Siu-Ngor Fu

Taekwondo training speeds up the development of balance and sensory functions in young adolescents.

OBJECTIVES This study aimed (1) to identify the developmental status of balance and sensory functions in young adolescents as compared to adults and, (2) to explore the effect of Taekwondo (TKD) training on the development of balance and sensory systems in young adolescents. DESIGN Cross-sectional controlled trial. METHODS Sixty-six participants including 42 adolescents (21 TKD practitioners, 21 non-TKD practitioners) and 24 adults were tested. The sway velocity of centre of gravity was recorded during standing on the non-dominant leg on a Smart Equitest ® system. The somatosensory, vestibular and visual ratios were also measured with the machine. RESULTS Adult participants swayed slower than both TKD and non-TKD adolescent groups during single leg stance with eyes open (p=0.007 and p<0.001, respectively). The TKD adolescent group, in turn, swayed slower than the non-TKD adolescent group (p<0.001). Adult participants had better visual ratio than both TKD and non-TKD adolescents (p=0.001 and p<0.001, respectively) while there was no difference between the TKD and non-TKD adolescents (p=0.164). For the vestibular ratio, there was no significant difference between adult participants and TKD adolescents (p=0.432). Adolescents who did not practice TKD showed significantly lower vestibular ratio than TKD adolescents and adults (p=0.003 and p<0.001, respectively). In addition, there was no significant difference in the somatosensory ratio among the 3 participant groups (p=0.711). CONCLUSIONS Participation in TKD appears to speed up the development of postural control and vestibular function in adolescents. Clinicians might advocate TKD exercise as a therapeutic intervention for young people with balance or vestibular dysfunctions.

Translation and validation of Chinese version of International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form

Purpose. To translate, cross-culturally adapt and validate the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form (IKDC-SKF-C) to Chinese. Method. Forward and backward translations were conducted by two bilingual professional translators. Content validity was verified by a panel of a senior orthopaedic surgeon and six physiotherapists. The IKDC-SKF-C was tested on 84 patients. Psychometric testing included internal consistency (Cronbachs α) and test–retest reliability. Convergent validity used Spearmans correlation coefficient (rho) tests by comparing its score with the Chinese version of SF-36. Results. The Internal consistency was excellent with Cronbachs α  ==  0.97. Test-retest reliability was supported with an ICC  ==  0.87. The IKDC-SKF-C was moderately related to concurrent measures of physical function and bodily pain (r  ==  0.64, p  <0.05). Conclusion. The translated Chinese IKDC-SKF is a reliable and valid tool with equal measurement properties and conceptual equivalent to the original version.

Increase in passive muscle tension of the quadriceps muscle heads in jumping athletes with patellar tendinopathy

To investigate the passive muscle tension of the quadriceps muscle heads in male athletes clinically diagnosed with patellar tendinopathy (PT) with those of healthy controls and explore the interplay between passive muscle tension and patellar tendon stiffness. Between November 2012 and December 2013, 66 male athletes (mean age of 21.1 ± 4.4 years) were examined using supersonic shear wave imaging technology. The passive tension of the vastus lateralis (VL) and rectus femoris (RF) muscles and patellar tendon stiffness were assessed. The shear elastic modulus of the VL muscle was increased by 26.5% (P < 0.001) in the subjects with PT when compared with the controls. Greater passive tension in the VL was associated with higher patellar tendon stiffness (r = 0.38; P = 0.001). The vastus lateralis muscle of the quadriceps shows increase in passive muscle tension in jumping athletes with patellar tendinopathy. These findings suggest that increase in muscle tension is not similar in the individual muscles of the quadriceps muscle. Traditional stretching of the whole quadriceps muscle might not be targeted to the tight muscle heads.

Isometric strength of the hip abductors and external rotators in athletes with and without patellar tendinopathy

PurposeThis study aims to compare the isometric strength of hip abductors and external rotators in male athletes with and without patellar tendinopathy (PT), and to examine the correlation between hip strength, pain, and functional scores.MethodsSixty male athletes (30 with PT and 30 controls) were recruited from local volleyball and basketball teams. The isometric strength of the hip abductors and external rotators was quantified using a belt-stabilized handheld dynamometer. This study used the visual analog scale (VAS) and the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Patella (VISA-p) questionnaire to measure the intensity of pain and functional scores in athletes with PT, respectively.ResultsThe normalized isometric strength of the hip abductors and external rotators was significantly less in the PT group compared with controls. In subjects with PT, the normalized isometric strength was decreased by 22.0% (p = 0.000) in the hip abductors and by 20.0% in the hip external rotators (p = 0.004), compared with controls. Significant correlations were found between the normalized isometric strength of the hip abductors and intensity of pain (r = − 0.70; p < 0.05) and VISA-p score (r = 0.63; p < 0.05) in the affected leg in athletes with unilateral PT.ConclusionsAthletes with PT have decreased isometric strength in their hip abductors and external rotators when compared with controls. In subjects with unilateral PT, decreased isometric strength in the hip abductors is associated with greater intensity of pain and lower functional scores. Results of this study implied that hip muscle assessment and strengthening should be included for reconditioning and rehabilitation in athletes with PT.

53 Correlation Between Vascularity With Power Doppler Ultrasonography Assessment And Pain In Patients With Patellar Tendinopathy

Introduction Neovascularization of tendon is one of the characteristics in patellar tendinopathy. It had been hypothesised that the vessels or the nerves accompanying the vessels were involved in the pain mechanism in this chronic pathology. [Cook, 2004] Due to the different methods used to categorise or quantify the vascularity change by researchers [Hoksrud, 2009], the relationship between vascularity and pain is still controversial. The aim of this study was to correlate findings on vascularity using power Doppler ultrasonography (PDU) and pain measured by visual analogue scale (VAS) in patients with patellar tendinopathy. Methods PDU was performed on thirty-five jumping athletes (age range: 18–35 years, mean age 22.9 years) with patellar tendinopathy (21 unilateral, 14 bilateral). The vascularity was quantified using ultrasound images by a customised software program. Vascular index (VI) was calculated as the ratio of the number of colour pixels to the total number of pixels within a standardised selected area of proximal patellar tendon. The higher VI, the more vascular is the region. The tendons were further categorised into minimal- or moderate-vascularized groups with reference to classification rated by an experienced sonographer. The athlete then rated their knee pain level using VAS on a 10-cm continuous line marked “no pain” on one end and “worst pain” on the other, recalling the maximal pain level during activities in the last 7 days. Abstract 53 Figure 1 Correlation between Vascularity Index and Pain level in minimal-vascularized group Abstract 53 Figure 2 Correlation between Vascularity Index and Pain level in moderate-vascularized group Results Tendons VI were positively correlated to pain level in both groups (r = 0.49; p = 0.03 in minimal-vascularized group; r = 0.57; p = 0.03 in moderate-vascularized group). However, when combining both groups, the correlation was not significant (r = 0.26, p = 0.14). Discussion The computerised vascular index could be one of the indicators to reflect the severity or subjective pain level of athletes suffering from patellar tendinopathy. This study suggested that categorization was indicated to reflect this correlation. The pain mechanism in tendinopathy might be different in tendons with minimal- or moderate-vascularisation. References Cook, et al. Clin J Sport Med. 2004;14:296–299 Hoksrud, et al. Am J Sports Med. 2009;36:1813–1820