[Effects of intrinsic foot muscle training in patients with ankle instability: a narrative review]. / Auswirkungen des Trainings der intrinsischen Fußmuskulatur bei Patienten*innen mit Sprunggelenkinstabilität ­ ein narrativer Review.

BACKGROUND: Ankle sprains are among the most common injuries in sports and can result in chronic ankle instability. In therapy and prevention, a sensorimotor training approach on the structures surrounding the ankle joint has proven to be effective. There is evidence that training the intrinsic foot muscles can also improve balance, for example. OBJECTIVE/AIM: The aim of this narrative review is to present evidence regarding intrinsic foot muscles training in patients with ankle instability. METHODS: In January 2022, a systematic literature search was conducted in the databases PubMed, Cochrane Library, EBSCOhost, PEDro, SPONET and BISp-Surf and was complemented by a freehand search. We searched for meta-analyses, systematic reviews and intervention studies that examined the effects of a form of intrinsic foot muscle training on patients with ankle instability. The qualitative evaluation of the literature and evidence was based on the risk-of-bias tool (RoB tool) of the Cochrane Handbook and the GRADE system. MAIN RESULTS: Five randomised controlled trials involving 150 participants were included. Four trials used the Short-Foot Exercise (SFE), one trial used the Towel-Curl Exercise (TCE) and a toe-training program. The results of three studies showed a significant positive effect (p<0,05) on self-reported instability. Significant positive effects (p<0.05) on balance were shown for the SFE and the toe-training program, although the inclusion of the SFE in a training program did not result in any benefits. One study found significant positive effects (p<0.05) of the SFE on somatosensory function. All three forms of training led to significant (p<0.05) improvements in functional aspects. CONCLUSION: The results of this narrative review show positive effects of training the intrinsic foot muscles in patients with ankle instability on self-reported instability, balance, somatosensory function and on functional aspects. SFE and toe training seem to be effective forms of training and could be a useful addition to conventional therapy. However, the quality of evidence is too low and further research is needed to make a clear recommendation.

Origin of the unusual properties of Au(n)(BO2) clusters.

We report the discovery of a new class of clusters consisting of Au(n)(BO(2)) that forms during the oxygenation of gold clusters when boron nitride is used as insulation in a pulsed-arc cluster ion source (PACIS). Photoelectron and mass spectroscopy of these clusters further revealed some remarkable properties: instead of the expected Au(n)O(m) peaks, the mass spectra contain intense peaks corresponding to Au(n)(BO(2)) composition. Some of the most predominant features of the electronic structure of the bare Au clusters, namely even-odd alternation in the electron affinity, are preserved in the Au(n)(BO(2)) species. Most importantly, Au(n)(BO(2)) [odd n] clusters possess unusually large electron affinity values for a closed-shell cluster, ranging from 2.8-3.5 eV. The open-shell Au(n)(BO(2)) [even n] clusters on the other hand, possess electron affinities exceeding that of F, the most electronegative element in the periodic table. Using calculations based on density functional theory, we trace the origin of these species to the unusual stability and high electron affinity of the BO(2) moiety. The resulting bond formed between BO(2) and Au(n) clusters preserves the geometric and electronic structure of the bare Au(n) clusters. The large electron affinity of these clusters is due to the delocalization of the extra electron over the Au(n) cluster.

Electronic structure and properties of isoelectronic magic clusters: Al13X (X=H,Au,Li,Na,K,Rb,Cs).

The equilibrium structure, stability, and electronic properties of the Al(13)X (X=H,Au,Li,Na,K,Rb,Cs) clusters have been studied using a combination of photoelectron spectroscopy experiment and density functional theory. All these clusters constitute 40 electron systems with 39 electrons contributed by the 13 Al atoms and 1 electron contributed by each of the X (X=H,Au,Li,Na,K,Rb,Cs) atom. A systematic study allows us to investigate whether all electrons contributed by the X atoms are alike and whether the structure, stability, and properties of all the magic clusters are similar. Furthermore, quantitative agreement between the calculated and the measured electron affinities and vertical detachment energies enable us to identify the ground state geometries of these clusters both in neutral and anionic configurations.