In this study, we examined the relationship between physical function and muscle strain of hamstrings in junior high school soccer players. The subjects were 29 junior high school soccer players. The muscle strength of knee flexors and extensors relative to body weight and the hamstrings/quadriceps muscle strength ratio (H/Q ratio) were measured, and a tightness test, general joint looseness test and the New Physical Fitness Test of Japanese Ministry of Education and science were performed. We contacted the trainer to confirm occurrence of hamstrings strain, and we compared the above measurement and test results in subjects with and those without hamstring strain. Differences were analyzed by the unpaired t-test. There were significant differences between the two groups in muscle strength of knee extensors, H/Q ratio and tightness of hamstrings (p<0.05). The results suggest that increasing the H/Q ratio and stretching hamstrings are important for preventing hamstrings strain in junior high school soccer players.
The relationship between the knee extension moment in the early walking stage at 9 weeks after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery with hamstring tendon autografts (STG) on anterior tibial translation (ATT) at one year post-surgery were investigated to clarify the influence of knee extension moment on ligament reconstruction. [Subjects] Ten cases of ACL reconstruction using STG (20 limbs: 10 operated, 10 nonoperated). [Methods] The knee extension moment of the early walking stage at 9 weeks post-surgery was computed from 3D motion analysis data and ground reaction force, and normalized to body weight. At one year post-surgery ATT was determined. [Results] The knee extension moment at 9 weeks post surgery of the operated side showed a significantly lower value than that of the non-operated side, but it was not related to ATT at one year post-surgery. [Conclusion] To prevent secondary injury, improvement of the decreased knee extension moment in the early walking stage at 9 weeks after ACL reconstruction surgery is necessary.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the kinematic characteristics of patients with low grade knee osteoarthritis using three-dimensional gait analysis. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 44 patients with low grade knee osteoarthritis and 50 healthy adults. [Results] A large knee adduction moment at mid stance and a decrease in the range of knee motion in the sagittal plane were found in the osteoarthritis group. There were differences between the groups in ankle inverse motion at the loading response. [Conclusion] The results of this study suggest that the kinematic characteristics of gait of patients with low grade osteoarthritis are different from healthy adults in the frontal and sagittal planes.
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