Whole-body vibration is a suitable training method to improve knee extension maximal strength, counter-movement jump, and flexibility in a young female athlete if it is properly designed. Not only do the optimal frequency, amplitude, and g-forces need to be identified but also the level of muscle activation that would benefit more from vibration stimulation. The improvement of flexibility is important not only for performance but also for the prevention of muscle-tendon injury.

Athletes regulated their average work intensity during the field tests in the five Paralympic sports to approximate their individualized VT measured during incremental arm cranking exercise test, and this intensity was within the range recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine to improve cardiorespiratory fitness in well-trained subjects. In addition, performance of Paralympic athletes in these sports was highly dependent upon athletes' aerobic fitness.

The biological mechanism that regulates the relationship between the thermal dose and the healing process of soft tissues with low or high water content or with low or high blood perfusion is still under study. Microwave diathermy treatment at 434 and 915 MHz can be effective in the short-term management of musculo-skeletal injuries.

Hyperthermia at 434 MHz appears safe and effective in the short term for the management of supraspinatus tendinopathy.

Lower limb tendon changes detected at imaging are common among asymptomatic athletes. We aimed to prospectively assess the clinical status, tendon structure, and vascularity of lower limb tendons of elite fencers, and predict the risk of developing symptoms over time. Clinical examination, changes at ultrasonography (US), and Power Doppler (PD) flow of both the Achilles, patellar, and quadriceps tendon were assessed in 37 elite fencers in January 2007 and 3 years after. Two hundred and twenty-two tendons were examined. At the last appointment, patellar tendons diagnosed as abnormal at baseline were more likely to develop symptoms than those normal at baseline (P < 0.05, Fisher's exact test), while US and PD abnormalities on Achilles and quadriceps tendons were no predictive for development of symptoms over years. A very low percentage of tendons diagnosed as normal at baseline (1.45%) showed US abnormalities at 3-year follow-up. In asymptomatic elite fencers, structural changes are relatively common at US and PD assessment of Achilles, quadriceps, and patellar tendons. It seems unlikely that additional PD investigations provide further information or change prognosis in patients with US diagnosis of tendinopathy.

Background: Neuropathic pain is an injury or disease of the central and/or peripheral somatosensory nervous system, and it has a significant impact on quality of life, especially since it is often refractory to treatment. Rehabilitative intervention is considered in various guidelines on neuropathic pain treatment, although not in an organic nor detailed way. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the most indicated therapeutic strategies, providing rehabilitative recommendations in the management of neuropathic pain. Methods: A systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. The scientific search, carried out until July 2020, considered guidelines in English language of the last thirteen years. Results: Six guidelines were analyzed, from which emerges that a multidisciplinary approach, comprehensive of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions, should drive neuropathic pain management. A relevant role in non-pharmacological intervention is played by rehabilitation, through an adequate tailored rehabilitation program and physical therapies. Conclusion: This analysis highlights the importance of rehabilitation but also the lack of evidence on various rehabilitative practices. Arises hence the need for further studies in this field to better define a rehabilitative treatment strategy.

The objective of this randomized study was to compare a thermotherapy system, hyperthermia at 434 MHz and conventional ultrasound in the treatment of overuse sports tendinopathies. The study group consisted of 44 athletes, 33 males and 11 females (age 26 +/- 4.56 years) affected by tendinopathies at lower extremities (patellar or achilles tendons). After elucidation of the kind of trial, 22 patients were randomly assigned to hyperthermia and 22 to ultrasound. The patients received after a pain measurement and ultrasound scanning 12 treatments, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The same standardized examination was done at the end of treatment and 1 month after the end of treatment. The assessor physician was unaware of the treatment allocation. The patients were asked to rate the ultimate outcome on the base of pain resolution and return to sports activity. Both groups had a significant decrease of symptoms (P<0.001). Hyperthermia, however, demonstrated better effects on the reduction of VAS score and on the subjective overall satisfaction (77 %) of excellent and good results in comparison to the 33 % of ultrasound. In patients with chronic overuse tendinopathies hyperthermia at 434 MHz showed encouraging results, with short-term clinical improvement, safety and no side effects.

Frequency of WBV should be prescribed in an individualized fashion, within the range of 30-35 Hz in this target population of older women.