Alpine Skiing With total knee ArthroPlasty (ASWAP): study design and intervention.

The aim of this study was to monitor the long-term effects of skiing on health-related parameters and implant related factors like loosening and wear in patients with total knee arthroplasty. This paper describes the overall study design, general demographics, and physiological demand of the intervention phase. A control group design consisting of an intervention group (n = 14; age: 70.4 ± 4.5 years) and a control group (n = 17; age: 71.5 ± 5.1 years) was utilized in this study. Parameters of interest were measured during pre-, post-, and retention test sessions. During the 12 weeks of intervention, an average of 25.5 days of guided skiing was conducted by each patient. Daily heart rate (HR) profiles and global positioning system data throughout the ski day were recorded. The intervention group completed an average of 3393 vertical meters of downhill skiing, with a total skiing distance of 33.6 km/day. Average skiing speed was 8.2 m/s. In the skiing phase, the average physiological load was 75.9 ± 6.6% of HRmax . Further effects of the 12-week skiing intervention on the tested parameters will be reported in the following papers of this supplementum.

Alpine Skiing With total knee ArthroPlasty (ASWAP): clinical and radiographic outcomes.

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of a recreational alpine skiing intervention on implant-related factors, such as loosening and wear, in patients with total knee arthoplasty (TKA). A group of 16 TKA patients were examined 2.3 ± 0.1 years after skiing about 80 days over three seasons inclusive of a ski intervention of 2-3 times per week (25.5 days) over a 12-week period. Mean follow-up period was 5.1 ± 1 years after surgery. All patients had excellent clinical and radiological outcomes. The average flexion was 120-130°, the average Oxford Knee Score increased from 15 points pre-operatively to 47.4 points post-operatively. An average Tegner activity level of 5.5 was assessed, indicating a very high post-operative activity level. No radiolucencies or osteolyses were observed in any of the radiographs. One patient sustained a meniscal tear in the contralateral knee. Recreational alpine skiing on intermediate terrain at moderate speed can be recommended after TKA. Analysis of mid-term follow-up has not shown any negative effect on the implant loosening or additional polyethylene wear.

Alpine Skiing With total knee ArthroPlasty (ASWAP): muscular adaptations.

This study investigated the effectiveness of recreational skiing as an intervention to improve quadriceps muscle architecture, strength, and antagonistic co-activation in patients with unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Hence, patients with TKA were assigned to either an intervention group (IG) or control group (CG). The IG completed a 12-week guided skiing program whereas the CG was instructed not to change their daily routines for the same period and was not allowed to ski. Before, after the intervention/after an 8-week retention period m. rectus femoris (RF) cross-sectional area (CSA), m. vastus lateralis muscle thickness, fascicle length, and pennation angle were measured with ultrasonography, while isometric (90° knee angle) knee extension, flexion torque and m. biceps femoris co-activation were assessed on an isokinetic dynamometer in 26 patients. There were significant and stable increases in RF CSA for the operated (10%; P < 0.05) and non-operated leg (12%; P < 0.01) after the training period in the IG whereas no changes were observed for the CG (all P > 0.05). There were no significant effects for other parameters (all P > 0.05). Overall, the skiing intervention was successful in increasing muscle mass in TKA older patients.

Alpine Skiing With total knee ArthroPlasty (ASWAP): effect on tendon properties.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of alpine skiing on patellar tendon properties in patients with total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Thirty-one adults (70.4 ± 4.7 years) with unilateral TKA were recruited 2.7 ± 0.9 years after surgery and assigned to an intervention (IG) or a control group (CG). The IG underwent a 12-week guided skiing program. Tendon stiffness, Young's modulus, and cross-sectional area (CSA) were measured before and after the intervention. In both groups, mean tendon CSA was 28% (P < 0.001) larger in the operated (OP) than in the non-operated (NOP) leg at baseline, without any difference in other tendon properties. After training, stiffness increased in the IG by 5.8% and 15.8%, respectively, in the OP and NOP legs. Likewise, mean CSA increased in the IG by 2.9% in the OP and 3.8% in the NOP leg, whereas no significant changes were found for the Young's modulus. None of the tendon parameters changed in the CG. Results indicate that patellar tendon structure and/or loading pattern are altered following TKA, but this tissue seems to retain its adaptation capacity. Further, alpine skiing appears to offer a suitable rehabilitation strategy for TKA patients.

Alpine Skiing With total knee ArthroPlasty (ASWAP): effects on strength and cardiorespiratory fitness.

This study investigated the effect of a 12-week recreational skiing intervention on lower limb muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness in participants with unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Twenty-seven older adults (70 ± 5 years) were assigned to the intervention (n = 13) or control group (n = 14) after surgery (2.5 ± 1 years). Leg muscle strength was measured using an IsoMed 2000 dynamometer and cardiorespiratory fitness was determined by cycle ergometry before and after the intervention as well as after an 8-week retention period. The skiing intervention led to increased muscle strength in the operated leg during unilateral single joint isometric extension (maximal force: 11%; P < 0.05; rate of torque development: 24%; P < 0.05) and during the unilateral multi-joint isokinetic single leg strength test (8%; P < 0.05). This resulted in a decreased asymmetry index in the isokinetic test (13% to 5%; P < 0.05). These adaptations remained unchanged toward the retention test. No effect was observed for cardiorespiratory fitness. The results demonstrate that muscle contraction forces required during recreational skiing in individuals with TKA seem adequate and effective to increase quadriceps and hamstrings muscle strength in the initially weaker operated leg and to reduce an augmented post-operative asymmetry index.

[Not Available]. / Gluteussehnensyndrom.

Gluteal tendinopathy as well as partial and full-thickness tears of gluteal tendons (gluteus minimus and/or medius tendon) were underestimated as a cause of chronic pain in the past, and treatment was most commonly based on the diagnosis of trochanteric bursitis. Tendinous pathologies can either stay asymptomatic or cause pain and muscular dysfunction, not necessarily being associated with osteoarthritis of the hip 1. As the terminus "rotator cuff tear of the hip" was published in 1997 2, its aetiopathogenesis was reconsidered, resulting in improvements in diagnosis and treatment. Nevertheless the adoption of those findings into clinical daily routine took time 3. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as histopathologic examination questioned the relevance of acute bursitis being the only cause of greater trochanteric pain 4, 5, 6, while emphasizing degenerative tendinopathy causing those symptoms 6, 7, 8. The terminus "greater trochanteric pain syndrome" (GTPS) should hereby also include further pathologies, e.g. calcific tendinitis 1, 5. GTPS affects about 10-25 % of the adult population 5. Ultrasound and MRI are reliable, non-invasive methods for detecting tendinous and bursal pathologies 7, 8, 9; in 88 % of all patients with trochanteric pain, MRI gives pathological findings 10. Nevertheless, in 50 % of suspicious pertrochanteric pathologies, patients are free of symptoms 1, 10. In patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty, the incidence of intraoperative macroscopically identified gluteal tendon tears reaches up to 22 % 2, 11, 12, 13. Tendinous tears cause pain and constrained muscular function. Sole traumatic tears are rare, most commonly they are based on pre-existing defects. Tendinosis and partial tears are primarily treated conservatively. Hereby, therapeutic options are similar to those for rotator cuff pathologies of the shoulder. Topical infiltration of corticosteroids and physical therapy offer good results especially in early stages. The effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy has also been proven 14. Surgical intervention is necessary in case of non-responsiveness to treatment or loss of gluteal muscular function. Hereby, the open gluteal repair always represented the method of choice, whereas recently, users of endoscopic systems reported similar or even better outcomes 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.