vendex and Syndrome

Impairment of joint proprioception in patients with hypermobility syndrome (HMS) has been well documented. Both joint proprioception and muscle torque are commonly assessed in patients with musculoskeletal complaints. It is unknown, however, if these measures change significantly on repeated application in healthy children and in children with HMS.. To investigate the between-days repeatability of joint proprioception and muscle torque in these groups.. Twenty children (10 healthy and 10 with HMS), aged eight to 15 years, were assessed on two separate occasions (one week apart) for joint kinaesthesia (JK), joint position sense (JPS), and the extensor and knee flexor muscle torque of the knee. JK was measured using threshold to detection of passive movement. JPS was measured using the absolute angular error (AAE; the absolute difference between the target and perceived angles). Knee extensor and flexor muscle torque was normalized to body weight.. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) for JK, extensor and flexor muscle torque were excellent in both groups (range 0.83 to 0.98). However, ICC values for JPS tests were poor to moderate in the two groups (range 0.18 to 0.56). 95% limits of agreement (LOA) were narrow in both cohorts for JK and muscle torque (indicating low systematic error) but wide for the JPS tests. 95% LOA also demonstrated that the measuring instruments used in this study had low between-days systematic error.. Based on ICC and 95% LOA, the repeatability of JK and muscle torque measurements was excellent in both healthy children and those with HMS. The JPS test can only be assessed with poor to moderate repeatability. The use of the JPS test in these children should be undertaken with caution.

Topics: Adolescent; Child; Humans; Joint Instability; Knee Joint; Muscle Strength; Proprioception; Range of Motion, Articular; Reproducibility of Results; Sensory Thresholds; Syndrome; Torque

The purposes of this study were (1) to evaluate a comprehensive treatment approach for patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome and (2) to compare a training program using isometric muscle contractions with a training program using eccentric muscle contractions.. Forty female patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome, aged 15 to 28 years (mean = 20.2, SD = 3.2), were randomly assigned to either a group using isometric muscle contractions or a group using eccentric muscle contractions.. The effects of 12 weeks of treatment, consisting of an educational component and a training program, on physical activity, pain, and muscle function were evaluated after 3 and 12 months.. No differences were found between the two groups, except in one of the torque measurements. A reduction in pain and improvements in torque, vertical jumping ability, and physical activity level were seen in both groups after treatment. At the 12-month follow-up, 85% of the subjects were participating in sports without pain and 37 subjects rated their overall knee function as excellent or good.. The results indicate that the improvements shown in this study may be due to spontaneous recovery over time, the education given to the subjects, the pain monitoring system, the gradually progressing training program, and the adjusted physical activity. [Thomeé R. A. Comprehensive treatment approach for patellofemoral pain syndrome in young women.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Electromyography; Exercise; Exercise Therapy; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Knee Joint; Muscle, Skeletal; Pain Management; Pain Measurement; Syndrome; Torque; Treatment Outcome

It is known that physical activity and muscular performance are reduced in fibromyalgia (FM) syndrome. This study aims to compare the performance of trunk muscles in women with FM and healthy controls and evaluate the correlation between trunk muscle strength and FM severity.. Forty-six patients with FM and 42 age- and body mass index-matched healthy housewives without FM were included in the FM and control groups, respectively. The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) was used for the assessment of FM severity. The pain intensity was evaluated using the visual analogical scale (VAS). An isokinetic dynamometer was used to measure the isokinetic trunk muscle strength. The peak torque (PT) values were recorded. The psychological status of the patients was evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory.. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of age, BMI, and BDI scores in two groups (p > 0.05, for all). The isokinetic trunk extensor PT values were significantly lower in the FM group (p = 0.002 for 60°/s, and p < 0.001 for 90°/s and 120°/s) than control group. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between FIQ score and isokinetic extensor muscle parameters.. The results indicate that trunk extensor muscles were significantly weaker in FM patients. Trunk extensor muscle strength decreased as FM severity increased in FM patients.

Topics: Adult; Body Mass Index; Case-Control Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Fibromyalgia; Humans; Middle Aged; Muscle Strength; Muscle Strength Dynamometer; Muscle, Skeletal; Pain Measurement; Severity of Illness Index; Surveys and Questionnaires; Syndrome; Torque; Torso; Young Adult

Iliotibial band syndrome is the leading cause of lateral knee pain in runners. Despite its high prevalence, little is known about the biomechanics that lead to this syndrome. The purpose of this study was to prospectively compare lower extremity kinematics and kinetics between a group of female runners who develop iliotibial band syndrome compared to healthy controls. It was hypothesized that runners who develop iliotibial band syndrome will exhibit greater peak hip adduction, knee internal rotation, rearfoot eversion and no difference in knee flexion at heel strike. Additionally, the iliotibial band syndrome group were expected to have greater hip abduction, knee external rotation, and rearfoot inversion moments.. A group of healthy female recreational runners underwent an instrumented gait analysis and were then followed for two years. Eighteen runners developed iliotibial band syndrome. Their initial running mechanics were compared to a group of age and mileage matched controls with no history of knee or hip pain. Comparisons of peak hip, knee, rearfoot angles and moments were made during the stance phase of running. Variables of interest were averaged over the five running trials, and then averaged across groups.. The iliotibial band syndrome group exhibited significantly greater hip adduction and knee internal rotation. However, rearfoot eversion and knee flexion were similar between groups. There were no differences in moments between groups.. The development of iliotibial band syndrome appears to be related to increased peak hip adduction and knee internal rotation. These combined motions may increase iliotibial band strain causing it to compress against the lateral femoral condyle. These data suggest that treatment interventions should focus on controlling these secondary plane movements through strengthening, stretching and neuromuscular re-education.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Arthralgia; Awards and Prizes; Biomechanical Phenomena; Computer Simulation; Female; Hip Joint; Humans; Knee Injuries; Knee Joint; Ligaments; Middle Aged; Models, Biological; Range of Motion, Articular; Running; Syndrome; Torque

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare muscular activation in sitting and standing in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome and healthy controls. Eleven women with patellofemoral pain syndrome and nine healthy controls were evaluated regarding: (a) muscle performance in sitting compared to standing-knee extensor torque was registered in sitting with a Kin Com dynamometer and in standing with a force plate, and quadriceps muscle activity was registered with EMG in both sitting and standing; and (b) ability to maximally voluntarily activate during sitting isometric knee extension. Maximally tolerated single-twitch electrical stimulation was superimposed on 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% of maximal voluntary activation. Additional torque from the single twitch was documented. Five patients and all nine controls were tested twice (tests a and b) with 2 days between tests, and high reproducibility could be demonstrated. A significantly higher torque during sitting compared with standing was found in both patients and controls, but with a significant correlation between sitting and standing torque values. No significant difference was found between patients and controls. Single-twitch electrical stimulation superimposed on maximal voluntary activation resulted in increased torque in two of the nine controls compared to 10 of the 11 patients. The average increased torque in the patients were significantly higher than in the controls and estimated to 18%. It was concluded that sitting isometric measurements are representative of the ability to produce standing isometric knee torque. A moderate degree of inhibition was demonstrated during sitting strength measurements in the patients (not studied in standing).

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Electric Stimulation; Electromyography; Female; Femur; Humans; Isometric Contraction; Joint Diseases; Knee Joint; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Skeletal; Pain; Patella; Posture; Reproducibility of Results; Syndrome; Torque; Weight-Bearing