Biomechanical evaluation in runners with Achilles tendinopathy

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical characteristics, ground reaction force (GRF), and function of the plantar muscles and dorsiflexors of the ankle in runners with and without Achilles tendinopathy (AT) and in non-runners. METHODS: Seventy-two participants (42 men, 30 women; mean age: 37.3±9.9 years) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study and divided into three groups: AT group (ATG, n=24), healthy runners' group (HRG, n=24), and non-runners' group (NRG, n=24). Both ankles were evaluated in each group. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Scale was used for clinical and functional evaluation. GRF was evaluated using force plates and muscle strength was evaluated using an isokinetic dynamometer. RESULTS: The AOFAS scores were lower in the ATG. The strike impulse was higher in the ATG than in the HRG and NRG. However, GRF was similar among the groups. The ATG exhibited lower total work at 120°/s speed than the HRG. The peak torque in concentric dorsiflexion was lower in the NRG than in the ATG and HRG. The peak torque and total work in concentric plantar flexion were lower in the NRG than in the ATG. The peak torque and total work in eccentric plantar flexion were lower in the NRG than in the ATG and HRG. CONCLUSION: Runners with AT showed higher strike impulse, lower muscle strength of the plantar flexors, and higher clinical and functional damage.

Alterações ortopédicas na AIDS / Orthopedic complications in HIV patients

O aumento considerável da expectativa de vida dos pacientes infectados pelo HIV na era do tratamento antirretroviral de alta potência, resulta em importantes alterações metabólicas e osteoarticulares decorrentes do prolongado tempo de infecção viral e desse tratamento. As complicações ortopédicas mais frequentes são as alterações da mineralização óssea, a osteonecrose, síndrome do túnel do carpo e capsulite adesiva glenoumeral, com padrão de apresentação clínica, evolução natural da doença e resposta terapêutica diferentes daqueles da população geral. Os relatos da literatura são iniciais e a experiência do serviço multidisciplinar do Instituto de Ortopedia e Traumatologia da USP permite avanço no conhecimento das diversas patologias envolvidas e o desenvolvimento de protocolos de tratamento adequados a esses diagnósticos.

The considerable increase of the life expectancy of HIV-infected patients in the age of highly-powerful antiretroviral treatment results in important metabolic and bone-joint changes resulting from a long-lasting viral infection time and from this treatment. The most common orthopaedic complications are bone mineralization changes, osteonecrosis, carpal tunnel syndrome and gleno-humeral adhesive capsulitis, with different clinical presentation features, natural disease progression and therapeutic response compared to the overall population. Literature reports are initial, and the experience of the multidisciplinary service of the University of São Paulo's Institute of Orthopaedics and Traumatology enables us a more in-depth knowledge about the various pathologies involved and the development of treatment protocols that are appropriate to these diagnoses.