In-Plane Ultrasound-Guided Botulinum Toxin Injection to Lumbrical and Interosseus Upper Limb Muscles: Technical Report.

This technical report presents an innovative approach utilizing in-plane ultrasound-guided injections to precisely target the lumbrical and interosseous muscles within the upper limb. The report also elucidates the rationale and advantages of incorporating ultrasound guidance in the administration of Botulinum toxin (BTX) injections, encompassing the real-time visualization of needle trajectory and accurate localization of the target muscle groups while delving into the pertinent anatomical details of these muscles and their significance in diverse neuromuscular conditions. The step-by-step procedure for conducting in-plane ultrasound-guided BTX injections to the lumbrical and interosseous muscles is delineated, emphasizing critical technical considerations and potential pitfalls to be vigilant of during the procedure. Furthermore, the article addresses the significance of selecting appropriate BTX dosages and injection sites based on individual patient presentations and clinical indications. Overall, the in-plane ultrasound-guided BTX injection technique presents a promising approach for providing precise and targeted treatment to the lumbrical and interosseous muscles in the upper limb. It offers clinicians an alternative to injections performed without guidance or out-of-plane ultrasound-guided injections, potentially decreasing the likelihood of complications and enhancing treatment outcomes for patients with a range of neuromuscular conditions. However, further research and comparative studies are necessary to establish the long-term efficacy and safety of this technique, thus confirming its role in clinical practice.

Correlation between Cardiopulmonary Indices and Running Performance in a 14.5 km Endurance Running Event.

BACKGROUND: Running is a common recreational activity, and the number of long-distance-race participants is continuously growing. It is well-established that regular physical activity can prevent and manage non-communicable diseases and benefit public health. Training for a long-distance race requires development of specific aerobic abilities and should generate the desired race performance. The purpose of this study was to support the training design and motivation of recreational endurance runners, by investigating whether a 14.5 km race performance of long-distance runners correlates with their cardiopulmonary indices measured in the laboratory. METHODS: To examine the relationships of a 14.5 km running performance with the cardiopulmonary parameters of amateur runners, a cross-sectional study design was applied. Fifteen (eleven men and four women) recreational long-distance runners (aged 41.3 ± 9.2 years) from Northern Greece were included in the study and were evaluated in the laboratory within one week before an endurance running race-the 14.5 km Philip Road race, in Greece. The laboratory-based examinations of the athletes consisted of a comprehensive medical pre-participation screening and maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing. RESULTS: The results showed that the 14.5 km race performance time (73.8 ± 9.7 min) significantly correlated with the cardiopulmonary-exercise-testing speed-related indices at specific submaximal and maximal workloads (p < 0.01, p < 0.05), while the cardiopulmonary indices of oxygen uptake did not reliably predict race running time (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a better correlation of the 14.5 km running performance of recreational long-distance runners with the cardiopulmonary-exercise-testing speed-related indices at specific workloads than with the indices of oxygen uptake, running economy or respiratory economy. When preparing a training strategy, amateur long-distance runners should mostly rely on specific running-speed-related laboratory data rather than on oxygen-uptake values.

COVID-19 Infection among Elite Football Players: A Nationwide Prospective Cohort Study.

Little is known about the risk of COVID-19 infection among footballers. We aimed to investigate the incidence and characteristics of COVID-19 infection among footballers. In total, 480 football players of Super League Greece and 420 staff members participated in a prospective cohort study, which took place from May 2020 to May 2021. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from footballers and staff members weekly. All samples (n = 43,975) collected were tested using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for the detection of "SARS-CoV-2". In total, 190 positive cases (130 among professional football players and 60 among staff) were recorded. Out of the 190 cases that turned positive, 64 (34%) cases were considered as symptomatic, and 126 (66%) cases were asymptomatic. The incidence rate of a positive test result for footballers was 0.57% (confidence interval (CI) 0.48−0.68%) and for staff members it was 0.27% (CI 0.20%, 0.34%), respectively. Footballers recorded a twofold increased risk of COVID-19 infection in comparison to staff members (relative risk = 2.16; 95% CI = 1.59−2.93; p-value < 0.001). No significant transmission events were observed during the follow-up period. We found a low incidence of COVID-19 infection among professional footballers over a long follow-up period. Furthermore, the implementation of a weekly diagnostic testing (RT-PCR) was critical to break the transmission chain of COVID-19, especially among asymptomatic football players and staff members.

Isolated Obturator Internus Muscle Strain Injury in a Professional Football Player: A Case Report.

The present case report concerns an isolated obturator internus muscle strain. The patient, who was a 30-year-old professional, elite-level football player, suffered the injury during the warm-up before a football match. Isolated injuries of the obturator internus are very uncommon and they are extremely rarely reported in the literature. The diagnosis was made clinically, documented by magnetic resonance imaging. The rehabilitation program was conducted conservatively with physical therapy and kinesiotherapy. The patient's return to full athletic activity took place 2 weeks after the incident.