Trunk endurance, posterior chain flexibility, and previous history of musculoskeletal pain predict overuse low back and lower extremity injury: a prospective cohort study of 545 Navy Cadets.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate predictors of low back and lower extremity musculoskeletal injury in a cohort of Naval cadets. DESIGN: Prospective Cohort Study METHODS: 545 Naval cadets (Males, n = 394, 72%) were followed-up over eight months. Nine variables were investigated as predictors: history of musculoskeletal symptoms in the last 12 months, ankle dorsiflexion range of motion, sit and reach test, isometric hip abduction and external rotation strength, alignment during the single leg squat test, single leg hop test for distance, prone plank and side plank tests. All injuries that required medical attention were registered. Predictive associations were examined using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The incidence of all injuries was 7%. Cadets who failed the 60-second plank test (OR = 3.3; 95% CI, 1.2-8.8, P = 0.04), had ≤18 cm in the sit and reach test (OR = 4.0; 95% CI, 1.4-11.2, P = 0.01), or reported pain in the last 12 months in two or more body regions (OR = 2.7; 95% CI, 1.02-7.3, P = 0.04), had greater odds of sustaining an overuse injury. No predictors were identified for acute injuries. CONCLUSION: Decreased trunk endurance on the prone plank test, reduced posterior chain flexibility on the sit and reach test, and a history of pain reported in two or more sites in the last 12 months were predictors of overuse injuries in Naval cadets. Assessment and intervention of these modifiable risk factors may be clinically relevant in injury screening and prevention.

Physical Performance Measures of Flexibility, Hip Strength, Lower Limb Power, and Trunk Endurance in Healthy Navy Cadets: Normative Data and Differences Between Sex and Limb Dominance.

ABSTRACT: Lopes, TJA, Simic, M, Alves, DdS, Bunn, PdS, Rodrigues, AI, Terra, BdS, Lima, MdS, Ribeiro, FM, Vilão, P, and Pappas, E. Physical performance measures of flexibility, hip strength, lower limb power, and trunk endurance in healthy navy cadets: Normative data and differences between sex and limb dominance. J Strength Cond Res 35(2): 458-464, 2021-The objectives were to provide normative data on commonly used physical performance tests that may be associated with musculoskeletal injuries in Navy cadets and assess for sex and limb dominance differences. A large cohort of Navy cadets were assessed for physical performance tests of flexibility (ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and sit and reach), isometric hip strength, lower limb power (single-leg hop), and trunk endurance (plank and side plank tests). Besides providing normative data tables, sex and limb dominance differences were assessed by a 2-way mixed analysis of variance. A total of 545 Brazilian Navy cadets (394 men) representing 79% of the cadets in the Academy participated. Normative reference values were reported as mean ± SD, 95% confidence interval and percentiles. For tests of muscle strength, power, and endurance, men performed better than women (p < 0.001). For flexibility tests, women achieved greater distances than men for the sit and reach test (p < 0.001), but no difference for ankle dorsiflexion (p = 0.51). Overall, there were no clinically relevant differences between limbs. In conclusion, normative data for commonly used physical performance tests were provided. Although no clinically relevant side-to-side differences were found, men presented higher values for lower limb strength and power, as well as trunk endurance than women, whereas women demonstrated increased flexibility. Valuable normative data are provided to professionals who work with young, active populations from the injury prevention or rehabilitation perspective because the current study may help professionals to identify athletes or cadets whose performance is outside the normative values and may be at risk for injury.

Is occupational or leisure physical activity associated with low back pain? Insights from a cross-sectional study of 1059 participants.

BACKGROUND: Low back pain is a highly prevalent and disabling musculoskeletal disorder. Physical activity is widely used as a prevention strategy for numerous musculoskeletal disorders; however, there is still conflicting evidence as to whether physical activity is a protective or risk factor for low back pain or whether activity levels differ between people with and without low back pain. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between low back pain and different types (occupational and leisure) and intensities (moderate and vigorous) of physical activity. METHODS: This is cross-sectional observational study. We included in this study a total of 1059 individuals recruited from a Spanish twin registry with data available on low back pain. OUTCOME: Self-reported leisure and occupational physical activity were the explanatory variables. The low back pain outcome used in this study was recurrent low back pain. RESULTS: Our results indicate that leisure physical activity is associated with a lower prevalence of recurrent low back pain. In contrast, occupational physical activity, such as carrying, lifting heavy weight while inclined, awkward postures (e.g. bending, twisting, squatting, and kneeling) are associated with a higher prevalence of recurrent low back pain. There was no statistically significant association between other occupational physical activities, such as sitting or standing, and low back pain. CONCLUSION: Leisure and occupational physical activity are likely to have an opposed impact on low back pain. While leisure physical activity appears to be protective, occupational physical activity appears to be harmful to low back pain. Future longitudinal studies should assist in formulating guidelines addressing specific types and intensity of physical activity aimed at effectively preventing low back pain.

