Efficacy of Proprioceptive Training on Plantar Pressure and Jump Performance in Volleyball Players: A Proof-of-Principle Study.

Volleyball players are often subject to micro-traumatisms of the heel fat pad and ankle injuries. Recently, mat-based proprioceptive training has assumed a key role in recovery from these disorders. Therefore, this proof-of-principle study aimed to assess the efficacy of proprioceptive mat training on plantar pressures and athletic performance in volleyball players. The participants included adult semi-professional volleyball players allocated into two groups: an experimental group, with mat-based proprioceptive and balance training, and a control group, with a sham protocol. For the outcome, we evaluated the barefoot plantar pressure, performing an analysis on a baropodometric resistive platform. The countermovement jump and squat jump were measured using an inertial measurement unit. Nineteen subjects were included in the two groups: the active proprioceptive group (n = 10) or the control group (n = 9). The results show a more uniform redistribution of loads with pressure hindfoot relief in the experimental group compared to the control group (p = 0.021, RBC = 0.67). Moreover, we observed a significant increase in peak landing force and high concentric power development in the experimental group compared to the controls. Focused proprioceptive management provided hindfoot load attenuation by stimulating higher peaks of concentric force in the experimental group compared to the sham group. Even though the study included a small sample, the results obtained in this proof-of-principle study suggest a positive role of proprioceptive stimulation in the inter-seasonal scenario for volleyball players to improve their jump performance and reduce the micro-traumatisms of the heel fat pad and the ankle injury rate. However, further studies performed on larger samples are needed to confirm these preliminary results.

Efficacy of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on functioning in patients with bilateral hip osteoarthritis: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic progressive disease that impresses a noticeable burden to society and healthcare systems. Physical exercise constitutes the first-line hip OA treatment approach, nevertheless, there is currently no gold standard method to treat this disease. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on functioning in patients with hip OA. METHOD: A pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) was carried out on patients with painful bilateral hip OA with a body mass index (BMI) < 30 kg/m2. After the randomization, the experimental group was treated with PNF protocol and the control group with conventional physical therapy (10 sessions of manual therapy, 5 sessions/week for 2 weeks). The Harris Hip Score (HHS) was the primary outcome, whereas we assessed as secondary outcomes: pain, range of motion, and muscle strength of hip, physical performance, and quality of life. RESULTS: Twenty patients (40 hips) were enrolled and randomized into two groups: PNF group (mean age: 70.7 ± 8.07; BMI: 25.1 ± 3.07; 7 females and 3 males) and control group (mean age: 74.9 ± 10.72; BMI: 26.8 ± 3.78; 6 females and 4 males). The results showed a statistically significant improvement of HHS in the study group (T1: 90.6 ± 5.63) than in the control group (T1: 77.3 ± 10.9) (between-group p value < 0.001). Three months after the treatment we have statistically significant maintenance in the PNF group (T2:89.6±6.32, within-group ΔT0-T2 p< 0.01) while the control group did not maintain the improvements recorded at T1 (T2: 71.4 ± 15.8). CONCLUSION: The results of this pilot RCT showed that incorporating PNF exercises into the rehabilitation program yielded notable enhancements in improving lower limb function, strength and ROM in hip OA patients. Nonetheless, further prospective studies including wider sample size are needed to implement scientific knowledge on this physical therapy approach, in patients with hip osteoarthritis.

Risk of injury and kinematic assessment of the shoulder biomechanics during strokes in padel players: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Padel players commonly suffer from shoulder pain and the particularly high incidence is probably linked to the high frequency of strokes. In addition, due to the repetitive technical gesture, an adequate technique is essential in terms of performance and injury risk prevention. Aim of this study was to objectively evaluate shoulder kinematic during the athletic gesture to analyze the risk factors linked to padel strokes. METHODS: Professional and amateur padel players underwent a three-dimensional motion analysis of the padel strokes utilizing optoelectronic and surface electromyography systems (BTS Bioengineering, Garbagnate Milanese, Milan, Italy). RESULTS: Twelve padel players were included in this study (10 professional players in Group A and 10 amateurs in Group B). Experience influences the execution of padel strokes with a significant difference between group A and B in terms of gleno-humeral rotation and scapular tilt. Moreover, a subgroup analysis revealed that male players execute voleè with a higher external rotation (P=0.043), and forehand with a higher scapular tilt (P=0.044). CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm that the high ranges of motion of the overhead strokes could rise the risk of slap lesion, impingement, and glenohumeral internal rotation deficit. However, a correct execution of the athletic gesture is linked with a dynamic stabilization of the humeral head. In conclusion, the kinematic analysis could help in the early identification of the kinematic alteration to build a tailored rehabilitation plan based on the athlete's needs.

