[Purpose] The purpose of the present study was to verify the effects of intrinsic foot
flexor strength training. [Subjects] The subjects were 12 healthy males without motor
system disease. [Methods] A training method that involved flexion of all toe
interphalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints against a 3-kg load was implemented and was
performed for 200 repetitions once per day, three times per week, for a period of eight
weeks. [Results] Significant changes were observed for intrinsic foot flexor strength
scores, foot arches, vertical jumping, 1-legged long jumping, and 50-m dash time.
[Conclusion] This muscle strength training method significantly improved muscle strength
scores, foot arch shape, and movement performance.
There were no significant differences among the groups in subjective clinical results, anterior laxity, and knee extensor strength in the ACL reconstructions that used the autogenous semitendinosus tendon graft.
[Purpose] Increased femoral anteversion may occur with hip internal rotation and valgus
knee alignment upon landing and is considered a risk factor for anterior cruciate ligament
injury. We examined the relationship between femoral anteversion and joint motion and
muscle activity of the lower extremity in terms of the risk factors for anterior cruciate
ligament injury. [Subjects] Sixteen healthy females were divided on the basis of femoral
anteversion into low and high groups. [Methods] Femoral anteversion was assessed using
Craig's test. We performed kinematic analysis and measured the electromyography activity
of the lower extremity upon left single-leg landing. [Results] The high group had a
significantly lower hip flexion angle and higher knee flexion and valgus angles than the
low group. The rectus femoris showed significantly greater electromyography activities in
the high group than in the low group. [Conclusion] These results suggest that increased
femoral anteversion results in lower hip flexion angle, higher knee valgus alignment, and
greater rectus femoris muscle activity, leading to anterior tibial displacement upon
single-leg landing. Increased femoral anteversion may be a potential risk factor for
anterior cruciate ligament injury.
BackgroundKrill oil is an edible oil extracted from krill, a small red-colored crustacean found in the Antarctic Ocean. The administration of krill oil is reported to mitigate inflammation in patients with cardiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, or osteoarthritis. However, the effect of krill oil on mild knee pain has not yet been determined.ObjectiveTo assess the effect of krill oil on mild knee pain.DesignA randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial of fifty adults (38–85 years old) with mild knee pain attending the Fukushima Orthopedic Clinic (Tochigi, Japan) between September 2014 and March 2015.InterventionsParticipants were randomized to receive 2 g per day of either krill oil or an identical placebo for 30 days.OutcomesThe primary outcome was improvement in subjective symptoms of knee pain as assessed by the Japanese Knee Osteoarthritis Measure (JKOM) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association score (JOA). Secondary outcomes included blood and urine biochemical parameters.ResultsBoth the placebo and krill oil groups showed significant improvements in the questions in the JKOM and JOA questionnaires after administration. After the intervention, krill oil group showed more improvements than placebo group in two questions regarding the pain and stiffness in knees in JKOM. Controlling for age, sex, weight, and smoking and drinking habits, krill oil significantly mitigated knee pain in sleeping (P < 0.001), standing (P < 0.001) and the range of motion of both right and left knees (both P = 0.011) compared to placebo. Krill oil administration raised plasma EPA (P = 0.048) and EPA/AA ratio (P = 0.003).ConclusionThis study indicates that krill oil administration (2 g/day, 30 days) improved the subjective symptoms of knee pain in adults with mild knee pain.Trial registrationUMIN-CTR; ID UMIN000014413
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.