What are the clinical implications of knee crepitus to individuals with knee osteoarthritis? An observational study with data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

BACKGROUND: Crepitus is a common clinical feature of knee osteoarthritis. However, the importance of crepitus in the overall clinical presentation of individuals with knee osteoarthritis is unknown. OBJECTIVE(S): (A) To compare function, pain and quality of life between individuals with knee osteoarthritis with and without crepitus; (B) to compare whether individuals with knee osteoarthritis in both knees, but crepitus in just one, differ in terms of function pain, and knee strength. METHODS: Setting: Observational study. PARTICIPANTS: (A) A total of 584 participants with crepitus who had the same Kellgren-Lawrence grade on both knees were matched for gender, body mass index and Kellgren-Lawrence grade to participants without crepitus on both knees. (B) 361 participants with crepitus in only one knee and with the same Kellgren-Lawrence grade classification on both knees were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): A - Self-reported function, pain, quality of life, 20-m walk test and chair-stand test. B -Knee extensor and flexor strength, self-reported function and pain. RESULTS: A - Individuals with crepitus had lower self-reported function, quality of life and higher pain compared to those without crepitus (3-11%; small effect=0.17-0.41, respectively). No difference was found in objective function between groups. B - Self-reported function was lower in the limb with crepitus compared to the limb without crepitus (15%; trivial effect=0.09). No difference was found in pain and knee strength between-groups. CONCLUSION(S): Individuals with knee osteoarthritis and knee crepitus have slightly lower self-reported physical function and knee-related quality of life (small or trivial effect). However, the presence of knee crepitus is not associated with objective function or knee strength.

Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Symptoms Among Brazilian Merchant Navy Cadets: Differences Between Sexes and School Years.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders are common among military personnel, especially during the initial basic training period. Prior studies have reported the prevalence rate of overall musculoskeletal symptoms or injuries in different military population and nationalities, especially from North America and Europe; however, very limited information regarding the military population of South America exists. Although Brazil has one of the biggest military forces worldwide (≈335,000 military personnel), currently, to our knowledge, there is no study reporting musculoskeletal symptoms or injury statistics in the Brazilian Armed Forces. Thus, the aims of this study were to describe the 12-month prevalence rate of self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms in cadets and to compare this prevalence rate between sexes and school years. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study that took place from January to March 2016. Participants were Navy cadets, of both sexes and from three different school years of a Brazilian Merchant Navy Academy. All volunteers completed an adapted version of the Brazilian Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire that assessed the past 12-month prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms over eight body regions of the trunk and lower extremity. The Pearson's χ2 test was conducted to compare prevalence of symptoms per body region between sexes and among the 3 school years. The study has been approved by the Naval Hospital's ethical committee. RESULTS: A total of 545 cadets (394 males), corresponding to 79% of all 688 cadets enrolled at the Merchant Navy Academy, volunteered to participate on this study. Among all cadets, 266 (49%) reported symptoms in at least one body region in the past 12-months. The knee with 116 (21%) and lower back with 96 (18%), were the most prevalent regions. In terms of sex differences, there was higher prevalence of symptoms among females 90 (60%) than males 176 (45%). Furthermore, females reported almost double the prevalence for lower back symptoms (27% vs. 14%, p = 0.001) and 11% higher prevalence of knee symptoms (29% vs. 18%, p = 0.006) than males. Finally, it is important to highlight that cadets from the second (127 [65%]) and third (77 [55%]) school years had higher prevalence of symptoms than cadets from the first year (62 [29%]). The knee and lower back were consistently the two most prevalent regions among all school years, but shin symptoms increased from 3% to 17% (p < 0.001) between the first and second school years. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in the Brazilian Merchant Navy Academy doubles between initial enrollment and the beginning of the second school year. Females have consistently higher rates of symptoms than males, particularly reporting higher prevalence of knee and lower back pain which are the two most prevalent regions in this population. Prevention efforts should concentrate on the basic training period in an attempt to decrease the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in this population. Finally, prospective studies are required to verify the cause and effect relationship between training and musculoskeletal symptoms.

Impact of Cane Use on Bone Marrow Lesion Volume in People With Medial Knee Osteoarthritis (CUBA Trial).

