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Selmi, MA, Sassi, RH, Yahmed, MH, Giannini, S, Perroni, F, and Elloumi, M. Normative data and physical determinants of multiple sprint sets in young soccer players aged 11–18 years: Effect of maturity status. J Strength Cond Res 34(2): 506–515, 2020—The aims of the study were: (a) to establish normative data for repeated-sprint sets (RSS) test based on the maturity status (age at peak height velocity [PHV]) and (2) to investigate the relationship between anthropometrical variables (stature, sitting height, body mass, and body fat percentage), RSS (2 × 5 × 20 m with 15-second recovery between sprints and 1-minute recovery between sets), and fitness tests {squat jump, countermovement jump, standing long jump, standing triple jump, 5-jump test, and 20-m shuttle run (multistage shuttle run test [MSRT])}. Young male soccer players (n = 262; age: 14.5 ± 2.9 years) were evaluated and classified into 4 groups according to their maturity status: pre-PHV, circum-PHV1, circum-PHV2, post-PHV. An analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc were used to determine maturity group differences (p ≤ 0.05), whereas Pearson's correlation was used between variables. Repeated-sprint sets' indices (sum of sprint times [SST] and best sprint time [BST]) were significantly different between the maturity groups. Significant correlations between SST with body mass (from −0.73 to −0.33) and MSRT (from −0.49 to −0.30) among each maturity group were found. With the different maturity groups, correlations between SST (s), BST (s), and vertical jump (cm) (r = −0.63 to −0.25 and r = −0.68 to −0.23) and horizontal jump (m) (r = −0.70 to −0.38 and r = −0.63 to −0.43) were observed. Repeated-sprint sets' values improve during maturation of young soccer players and the correlations between RSS and fitness tests vary through the maturity groups. This information could be useful for the coach to identify talent and to prescribe specific physical training to improve performance.

Introduction: Distal metatarsal osteotomies have been described for surgical treatment of hallux valgus with good results. The aim of this study is to review the results of 299 consecutive hallux valgus cases treated by minimally invasive distal metatarsal osteotomy, S.E.R.I. (Simple, Effective, Rapid, Inexpensive).Materials and methods: 299 feet in 190 patients (109 bilateral), aged between 35 and 70 years (mean age: 53 years) affected by hallux valgus were studied. A 1 cm medial incision at the metatarsal neck, and a complete osteotomy, using an oscillating saw were performed. With the naked eye all characteristics of the deformity were corrected by displacement of the metatarsal head (HVA, IMA, DMAA, dorsal or plantar displacement). The osteotomy was stabilized by a 2 mm Kirschner wire. Immediate weight bearing was allowed with gauze bandage and Talus shoes for 4 weeks. All patients were checked at an average follow-up of 4 years.Results: All osteotomies healed no avascular necrosis of the metatarsal head or pseudoarthrosis of the osteotomy was observed. Mean preoperative AOFAS score was 43 and 88 at follow-up. The mean preoperative HVA was 33, while at follow-up it was 16 (P < 0.05), mean preoperative IMA was 13, while at follow-up it was 7 (P < 0.05), mean preoperative DMAA was 20, while at follow-up it was 8 (P < 0.05).Conclusion: S.E.R.I. osteotomy has been simple, effective, rapid and inexpensive in correcting hallux valgus deformity. Clinical and radiographic findings showed an adequate correction of the deformity.

The study aimed at investigating the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation superimposed on functional exercises (NMES+) early after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLr) with hamstring graft, on muscle strength, knee function, and morphology of thigh muscles and harvested tendons. Thirty-four participants were randomly allocated to either NMES+ group, who received standard rehabilitation with additional NMES of knee flexor and extensor muscles, superimposed on functional movements, or to a control group, who received no additional training (NAT) to traditional rehabilitation. Participants were assessed 15 (T1), 30 (T2), 60 (T3), 90 (T4) and at a mean of 380 days (T5) after ACLr. Knee strength of flexors and extensors was measured at T3, T4 and T5. Lower limb loading asymmetry was measured during a sit-to-stand-to-sit movement at T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, and a countermovement-jump at T4 and T5. An MRI was performed at T5 to assess morphology of thigh muscles and regeneration of the harvested tendons. NMES+ showed higher muscle strength for the hamstrings (T4, T5) and the quadriceps (T3, T4, T5), higher loading symmetry during stand-to-sit (T2, T3, T4, T5), sit-to-stand (T3, T4) and countermovement-jump (T5) than NAT. No differences were found between-groups for morphology of muscles and tendons, nor in regeneration of harvested tendons. NMES+ early after ACLr with hamstring graft improves muscle strength and knee function in the short- and long-term after surgery, regardless of tendon regeneration.

