 8 weeks. Shoulder external rotation peak torque (SERPT) and threshold to detect passive movement (TTDPM) and joint position sense (JPS) were measured before and after the intervention. At baseline, no significant difference was detected in strength or proprioception between the injured and control groups, but the normal athletes were stronger and had better proprioception than either IAG or CG (P < .001). IAG (d = 2.78) and NAG (d = 0.442) improved strength significantly after training. IAG improved TTDM and JPS (P < .001, d = -0.719 and -2.942, respectively) but were still worse than NAG (P < .001). Elite volleyball players with Infraspinatus muscle atrophy have strength and proprioception deficits which can be improved by a specific exercise program to normal but not elite athlete control levels.

ESRRB polymorphisms are associated with comorbidity of temporomandibular disorders and rotator cuff disease.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are associated with comorbidity. Shoulder pain is among the symptoms associated with TMD. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between TMD and rotator cuff disease (RCD) and related genetic aspects. All subjects underwent orofacial and shoulder examinations. The control group comprised 30 subjects with no pain. Affected subjects were divided into three groups: RCD (TMD-free, n=16), TMD (RCD-free, n=13), and TMD/RCD (patients with both RCD and TMD, n=49). A total of eight single nucleotide polymorphisms in the ESRRB gene were investigated. A chemiluminescent immunoassay was used to measure estradiol levels. Surface electromyography recorded head and cervical muscle activity. The χ(2) test and Student t-test/Mann-Whitney test were used to assess the significance of nominal and continuous variables. A P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. TMD subjects were seven times more susceptible to RCD than controls. The rs1676303 TT (P=0.02) and rs6574293 GG (P=0.04) genotypes were associated with RCD and TMD, respectively. TMD/RCD subjects showed associations with rs4903399 (P=0.02), rs10132091 (P=0.02), and CTTCTTAG/CCTCTCAG (P=0.01) haplotypes and lower muscle activity. Estradiol levels were similar among groups. This study supports TMD as a risk factor for RCD. ESRRB haplotypes and low muscle activity are common biomechanical characteristics in subjects with both diseases.