[Physical activity, a key-role in preventive medicine]. / L'activité physique, un rôle essentiel dans le cadre d'une médecine préventive.

The importance of physical activity in preventing diseases and maintaining physical and mental health in humans is undeniable. An active lifestyle plays a significant role in the primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of chronic diseases. Despite abundant evidence in the literature and recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) on physical activity, the global population remains insufficiently active. It is therefore essential to promote physical activity and educate individuals in order to create an environment conducive to the sustainable adoption of an active lifestyle and the maintenance of health. In Belgium, initiatives such as «Sport-Health¼ programmes are emerging to overcome barriers to autonomous physical activity by offering tailored programmes for individuals with chronic diseases or those wishing to age healthily. With this perspective, the «Citizen, in motion for my health¼ project offers physical activity sessions while improving the physical literacy of participants to promote their autonomy.

L'importance de l'activité physique dans la prévention des maladies et le maintien de la santé physique et mentale de l'être humain n'est plus à démontrer. Un mode de vie actif joue un rôle considérable dans la prévention primaire, secondaire et tertiaire des maladies chroniques. Malgré les preuves abondantes dans la littérature ainsi que les recommandations de l'Organisation Mondiale de la Santé (OMS) en matière d'activité physique, la population mondiale demeure insuffisamment active. Il est donc essentiel de promouvoir l'activité physique et l'éducation des individus pour créer un environnement favorable à l'adoption durable d'un mode de vie actif en vue de la préservation de la santé. En Belgique, des initiatives telles que les programmes «Sport-Santé¼ émergent pour surmonter les obstacles à la pratique autonome de l'activité physique en proposant des programmes adaptés aux besoins des personnes atteintes de maladies chroniques ou souhaitant vieillir en bonne santé. C'est dans cette optique que le projet «Citoyen, en mouvement pour ma santé¼ offre des séances d'activité physique, tout en développant la littératie physique des participants pour favoriser leur autonomie.

Description of a standardized rehabilitation program based on sub-maximal eccentric following a platelet-rich plasma infiltration for jumper's knee.

INTRODUCTION: Different series emphasized the necessity of rehabilitation program after infiltration of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in case of tendinopathy. However, most of them describe only briefly the reeducation protocol and these programs vary. Our aim was to extensively describe a specific standardized rehabilitation program. METHODS: After a review of literature of post-PRP infiltration protocols, we had developed a standardized rehabilitation protocol. This protocol was evaluated by 30 subjects with chronic jumper's knee who. A standardised progressive sub-maximal eccentric program supervised by a physical therapist for 6 weeks was started 1 week post-infiltration. The patient benefited also from electromyostimulation, isometric strengthening and stretching of the quadriceps, cycloergometer and cryotherapy. After the supervised program, the patient had to make an auto-reeducation added to the reathletisation protocol for 6 more weeks which was followed by maintenance exercises up to 1 year. The assessments were made using a VAS, IKDC and VISA-P scores. RESULTS: The VAS, IKDC and VISA-P scores decreased very significantly with time. The compliance to auto-reeducation was good. CONCLUSIONS: We proposed a simple and efficient protocol based on sub-maximal eccentric reeducation to add to PRP infiltrations in case of patellar tendinopathy.

Explosive strength imbalances in professional basketball players.

CONTEXT: Despite the high rate of lower limb injuries in basketball players, studies of the dominant-limb effect in elite athletes often neglect injury history. OBJECTIVE: To determine lower limb explosive-strength asymmetries in professional basketball players compared with junior basketball players and control participants. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Academic medical institution. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: 15 professional basketball players, 10 junior basketball players, and 20 healthy men. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): We performed an isokinetic examination to evaluate the knee extensor (Ext) and flexor (Fl) concentric peak torque at 60 degrees .s(-1) and 240 degrees .s(-1) and (Fl only) eccentric peak torque at 30 degrees .s(-1) and 120 degrees .s(-1). Functional evaluation included countermovement jump, countermovement jump with arms, 10-m sprint, single-leg drop jump, and single-leg, 10-second continuous jumping. Variables were compared among groups using analysis of variance or a generalized linear mixed model for bilateral variables. RESULTS: The 2 groups of basketball players demonstrated better isokinetic and functional performances than the control group did. No differences in functional or relative isokinetic variables were noted between professional and junior basketball players. Professional players with a history of knee injury failed to reach normal knee extensor strength at 60 degrees .s(-1). Knee Ext (60 degrees .s(-1)) and Fl (eccentric 120 degrees .s(-1)) torque values as well as 10-second continuous jumping scores were higher in those professional players without a history of knee injury than those with such a history. Compared with the group without a history of knee injury, the group with a history of knee injury maintained leg asymmetry ratios greater than 10% for almost all isokinetic variables and more than 15% for unilateral functional variables. CONCLUSIONS: The relative isokinetic and functional performances of professional basketball players were similar to those of junior players, with no dominant-side effect. A history of knee injury in the professional athlete, however, was reflected in bilateral isokinetic and functional asymmetries and should be considered in future studies of explosive strength.

A multistage field test of wheelchair users for evaluation of fitness and prediction of peak oxygen consumption.

An incremental multistage field test (MFT) for wheelchair users was developed to evaluate physical fitness and predict peak oxygen consumption (VO2). Using auditory feedback, the participants (n = 37) were directed to wheel around an octagonal course, increasing their velocity every minute until exhaustion. Wheelchair velocity and metabolic parameters were recorded with the use of a speedometer and a portable spirometer system. The average number of exercise levels performed (MFT score) was 9.17 +/- 5.81, resulting in a peak heart rate (HR) of 99.0 +/- 13.9% of the theoretical maximum. A test-retest analysis (n = 10) showed that the MFT was reliable regarding MFT score, peak VO2, and peak HR reached. Stepwise multiple regression based on individual, wheelchair, propulsion technique, and physiological parameters revealed that the MFT score was the best and only predictor of peak VO2 (mL/min/kg) (= 18.03 + 0.78 MFT score, r(2) = 0.59). The MFT assesses wheelchair mobility and estimates peak VO2 encountered during the test.