Cryo plus Ultrasound Therapy, a Novel Rehabilitative Approach for Football Players with Acute Lateral Ankle Injury Sprain: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Acute lateral ankle sprains are common injuries among athletes, but the optimal treatment strategies in elite athletes are still debated. This proof-of-concept study aimed to assess the impact of cryo-ultrasound therapy on the short-term recovery of football players with acute lateral ankle sprains. METHODS: Semi-professional football players with grade I or II lateral ankle sprains were randomly assigned to the experimental group (receiving cryo-ultrasound therapy combined with conventional physical therapy) or control group (sham cryo-ultrasound therapy combined with conventional physical therapy). Pain intensity and physical functioning were assessed by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI) at baseline (T0) at the end of treatment (T1), after one month (T2), and two months after treatment (T3). RESULTS: After the study intervention, significant between groups differences were reported in terms of pain relief (NRS: 4.08 ± 1.29 vs. 5.87 ± 1.19; p = 0.003) and physical function (FADI: 50.9 ± 10.3 vs. 38.3 ± 11.5; p = 0.021). However, no significant between group differences were reported at T2 and T3. No adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Cryo-ultrasound therapy combined with conventional physical therapy can accelerate recovery and early return to sport in elite football players with acute lateral ankle sprains. While this study contributes valuable insights into the potential benefits of cryo-ultrasound therapy, further investigations with a longer follow-up are needed to validate and optimize the application of physical agent modalities in the management of ankle injuries.

Efficacy of rehabilitative techniques in reducing hemiplegic shoulder pain in stroke: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP) is a disabling complication affecting stroke survivors. In this context, rehabilitation might play a key role in its clinical management. Recent systematic reviews of the impact of rehabilitative approaches on pain reduction in patients with HSP are lacking. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with meta-analysis aimed to investigate the efficacy of rehabilitative techniques in reducing HSP in stroke survivors. METHODS: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from inception to March 8, 2021 to identify RCTs of stroke survivors with HSP undergoing specific rehabilitative techniques combined with conventional therapy to reduce pain intensity. A network meta-analysis and meta-analysis of the Bayesian network of random effects were performed. The risk of bias of studies was assessed with Version 2 of the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized trials. RESULTS: Of 1139 articles identified, 12 were included in the final synthesis. We analyzed data for 723 stroke survivors, reporting a significant overall decrease in pain intensity after a rehabilitative approach by the Bayesian meta-analysis (standardized mean difference 2.78, 95% confidence interval 0.89;-4.59; p = 0.003). We report a significant reduction in HSP with botulinum toxin type A injection (p = 0.001), suprascapular nerve pulsed radiofrequency (p = 0.030), suprascapular nerve block (p = 0.020), and trigger-point dry needling (p = 0.005) as compared with conventional rehabilitation. Concerning the effect size, we identified a Bayesian factor10 of 97.2, with very strong evidence of superiority of rehabilitative techniques. CONCLUSIONS: The present systematic review and meta-analysis showed that adding other rehabilitative techniques to conventional rehabilitation was significantly more effective than conventional rehabilitation alone in the complex management of patients affected by HSP.

Match Analysis, Physical Training, Risk of Injury and Rehabilitation in Padel: Overview of the Literature.

Padel is a racket sport that has been gaining great popularity and scientific interest in recent years. It could be considered to be a high-intensity intermittent sport with valuable cardiovascular and neuromuscular benefits; however, the risk of injury cannot be neglected. To date, there is still a gap of knowledge in the scientific literature on this emergent sport. Therefore, the present review aims to synthetize the current knowledge on padel game dynamics to better characterize the main risk factors, the injury rate and characteristics, and the most effective rehabilitative treatment strategies. PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and PEDro were screened up to January 2022 to identify eligible studies focusing on padel players as participants. Out of 160 records, we included 19 studies, which were focused on match analysis, anthropometric and physical training, the risk of injury, and rehabilitative interventions. The results showed that the high action velocity and the sudden changes in direction during a padel match could represent a risk factor for injuries, especially in untrained players. However, the high heterogeneity of the studies in the literature hinders our ability to draw any strong conclusions, and the results should be carefully considered. Future research should address the lack of knowledge on injury mechanisms and type to implement a tailored rehabilitation program.