The aim of the present retrospective observational study was to evaluate the time of functional recovery following a specific combined therapeutic approach characterized by an active exercise therapy carried out immediately after Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for the treatment of the muscular lesion of the distal musculotendinous junction of the gastrocnemius medial head.Medical records of 31 subjects treated with three PRP intra-lesional ultrasound guided injections and 30 patients treated with the standard therapeutic approach (control group) were analyzed. Both groups followed the same rehabilitation therapy. Patients in the control group were able to start active exercise with a significant delay when compared to the PRP treated subjects: 17 ± 7.2 days and 9 ± 3.8 days (p = 0.0001), respectively. This delay was mainly due to the persistence of pain in the subjects in the control group. The time necessary to return to walk without pain was significantly shorter in the PRP treated group: 24.27 ± 12.36 days versus 52.4 ± 20.03 days in the control group (p < 0.001) as well as the time needed to fully return to practice the previous sport activity: 53.33 ± 27.74 days versus 119.3 ± 43.87 days in the control group (p < 0.001).The present study showed that ultrasound guided delivery of PRP into the site of muscle injury has to be considered a valid therapeutic approach with the potentiality of significantly reduce time and costs for reaching a complete functional recovery.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to investigate the effect of intra-articular hyaluronic acid administration in active football players complaining of knee pain after sports activity. Efficacy and safety profiles of intra-articular hyaluronic acid and time needed for football players to recover and restart sports activity were examined.MethodsClinical data of active football players reporting knee pain after sports activity were included in this retrospective study. All patients who received an intra-articular injection at time 0 and after 2 weeks were included in the study. Patients underwent laboratory examination, knee X-ray, ultrasound, and clinical examination before receiving the intra-articular injection. Effusions or cysts were drained before injections. Lequesne index score, pain visual analog scale (VAS) score, and patient’s global assessment score were recorded at time 0 (day of the first injection), 1 and 2 days after the first injection, at 2 weeks (day of the second injection), and at follow-up visits. Only data from patients completing the follow-up were analyzed.ResultsData from 17 patients were analyzed: 16 males and one female, of which three were professional players (two males and one female) and 14 were nonprofessional players. The mean age of patients was 39.8±11.8 years. Two patients (one male and one female) showed joint effusion. Two patients reported relevant joint pain after injection that regressed without any medication. At the first week, all parameters examined indicated improvement that was maintained until the end of follow-up. One day after the first and second injection, patients reported a slight increase in pain VAS score, which was not statistically significant, and the pain resolved after 1 day. All patients successfully restarted playing after the first injection within 3.1±2.0 days and kept playing after the second injection following our indication (1 day of break).ConclusionThe use of a medium-molecular weight hyaluronic acid in football players affected by knee osteoarthritis seems efficacious and safe and resulted, in our experience, a stable improvement of symptoms; moreover, it allowed a rapid restart of sports activity. Larger studies on larger populations are needed to confirm these findings.

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The purpose of the present study is to illustrate the use of a modified subcapital metatarsal osteotomy (MSMO) in the treatment of hallux valgus (HV) recurrence. The article reports the clinical and radiological outcomes of a cohort of 52 consecutive patients presenting with recurrent HV, treated with MSMO. A total of 52 patients (54 feet) underwent operations between May 2010 and November 2015. The mean time of follow-up was 2.5 years (range 5.5-1.0 years), and the mean age was 49 years (range 22-76 years). The patient cohort comprised 46 female and 6 male patients. The results of this research show that MSMO is a reliable technique for the correction of HV recurrence. The postoperative radiographic assessments show a statistically significant postoperative improvement of the HV angle (P < .05) and the intermetatarsal angle (P < .05). The postoperative position of the tibial sesamoid was significantly improved (P < .1). The distal metatarsal articular angle was improved (P < .001), though assessment may be affected by the previous operations performed on the first metatarsophalangeal joint. The statistical analysis shows that the postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Hallux Metatarsophalangeal-Interphalangeal Scale parameters were significantly improved (P < 0.001). Results of this study indicate that the minimally invasive MSMO is effective in restoring anatomical alignment and improving patient outcomes in recurrent cases of HV. Levels of Evidence: Level III: Case-control study