Open, Observational, Single-Arm, Multicenter Study Assessing the Effectiveness of a Dietary Supplement Containing Hydrolyzed Collagen, Chondroitin Sulfate, and Glucosamine for Osteoarthritis Pain Reduction.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is an age-related degenerative joint disease with a great impact on patients' well-being and quality of life. This is an observational, open, single-arm multicenter study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a nutritional supplement in patients with knee and/or hip OA. A total of 186 patients were recruited from Spanish centers and received a supplement containing hydrolyzed collagen (3000 mg), chondroitin sulfate (800 mg), glucosamine sulfate (700 mg), turmeric extract (250 mg) and devil's claw (150 mg), once daily during 6 months. The primary outcome was the patients' self-perceived pain in the affected joints measured with a visual analogue scale (VAS). Secondary outcome was the patient's functioning, measured with the Lequesne Functional Index and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC). Participants showed a significant reduction in self-perceived pain after 3 (mean reduction ± standard deviation, 1.99 ± 1.05) and 6 months (3.57 ± 1.39) of treatment (p < 0.0001 in both comparisons). Lequesne Functional Index score was significantly reduced at 3 months (3.86 ± 2.94) and at 6 months (6.73 ± 4.30) of treatment (p < 0.0001 in both comparisons). The WOMAC index was also significantly reduced after 3 (14.24 ± 10.04) and 6 months (26.43 ± 17.35) of treatment (p < 0.0001 in both comparisons). Significant reductions in WOMAC subdomains (p < 0.0001 in all comparisons) were observed. No severe adverse events were reported during the study. The main results arising from this study show that this nutritional supplementation can improve OA-related symptoms and physical function with a good safety profile in patients with hip and/or knee OA.

Epidemiología lesional del balonmano de elite: estudio retrospectivo en equipos profesional y formativo de un mismo club / Epidemiology of injuries in elite handball: Retrospective study in professional and academy handball team

Objetivo: Evaluar la incidencia y el patrón lesional en el balonmano de elite. Método: Estudio retrospectivo y transversal de 496 jugadores, de 29 equipos (divididos por categorías según edad y nivel), durante 5 temporadas (2007-2012), de un club del sur de Europa. El equipo médico evaluó las lesiones y el tiempo de exposición por equipos. Se siguieron los criterios epidemiológicos según consenso UEFA y codificación OSICS-10. Resultados: Se registraron 557 lesiones con 117.723 h de exposición totales. La incidencia lesional media de los equipos fue: 4,9 lesiones/1.000 h de exposición. Para el equipo Senior A (Profesional) fue de 4,3 (DE 1,8); Senior B, 3,4 (DE 1,6); Juvenil, 5,6 (DE 1,4); Cadete A, 5,5 (DE 2,5); Cadete B, 5,7 (DE 3,2), e Infantil, 4,9 (DE 1,9). No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre ellos, aunque los seniors tuvieron la mayor cantidad de horas de exposición (p < 0,001).Las localizaciones más frecuentes fueron tobillo (18,1%), rodilla (15,3%), muslo (12,9%) y región lumbar (10,6%). Las estructuras afectadas con más frecuencia fueron la lesión ligamentosa (27,3%) y la lesión «muscular por mecanismo indirecto» (20,5%). Esta última más en el Senior A, y la lesión ligamentosa en las categorías inferiores, aunque no se registraron diferencias significativas entre categorías. Conclusión: El patrón y la incidencia lesional en el balonmano de elite es uniforme entre los equipos de diferentes categorías, con pequeñas diferencias que deberán tenerse en cuenta para optimizar los programas de prevención en cada categoría del balonmano formativo de elite

Objective: To evaluate the injury incidence and pattern of injuries in elite handball by different ages. Method: A retrospective, cross sectional study, was conducted over 5 seasons (2007-2012), analyzing a total of 496 players, 29 teams (from different categories separated by age and performance level) of the same club in southern Europe. The same medical team has assessed the injuries and exposure time by teams. Epidemiological criteria according to UEFA and consensus OSICS-10 diagnostic coding were followed. Results: A total of 57 injuries were recorded during 117,723 hours of total exposure. There was a mean team injury incidence of 4.9 injuries/1000 hours of total exposure. For the Senior A (Professional Senior) it was was 4.3 (SD 1.8), Senior B (Amateur 18-28 years) 3.4 (SD 1.6), Youth (U-18 year) 5.6 (SD 1.4), Cadete A (U-16 year) 5.5 (SD 2.5), Cadete B (U-15 year) 5.7 (SD 3.2) and Infantil (U-14 year) 4.9 (SD 1.9). There were no statistically significant differences between categories, although seniors teams had more hours of exposure compared to other teams (P < 0.001). The most frequently affected sites were ankle (18.1%), knee (15.3%), thigh (12.9%) and lumbar region (10.6%). The most common type of injury to all teams was the sprain (27.3%) and non-traumatic muscle injury (20.5%). Muscle injuries were more common at Senior A (Professional) level, but in lower level teams it was the sprain, although there is no significant differences between them. Conclusion: The pattern and incidence of injury in elite handball is uniform between teams from different categories at the same club; with a few differences between each other that you should take this into account to optimize a preventions programs in each category of elite handball training