Level- and sport-specific Star Excursion Balance Test performance in female volleyball players.

BACKGROUND: Investigations of Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) performance differences between competition levels and sports are limited and results are inconsistent. The aim of the present study are: 1) to compare SEBT performance between elite and semi-professional female volleyball players; 2) to evaluate differences in SEBT scores between positions (Hitters, Middle Blockers, Setters, and Liberoes); and 3) to compare dynamic balance characteristics between professional female Italian volleyball players with NCAA Division I female athletes practicing six different sports (hockey, football, basketball, golf, softball, and volleyball). For the latter comparison, previously published data obtained from a study were used. METHODS: Fifty-one female volleyball players were grouped in two groups, elite athletes (EG; N.=27) and semi-professional players (SG; N.=24), and further categorized into hitters, middle blockers, setters, and liberos. Anterior (A), posteromedial (PM), and posterolateral (PL) distances, and composite score (COMP) of SEBT short form were studied. COMP was calculated as the average of the normalized distances across the three directions. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed for the A (right, P=0.014 and left, P=0.011), PL (right, P=0.017 and left, P=0.008), PM (P<0.001) directions, and COMP scores (right, P=0.008 and left, P=0.009), with higher normalized distances noted for the EG and no differences between different positions. COMP scores were lower for the EG than the NCAA Division I female hockey (P<0.001) and football players (P=0.031) but similar to those of basketball, golf, softball, and volleyball players. CONCLUSIONS: The EG scored higher on dynamic postural-control tasks than the SG. SEBT performance varied significantly between sports. Clinicians and strength coaches need to be aware of sport specific differences in dynamic postural control measurements in both rehabilitation and athletic development.

Influence of intrathecal baclofen on the level of consciousness and mental functions after extremely severe traumatic brain injury: brief report.

BACKGROUND: Whenever oral treatment or botulinum toxin injections fail to control severe spasticity, a trial with intrathecal baclofen is recommended no earlier than 1 year after brain injury. When irreversible contractures are to be avoided, such a trial might be done earlier. Some have briefly reported cognitive modifications with this treatment. METHODS: During the trial period, intrathecal baclofen is continuously infused by a portable external pump through an intrathecal catheter. The daily dose is adjusted according to the clinical response. If the expected response is obtained by reduction of spasticity, a programmable pump is then implanted. Throughout the procedure, close neuropsychological follow-up is pursued. RESULTS: Two persons with extremely severe brain injury and spasticity received a programmable pump less than 10 months after trauma. Unexpectedly, one emerged from the minimally conscious state and the other from post-traumatic amnesia. CONCLUSIONS: Intrathecal baclofen should be considered within the first year after brain injury whenever spasticity does not respond to medication. ITB lessens the degree of spasticity which in turn facilitates care and, thus, has the potential to limit contractures. After severe brain injury, this treatment might trigger recovery from altered states of consciousness, improve cognition and facilitate rehabilitation.

New constraint on the existence of the µ+ → e+ γ decay.

The analysis of a combined data set, totaling 3.6 × 10(14) stopped muons on target, in the search for the lepton flavor violating decay µ(+) → e(+)γ is presented. The data collected by the MEG experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institut show no excess of events compared to background expectations and yield a new upper limit on the branching ratio of this decay of 5.7 × 10(-13) (90% confidence level). This represents a four times more stringent limit than the previous world best limit set by MEG.

New limit on the lepton-flavor-violating decay µ+→e+γ.

We present a new result based on an analysis of the data collected by the MEG detector at the Paul Scherrer Institut in 2009 and 2010, in search of the lepton-flavor-violating decay µ(+)e(+)γ. The likelihood analysis of the combined data sample, which corresponds to a total of 1.8×10(14) muon decays, gives a 90% C.L. upper limit of 2.4×10(-12) on the branching ratio of the µ(+)→e(+)γ decay, constituting the most stringent limit on the existence of this decay to date.

[Relevance of a driving simulator in the assessment of handicapped individuals]. / Intérêt du simulateur de conduite pour la reprise de la conduite automobile en situation de handicap.

AIMS: To evaluate the value of our driving simulator in deciding whether or not to allow patients with physical and/or cognitive deficits to resuming driving and to analyze whether or not the medical expert's final decision is based more on the results of the driving simulator than those of the neuropsychological examination. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-three patients were evaluated with the driving simulator. Thirty-five of those with cognitive deficits also underwent a neuropsychological examination prior to the medical expert's decision on driving aptitude. In cases of uncertainty or disagreement, a driving assessment in real conditions was performed by a driving instructor. RESULTS: In cases of physical handicap, the medical expert's decision concurred with that of the occupational therapist. For brain-injured patients, there was a significant correlation between the neuropsychologist's opinion and that of the occupational therapist (kappa=0.33; P=0.01). However, the sensibility and specificity were only 55 and 80%, respectively. The correlation between an occupational therapy decision based on the driving simulator and that of the medical expert was very significant (kappa=0.81; P<0.0001) and the sensibility and specificity were 84 and 100%, respectively. In contrast, these values were lower (63 and 71%, respectively) for the correlation between the neuropsychologist's opinion and that of the medical expert. CONCLUSION: Our driving simulator enables the danger-free evaluation of driving aptitude. The results mirror an in situ assessment and are more sensitive than neuropsychological examination. In fact, the neuropsychologist's opinion often is more negative or uncertain with respect to the patient's real driving aptitude. When taking a decision on a patient's driving aptitude, the medical expert is more inclined to trust the results of the driving simulator.