[Purpose] This study was aimed to investigate the effects of Ergon ® IASTM applications on the upper or lower part of the Superficial Back Line (SBL) on the hamstring’s flexibility. [Participants and Methods] Sixty University students (age=24.4 ± 4.39; height=176.78 ± 8.31 cm; weight=75.16 ± 11.21 kg) were randomly divided into three sub-groups and received a single 15-minute treatment with Ergon ® Technique in a) the upper and b) the lower part of SBL or c) served as control. The participants received one treatment per week for four weeks with a simultaneous pre-and post-therapy assessment of their hamstrings flexibility using the passive Straight Leg Raising (SLR). [Results] Both experimental groups improved SLR performance from pre to post during the four weeks from 4.4% to 9.2% in the trunk group and from 4.9% to 8.0% in the lower body group. These differences were significantly greater from the CTRL group. No differences were observed between the two experimental groups. [Conclusion] In conclusion, application of Ergon Technique of either the upper or lower part of the SBL may lead to a significant increase in the hamstring flexibility irrespective of the site of application.

[Purpose] The main purpose of the study was to examine the relationship of a battery of frequently used functional assessment tests with quadriceps and hamstrings isokinetic strength in Knee-osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Secondarily, the predictability of isokinetic strength on these performance variables was also assessed. [Subjects and Methods] Seventeen males and 23 females with Knee-OA, were assessed via a) the common functional tests: 6-minute walk test, Timed up-and-go test, 30-second chair test and 12-stair test and b) isokinetic concentric extension-flexion at 120°/s and 180°/s. [Results] Both Knee Extension and Flexion Peak Torque per Body weight showed moderate to strong, statistically significant correlation, with all 4-functional performance tests, for both velocities. Both 12-stair test and 30-second chair test were significant predictors in all analyses, while the 6-minute walk test was an additional significant predictor of the 120°/s knee flexion. [Conclusion] Thigh muscle strength in both tested velocities proved to be significantly correlated with functional performance. The 12-stair test and 30-second chair test results were significant predictors for isokinetic extension and flexion in both velocities. It appears that those two tests challenge the knee and the surrounding musculature in a manner that reflects muscle strength.

[Purpose] The purpose of this preliminary study was to investigate whether young players with no history of injury, have developed early asymmetries in dynamic balance ability tested via the recommended for screening in sports, Modified Star Excursion Balance Test (MSEBT). [Participants and Methods] Twenty-four young healthy male soccer players participated in the study having at least 4 years of systematic soccer training. The Waterloo Footedness Questionnaire was used to discriminate the stability dominant leg (STAB) from the non-stability dominant leg (NSTAB). Dynamic balance was assessed via the MSEBT. Participants, after familiarization, made 3 attempts in each direction for both legs: a) Anterior (AN), b) Posterolateral (PL) and c) Posteromedial (PM). [Results] The sole statistically significant performance asymmetry was in the PL direction, in favor of the STAB (94.5 ± 13.3 cm vs. 98.1 ± 10.4 cm). [Conclusion] The results of this pilot study showed a potential for developing dynamic balance asymmetries, in soccer players at the age of 13–14 years. Since asymmetry was significant in only one direction, further long term monitoring would be helpful to evaluate whether this is a growing functional deficit, potentially involving any of the other two directions of testing or if it is alleviated with increasing training age. These asymmetries could comprise an injury risk factor.

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The present study aimed to examine the existence and degree of possible asymmetries of functional test performance and their intercorrelations in the lower extremities of young basketball players. [Participants and Methods] Twenty-seven healthy male basketball players (age: 15.52 ± 1.37 years) were examined for the symmetric function of their lower extremities using triple hop for distance tests in the sagittal and frontal plane (medial-lateral), the Y-balance test and a vertical jump test. [Results] Participants exhibited statistically significant side-to-side differences in only the medial triple hop test, as they jumped further on their non-dominant for stability lower limb. No other asymmetries were observed in the rest of the functional tests. Significant correlations were also indicated between the vertical jumptest and the three directions of the triple hop test for both lower limbs. [Conclusion] Our findings proved that young basketball players present a symmetrical picture of functional performance, as revealed by the evaluation of various functional tests. The only significant asymmetric adaptation observed in the medial triple hop test will have to be strengthened by future studies to be implemented in injury prevention programs.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether functionally induced fatigue affects balance and vertical jump performance more severely in individuals with a history of unilateral lateral ligament injury to the ankle joint. [Participants and Methods] Twenty-three participants volunteered for the study with the experimental group (EG n=12) comprising injured participants with stability deficits and lack of physiotherapy treatment tested against healthy controls (CG n=11). Balance was assessed via a single leg balance test with open eyes on a force platform. The Center-of-Pressure (COP) excursion on the anteroposterior (Y-axis) and the mediolateral (X-axis) were recorded. Additionally, maximal single-leg vertical jump height (VJH) was assessed on a specific platform. Ankle fatigue was induced through performing the modified Square-hop test until exhaustion. [Results] Patients exhibited significant interaction for Time X Group for the COP on the X-axis. COP-X which did not differ between groups, pre-fatigue, while post-fatigue, it increased significantly in the EG. VJH demonstrated significant pre-fatigue differences between groups, suggesting that deficits in this variable were evident without the need to fatigue the muscles involved. [Conclusion] Fatigue can be useful when balance is tested, since post-fatigue deficits, otherwise obscured in the baseline measurement, can become significant.

Recently, cases of plagiarism in education have been on the rise with the underlying causes of their appearance being numerous. Due to the large extent of this phenomenon, specialised software has been developed and is available for users to check the presence or absence of plagiarism. The purpose of this paper is to study cases of plagiarism in education, as well as the available plagiarism software. Also, this case study presents a practical example of the implementation of the control process using plagiarism software, as well as its results, in an already published article. This case study points out the importance of performing a further quality control to those parts of the text where a textual coincidence was spotted by the plagiarism detection software.

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