External Responsiveness of the Yo-Yo IR Test Level 1 in High-level Male Soccer Players.

The aim of this study was to assess the external responsiveness, construct validity and internal responsiveness of the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery test level 1 and its sub-maximal version in semi-professional players. Tests and friendly matches were performed during the preseason and regular season. The distance covered above 15 km·h(-1) was considered as an indicator of the physical match performance. Construct validity and external responsiveness were examined by correlations between test and physical match performance (preseason and regular season) and training-induced changes. Internal responsiveness was determined as Cohen's effect size, standardized response mean and signal-to-noise ratio. The physical match performance increased after training (34.8%). The Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery test level 1 improved after training (40.2%), showed longitudinal (r=0.69) and construct validity (r=0.73 and 0.59, preseason and regular season) and had higher internal responsiveness compared to its sub-maximal version. The heart rate at the 6(th) minute in the sub-maximal version did not show longitudinal (r=-0.38) and construct validity (r=0.01 and -0.06, preseason and regular season) and did not significantly change after training (-0.3%). The rate of perceived exertion decreased in the sub-maximal version (- 29.8%). In conclusion, the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery test level 1 is valid and responsive, while the validity of its sub-maximal version is questionable.

Telehealth in oncofertility and breast cancer patients during COVID-19: preliminary results of insenoallasalute.it project.

OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer (BC) is the leading diagnosis in premenopausal patients. Lockdown measures during COVID-19 pandemic reduced facilities for premenopausal patients, impairing oncological and reproductive health. To reduce its effect, a telehealth program called insenoallasalute.it was designed in Italy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A national-based multicentric observational study was undertaken by insenoallasalute.it study group (Italian Ministry of Health, Modena Hospital and Tor Vergata University Hospital) to raise awareness among women on a) BC and its negative role on reproductive health; b) increase adherence to screening programs and self-examination; c) present oncofertility strategies. A web-based platform with two sections was designed: an informative section and a telehealth application activated with a mobile one-time password. After a self-evaluation test to select premenopausal women with maternal desire and family or personal history for BC or ovarian cancer, and premenopausal women with maternity desires with prior medically assisted procreation, a dedicated agenda for telehealth evaluation was displayed and planned. In case the patients fulfilled the criteria for further evaluation, they were invited to perform an outpatient evaluation in one of the pilot centers. RESULTS: From July 2021 to December 2021, 2,830 single accounts were activated, and 2,450 (86.57%) completed the tests. 53 patients were selected to undergo telehealth consultation and 40 (80.0%) scheduled the telehealth visit. 6 patients underwent surgery in the study centers. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience insenoallasalute.it embodied an innovative solution to spread BC awareness, BC screening program, and oncofertility opportunities in the oncological population.

Hymovis MO.RE. in the treatment of knee and ankle chondropathy in elite athletes: preliminary results of the CHAMPS (Cohort study about HYADD4-G Administration for Pain relief on Soccer players) prospective clinical study.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated single intra-articular injections of Hymovis MO.RE., a hyaluronic acid hexadecyl derivative (HYADD4-G), to manage post-traumatic or degenerative knee or ankle chondropathy in professional soccer players. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-five players affected by knee (n = 12) or ankle (n = 13) chondropathy were prospectively enrolled and treated by two single Hymovis MO.RE. (32 mg/4 ml) injections at the beginning of the football season (V0, baseline) and at mid-season (V1, 19-20 weeks thereafter), and were followed-up until the end of the season (V2, after further 19-20 weeks). Knee cases were evaluated using the 2000 IKDC knee subjective examination form and the modified Lysholm scoring system. Ankle cases were evaluated using the American Orthopaedic Foot Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score. Patients were also evaluated using a VAS Likert scale and a four-category scale recording both the patient's and the doctor's assessment on joint mobility in degrees and overall treatment efficacy. Adverse events, patient withdrawals and local reaction to injections were also assessed. RESULTS: In knee patients, the 2000 IKDC subjective score improved from 46.8 ± 11.4 at V0 to 83.1 ± 12.5 at V2. Their modified Lysholm score improved from 58.8 ± 8.9 at V0 to 90.6 ± 8.3 at V2. In the ankle patients, the AOFAS score improved from 52.2 ± 5.6 at V0 to 96.4 ± 4.5 at V2. VAS Likert values and subjective evaluations improved at V1 and were maintained at V2. No side effects were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: A single Hymovis MO.RE. (32 mg/4 ml) intra-articular injection, repeated after 19-20 weeks, may be a viable option to improve symptoms and function in professional soccer players suffering from knee and ankle chondropathy.

[Impairment of the osteoarticular and musculoligamentous components in bill posters: an example of the thoracic outlet syndrome]. / Compromissione della componente osteoarticolare e muscololegamentosa negli affissatori: esempio di sindrome dello stretto toracico.

