Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the free-throw percentage, joint position sense, and muscle torque in professional basketball players. Methods: Eleven professional basketball players participated in the study, wi
Objectives: To determine the effects of different isokinetic training programs; eccentric training, concentric training and combined (concentric-eccentric) training on quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength functional ratio (H/Qfunc ) and knee proprioception in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) patients. Methods: Thirty patients with unilateral PFPS were randomly assigned to 3 groups: concentric (CON, n=10) (31.23±3.12 years), eccentric (ECC, n=10) (33.73±2.21 years) and combined (combined, n=10) (30.41±4.35 years). In accordance with the progression principle, the training program was divided into 3 mesoscycles, and the sets and angular speeds were increased in each mesocycle. All groups were treated for 8 weeks. To determine H/Qfunc, eccentric quadriceps and concentric hamstring peak torques were evaluated at 60°/sec with Biodex System 3 (Biodex® Corp., Shirley, NY, USA). 20° and 60° of knee flexion target angles were used to evaluate the knee proprioception. Peak torques and proprioception were evaluated before and 8-week after training. Repeated measure of ANOVA was used for the analysis. Results: There was a significant difference in H/Qfunc between groups at 60°/sec (F= 9.048, p<0.001). The mean improvement difference in ECC and CON-ECC groups were better than CON group. Proprioception improvement was found significant after 8-weeks training for both on 20° (F=150.879 p<0.001) and 60° (F=247.561, p<0.001) of knee flexion. The mean improvement was similar for 20° (F=1.964, p=0.132) and 60° (F=0.493, p=0.711) of knee flexion between the groups. Conclusion: Isokinetic training with the emphasis on eccentric training of quadriceps muscle had a significant effect in H/Qfunc in PFPS patients. This is mostly based on the improvement in quadriceps eccentric peak torque and the improvement in balance between hamstring and quadriceps muscles. Eccentric and combined (concentric-eccentric) training is more appropriate model for strengthening compared to only concentric training.
Little leaguer's shoulder is a syndrome involving the proximal humeral epiphyseal plate and has been reported in adolescent athletes between 13-16 years of age. We present an adolescent case with radiological findings of little leaguer's shoulder syndrome in a non-athletic patient. The patient had applied significant rotational stress to the proximal humeral physis as a result of overuse due to physiotherapy, but the left asymptomatic side appeared more affected radiologically, which led to the idea that this may be a physiological change that occurs in adolescents. We thus evaluated the anteroposterior radiography of 10 healthy male adolescents of the same age with no skeletal or muscular complaints. We demonstrated a minimal widening of the lateral part of the proximal humeral epiphysis in two of these 10 patients. We believe little leaguer's shoulder should also be considered in adolescents with proximal humeral pain and a history of overuse. A larger study must be conducted to investigate whether these finding may be a variation of physiological development.
The relationship between one-leg static standing balance (OLSSB) and patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is unknown.OLSSB decreases in patients with PFPS.Prospective case series.Fifty-two women with unilateral PFPS were enrolled in this study. OLSSB was evaluated with a stabilometer. Q angle was measured with a lengthened-arm universal goniometer. Lower extremity alignment was analyzed with full-length standing anteroposterior teleroentgenograms. Quadriceps and hamstring strength was measured on an isokinetic dynamometer.There were significant differences in OLSSB, Q angle, and strength of quadriceps and hamstring between the symptomatic and asymptomatic sides. There was a correlation between the strength of the quadriceps and hamstring and OLSSB, while there was no correlation between OLSSB and the severity of pain, lower extremity alignment, and Q angle on the symptomatic side.OLSSB and quadriceps and hamstring strength decreased and Q angle increased on the symptomatic side in PFPS patients. A relationship between OLSSB and pain, Q angle, and lower extremity alignment was not detected, while there was a correlation between the strength of the quadriceps and hamstring and OLSSB.A quadriceps and hamstring strengthening may be beneficial to improve OLSSB in patients with PFPS.
