Assessment of Dynamic Knee Valgus between Lateral Step-Down Test and Running in Female Runners with and without Patellofemoral Pain Using Two-Dimensional Video Analysis.

Dynamic knee valgus (DKV) is a frontal plane knee kinematic alteration that has been associated with patellofemoral pain (PFP) in female runners. DKV is commonly assessed in clinical practice by measuring frontal plane knee projection angle (FPPA) during squat tests. However, it remains unclear whether the DKV observed in these tests is similar to or correlates with that observed during running in female runners. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to correlate and compare DKV, by measuring FPPA values, in a lateral step-down (LSD) squat test and running in female runners with and without PFP. A two-dimensional (2D) video analysis of the LSD test and running was carried out for 21 asymptomatic female runners and 17 PFP female runners in order to determine FPPA values. A Pearson correlation test and a factorial ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc correction were used for statistical analysis. The FPPAs recorded in the LSD test were significantly higher than those recorded during running in the asymptomatic (16.32° ± 5.38 vs. 4.02° ± 3.26, p < 0.01) and PFP groups (17.54° ± 7.25 vs. 4.64° ± 3.62, p < 0.01). No significant differences were found in FPPA values between asymptomatic and PFP runners during the LSD test (16.32° ± 5.38 vs. 17.54° ± 7.25, p = 0.55) and running (4.02° ± 3.26 vs. 4.64° ± 3.62, p = 0.58). There was a small (r < 0.3) and non-significant (p > 0.05) correlation in FPPAs between the LSD test and running in both groups. According to our results, DKV was not similar during the LSD test and running, and there was no significant correlation in FPPA values between the LSD test and running in both groups. Therefore, clinicians and therapists should be aware of these findings when using the LSD test in clinical practice to evaluate DKV in female runners with or without PFP.

Physiological and Biochemical Evaluation of Different Types of Recovery in National Level Paralympic Powerlifting.

BACKGROUND: Recovery from training is vital as it ensures training and performance to continue at high intensities and longer durations to stimulate the body and cause further adaptations. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate different methods of post-workout recovery in Paralympic powerlifting athletes. METHODS: Twelve male athletes participated (25.4 ± 3.3 years; 70.3 ± 12.1 kg). The presence of muscle edema, pain threshold, plasma cytokines, and performance measurement were evaluated five times. The recovery methods used in this study were passive recovery (PR), dry needling (DN), and cold-water immersion (CWI). RESULTS: The data analysis showed that the maximal force decreased compared to the pretest value at 15 min and 2 h. The results also revealed that CWI and DN increased Interleukin 2 (IL-2) levels from 24 to 48 h more than that from 2 h to 24 h. After DN, muscle thickness did not increase significantly in any of the muscles, and after 2 h, muscle thickness decreased significantly again in the major pectoralis muscle. After CWI, pain pressure stabilized after 15 min and increased significantly again after 2 h for acromial pectoralis. CONCLUSION: The strength training sessions generate several changes in metabolism and different recovery methods contribute differently to maintain homeostasis in Paralympic powerlifting athletes.

Tratamento hidrocinesioterapêutico em pessoa com espondilite ancilosante / Hydrotherapeutic treatment for case of ankilosing spondylitis

A espondilite ancilosante é uma patologia inflamatória sistêmica que afeta, predominantemente, a coluna vertebral, quadris, ombros e articulações sacro-ilíacas, acompanhada por inflamação dos tecidos conjuntivos. A doença evolui com erosão óssea, formação de tecido de granulação, que é substituído por tecido fibroso, e conseqüente anquilose das articulações acometidas. A sintomatologia desta doença é característica, apresentando dores crônicas, persistentes e progressivas, rigidez aos movimentos, cansaço, falta de apetite, dificuldade respiratória, entre outros. O presente estudo, com aplicação de protocolo hidroterapêutico para portador de espondilite ancilosante objetivou promover alívio da dor e do espasmo muscular; manutenção da mobilidade da coluna, ombros e quadris; minimizar a rigidez e o encurtamento dos tecidos moles; promover fortalecimento muscular; trabalhar consciência corporal e postural.

Ankylosing spondylitis is a systemic inflammatory pathology which affects vertebral column, hip, shoulders and sacroiliac joint, with associated inflamation of connective tissues. This disease evolves with bone’s erosion, making granulation tissue which is substituted by fibrous tissue and later ankylosis of affected joints. The disease symptomatology is characterized by chronic, progressive and persistent pain, harshness to movements, toil, appetite loss, breathing difficulty. This study with application of hydrotherapeutic protocol in patient with ankylosing spondylitis aimed to provide relief of pain and muscular spasm, maintenance of the mobility of vertebral column, shoulders and hips, to reduce rigidity and shortening of mound tissues; to promove muscular strengthening; to improve postural and body conscience.