Effects of low-intensity resistance exercise with blood flow restriction after high tibial osteotomy in middle-aged women.

BACKGROUND: High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is an effective surgical method for treating medial compartment osteoarthritis. However, in most cases after surgery, muscle strength is decreased, and rapid muscle atrophy is observed. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to verify the effects of low-intensity resistance exercise (LIE) with blood flow restriction (BFR) on the cross-sectional area (CSA) of thigh muscles, knee extensor strength, pain, and knee joint function and investigate proper arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) in middle-aged women who underwent HTO. METHOD: This study was designed as a prospective randomized controlled trial. Forty-two middle-aged women who underwent HTO were randomly divided into three groups and participated in LIE with (40% or 80% AOP applied) or without BFR. The main outcome was the measurement of the CSA of thigh muscles (at 30% and 50% distal length of the femur) before and 12 weeks after treatment. Additionally, knee extension muscle strength, pain, and joint function were evaluated before and 6 and 12 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: CSA of thigh muscles at 30% and 50% distal length of the femur decreased in the AOP 40% and control groups and was the largest in the AOP 80% group 12 weeks after treatment. Knee extension strength increased in all groups and was the highest in the AOP 80% group 6 and 12 weeks after treatment. Pain improved in all groups, with no intergroup differences. Knee joint function improved in all groups and was superior in the 80% AOP group 12 weeks after treatment. CONCLUSION: LIE with BFR at 80% AOP was effective in preventing atrophy of the thigh muscle, increasing muscle strength, and improving function. BFR at 40% AOP had no difference in the results when compared with the group in which BFR was not applied. Therefore, LIE with an AOP of 80% is recommended for patients undergoing HTO.

Immediate Effects of Sports Taping Applied on the Lead Knee of Low- and High-Handicapped Golfers During Golf Swing.

Kim, T-G, Kim, E-K, and Park, J-C. Immediate effects of sports taping applied on the lead knee of low- and high-handicapped golfers during golf swing. J Strength Cond Res 31(4): 981-989, 2017-Elite golf athletes suffer from various musculoskeletal injuries due to repeated golf swings. Repetitive varus moment during golf swing has been suggested as a possible cause of injuries to the lead knee. The aim of this study was to objectively and quantitatively evaluate the immediate effects of sports taping on the lead knee of elite golfers to restrict varus moment. Thirty-one elite golfers were assigned to the low- (LHG, n = 15) or high-handicapped group (HHG, n = 16). Using 3-dimensional motion analysis, the lead knee position on the frontal plane with and without rigid taping (RT), elastic taping (ET), and placebo taping was identified in 4 separate phases by the 5 events of golf swing as follows: the peak of the backswing (E1), parallel to the ground during downswing (E2), ball impact (E3), parallel to the ground during follow-through (E4), and finish (E5). The LHG when using a driver club had decreased movement toward knee varus with RT and ET than that without it from E1 to E2 (p = 0.001). The LHG when using a 5-iron club decreased movement toward knee varus with RT than that without it from E1 to E2 (p = 0.006) and from E2 to E3 (p = 0.019). The HHG when using a driver club had decreased movement toward knee varus with RT from E1 to E2 (p = 0.014). Sports taping may be helpful for elite golfers in terms of reducing varus moment of the lead knee during the downswing and be useful for the development of preventive strategies for golf-related knee injuries.