The authors analysed the risks and associated damage in bill posters on the basis of a case history description. Biomechanical analysis of the job revealed in particular the involvement of the musculoligamentous structure of the cervical spine and shoulder, mostly during the actual posting of bills. The authors propose a clinical-functional definition of the pain and paresthetic symptoms of the upper limbs which are frequently encountered in this category of workers.

[Degenerative changes in the coxofemoral articulation due to occupational causes. I. Radiological description of a control population]. / Alterazioni degenerative a carico dell'articolazione coxofemorale da cause professionali: I--descrizione radiologica di una popolazione di controllo.

With a view to initiating epidemiological studies aimed at demonstrating the causal or concausal role of certain working activities in degenerative diseases of the coxo-femoral articulations, the authors report data from a radiological study of a reference population and the necessary conditions for their correct use. Statistical analysis of the descriptive features leads to some interesting observations on the evolution with age of the radiological picture of the coxo-femoral joints (and on the aging of these joints). There was an increase with advancing age of some of the alterations that are characteristic of degenerative articular processes, such as sclerosis and osteophytosis. Reduction of articular "rima", however, occurs suddenly between the ages of 36 and 45 and does not seem to subsequently undergo any statistically significant evolution.

An electromyographic study of the vastii muscles during open and closed kinetic chain submaximal isometric exercises.

BACKGROUND: Rehabilitation programs for patients with patellofemoral dysfunction aim to recruit the vastus medialis obliquus muscle (VMO) in an attempt to reduce pain and to improve patellar tracking. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to use surface EMG to assess the effectiveness of two isometric submaximal contractions (10% and 60% of maximal voluntary contraction, MVC) in promoting preferential activation of VMO over vastus medialis longus (VML) and vastus lateralis (VL) in open and closed kinetic chain isometric exercises with the knee joint fixed at 30, 60 and 90 degrees of flexion. METHODS AND MEASURES: Surface electromyography (EMG) signals were recorded with linear adhesive arrays of four electrodes from fourteen healthy young men (age 23.5±3.2, mean±SD) during isometric knee extension contractions at 10% and 60% of the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) for 1 min and 20 s respectively at 30, 60 and 90 degrees of knee flexion. Initial values and rate of change (slope) of mean frequency (MNF), average rectified value (ARV) and conduction velocity (CV) of the EMG signal were calculated. RESULTS: Comparisons between the force levels produced at 10% and 60% MVC revealed that the initial values of ARV and CV for the VL, VML and VMO muscle were greater at 60% MVC compared to 10% MVC (3-way ANOVA; F=536; p<0.001, F=49: p<0.01 for ARV and CV respectively). Comparisons between the different muscles demonstrated lower initial values of CV for VMO compared to VL and VLM at 10% and 60% of MVC (F=15; p<0.05). In addition, initial estimates of ARV were higher for VMO compared to VML at both force levels (F=66; p<0.05). Comparisons between open and closed kinetic chain exercises revealed higher initial estimates of ARV for open kinetic chain knee extension at both force levels (F=62; p<0.01). In addition, the absolute value of MNF slope appeared to increase at higher angles for closed kinetic chain at 60% MVC while it was minimum at 60° degrees for open kinetic chain. No significant differences were observed in the rate of change of CV and MNF among the three muscles. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this study, both open and closed kinetic chain exercise similarly activate the three portions of the quadriceps muscle, suggesting that selective training of the vastii muscle is not achievable in these conditions.

Contrast enhanced ultrasound with second generation contrast agent for the follow-up of lower-extremity muscle-strain-repairing processes in professional athletes.

PURPOSE: In literature, ultrasonographic potentials in traumatic muscle lesions have been codified, whereas the data about this method utility in follow-up are dissonant. The purpose of this work is to evaluate a second-generation ultrasound (US) contrast agent rule for the professional athletes' distractive lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty professional athletes (18 men and two women, aged between 18 and 34 years) affected by different muscle lesions were examined. All the patients were evaluated within 48 h of the trauma by US device Esaote Technos MPX with a high-frequency linear probe. The examinations were carried out with and without contrast agent after 20, 40 and 60 days after the trauma; second-generation contrast agent was used (SonoVue). RESULTS: In all athletes (nine first-grade lesions, 11 second-grade lesions), by using contrast agent intravenous injection done after 20 days, the appearance of contrast spots affecting part or all the lesioned area were observed. During the follow-up, after 40 days. the contrast spots widened to include the entire scar area, with haemorrhagic residual in three cases. After 60 days, in no case was a liquid haemorrhagic collection still present, and we found an important reduction of extension of vascular spots and US intensity and their total disappearance in seven cases. CONCLUSIONS: US with a second-generation contrast agent, thanks to the neoangiogenesis identification, allows recognition, individuation and monitoring the repair processes in the muscle lesion and allows estimation of when athletes can return to competitive activity. This fact obviously reduces both relapses and complications.