Kazuya Ito

Immediate effects of leg-press exercises with tibial internal rotation on individuals with medial knee osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVEnAlthough patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) demonstrate abnormal kinematics involving greater tibial external rotation during squatting, there have not been any previous studies investigating an exercise focused on correcting knee rotational kinematics. This study aimed to determine the immediate effects of exercise with tibial internal rotation (IR) on symptoms and functions in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).nnnMETHODSnThis study provides Level II evidence using a small randomized controlled trial. Sixty patients were allocated to either the tibial IR or neutral rotation (NR) group in this randomized controlled trial. The IR group performed a leg press activity with the tibia in maximal IR, whereas the NR group performed leg press activity with the tibia in NR. Outcome measures were (a) 10-m walk test; (b) Timed Up and Go test, (c) knee flexion angle while squatting, (d) knee pain during walking and squatting, and (e) difficulty during walking and squatting.nnnRESULTSnSignificant interaction was observed in all outcomes. The IR group exhibited significant improvement on all outcome measures, whereas the NR group exhibited significant improvements only in the 10-m walk.nnnCONCLUSIONnThe IR group exhibited greater improvements than the NR group on all outcome measures. After a single session, leg press activity with the tibia in maximal IR improved the symptoms and functions measured in this study more effectively than leg press activity with the tibia in a neutral position. This suggests that correcting rotational malalignment is more important than strengthening the quadriceps for maintaining or even improving function of OA knees. (Clinical trials registration number: UMIN000021751).

The effect of manual inter-structural release on glenohumeral internal rotation range and gliding between the infraspinatus and posterior deltoid

1) Major in Medical Engineering and Technology, Graduate School of Medical Technology and Health Welfare Sciences, Hiroshima International University: Rm3807, Bldg3, 555-36 Kurose-Gakuendai, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-2695, Japan. TEL: +81-823-70-4550 E-mail: pp.twinkle21@gmail.com 2) Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Hiroshima International University

EFFECT OF STANDING EXERCISE USING PELVIS AND THORAX SYMMETRICAL DEVICE FOR CARE WORKERS WITH LOW BACK PAIN

Participants: Thirty-six care workers have complaining LBP were randomized two groups. Exercises were supplied to subjects in the intervention group, performed exercises ten to thirty minutes a day while 8-month. In another group was no intervention. At the beginning of the study, two weeks, four weeks, and eight weeks were recorded two outcomes—Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) on four postures (trunk extension/flexion/rotation and standing posture). In both groups, only Subjects of VAS 40mm on the beginning of this study were extracted to compare between groups at four terms. Statistical analyses were used the Mann-Whitney U test after Bonferroni correction. Significance level before correction = .05.

Effects of Training Program wearing Balance Shoes to Reduce Knee and Lower Extremity Injuries in Junior Athletes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to compare the effectiveness of an original 15-minute exercise program wearing the ReaLine Balanceshoes (RBS) and a conventional injury prevention program in reducing lower extremity injuries. nMethods: We recruited athletic club teams from local junior high schools. Inclusion criteria were adolescents who were a member of their interscholastic athletic club team. Players with an injury within 6 weeks that prevented full participation in sports, a history of systemic disease or neurologic disorder at the start of the intervention, and those already using an injury prevention program were excluded. Participants were individually randomized within a team into one of the study groups (RBS or control). The RBS group used the RBS, a shoe-type training device designed for correcting dynamic knee valgus. A 6-staged progressive exercise program was developed, including slow closed kinetic chain strengthening, joint realignment, balancing, feedforward, feedback, and plyometric components. The control group performed an injury prevention program previously used to reduce injury risk. One 15-minute session was performed 3 days/week for 12 months. The primary outcome was incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and acute knee injuries. nResults: One hundred twenty three players completed the study (RBS, n=65; control, n=58). No ACL injury or acute knee injury occurred among RBS athletes versus 1 ACL injury [RR 0.298, 95% CI (0.012, 7.175)] and 3 acute knee injuries [RR 0.127, 95%CI (0.007, 2.421)] among control athletes. nConclusion: The RBS program was not significantly more effective than a conventional injury prevention program in reducing the incidence of ACL injury and other acute lower extremity injuries in junior athletes.