BACKGROUND: No effective cure exists for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Low-burden self-management strategies that can slow disease progression are needed. Bone marrow lesions (BMLs) are a source of knee pain and accelerate cartilage loss. Importantly, they may be responsive to biomechanical off-loading treatments. OBJECTIVE: The study objective is to investigate whether, in people with medial tibiofemoral OA, daily cane use for 12 weeks reduces the volume of medial tibiofemoral BMLs and improves pain, physical function, and health-related quality of life. DESIGN: This study will be an assessor-masked, 2-arm, parallel-group, multisite randomized controlled trial. SETTING: The community will serve as the setting for this study. PARTICIPANTS: The study participants will be people who are 50 years old or older and have medial tibiofemoral OA and at least 1 medial tibiofemoral BML. INTERVENTION: The participants will be allocated to either the cane group (using a cane daily whenever walking for 12 weeks) or the control group (not using any gait aid for 12 weeks). MEASUREMENTS: Outcomes will be measured at baseline and 13 weeks. The primary outcome will be total medial tibiofemoral BML volume measured from magnetic resonance imaging. Secondary outcomes will include BML volume of the medial tibia and/or femur, knee pain overall and on walking, physical function, participant-perceived global change, and health-related quality of life. Additional measures will include physical activity, cointerventions, adverse events, participation, participant demographics, cane training process measures and feasibility, barriers to and facilitators of cane use, and loss to follow-up. LIMITATIONS: People who are morbidly obese will not be included because of difficulties with magnetic resonance imaging. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study will help to determine whether cane use can alter disease progression in people with medial tibiofemoral OA and/or influence clinical symptoms. This study may directly influence clinical guidelines for the management of knee OA.

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION IN BRAZIL'S PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM / EPIDEMIOLOGIA DA RECONSTRUÇÃO DO LIGAMENTO CRUZADO ANTERIOR NO SISTEMA PÚBLICO DE SAÚDE DO BRASIL / EPIDEMIOLOGÍA DE LA RECONSTRUCCIÓN DEL LIGAMENTO CRUZADO ANTERIOR EN EL SISTEMA DE SALUD PÚBLICA DE BRASIL

ABSTRACT Introduction: Several studies have reported on the epidemiology of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR) in Europe and North America; however, there is currently no data relating to Brazil. Objective: To describe the incidence of ACLR in Brazil and investigate temporal trends and differences between age and sex groups. Methods: All reported ACLR cases in the public hospital system between January 2008 and December 2014 were extracted from the Information Technology Department of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Linear regression analysis was used to assess changes in ACLR incidence in the overall population and among sex and age groups, hospitalization time, and health care costs. Results: A total of 48,241 ACLR were reported from 2008-2014 with an overall incidence of 3.49 per 100,000 persons/year. Males accounted for 82% of the procedures. The incidence of ACLR increased by 56% among males (p=0.01) and by 112% among females (p=0.001). The mean hospitalization time decreased from 2.4 days in 2008 to 1.8 day in 2014 (R2 = 0.883, p= 0.002). The total cost across all years was US$56 million, with a mean of US$1,145 per ACLR. Conclusion: Although the total incidence of ACLR in Brazil is lower compared to other countries, it has increased over the years, especially in females. The creation of an ACLR registry is necessary in the future, for more accurate control and new investigations.

RESUMO Introdução: Vários estudos têm relatado a epidemiologia da reconstrução do ligamento cruzado anterior (RLCA) na Europa e América do Norte, no entanto, não há atualmente dados referentes ao Brasil. Objetivo: Descrever a incidência de RLCA no Brasil e investigar tendências temporais e diferenças entre os grupos de idade e sexo. Métodos: Todos os casos relatados de RLCA no sistema público de saúde do Brasil entre janeiro de 2008 e dezembro 2014 foram extraídos do Departamento de Informática do Ministério da Saúde do Brasil. A análise de regressão linear foi usada para avaliar as mudanças na incidência de RLCA na população total e entre grupos de sexo e idade, tempo de internação e custos hospitalares. Resultados: Um total de 48,241 RLCA foi reportado entre 2008 e 2014, com incidência geral de 3,49 por 100.000 pessoas/ano. Homens foram responsáveis por 82% dos procedimentos. A incidência de RLCA aumentou 56% entre os homens (p = 0,01) e 112% entre as mulheres (p = 0,001). O tempo médio de permanência hospitalar diminuiu de 2,4 dias em 2008 para 1,8 dia em 2014 (R2 = 0,883, p = 0,002). O custo total em todos os anos foi de US$ 56 milhões, com média de US$ 1.145 por RLCA. Conclusão: Apesar da incidência total de RLCA no Brasil ser menor em comparação com outros países, ela tem aumentado ao longo dos anos, principalmente em mulheres. A criação de um registro de RLCA se faz necessária no futuro para um controle mais acurado e novas investigações.

RESUMEN Introducción: Diversos estudios han informado sobre la epidemiología de la reconstrucción del ligamento cruzado anterior (RLCA) en Europa y América del Norte, sin embargo, no hay actualmente datos relativos a Brasil. Objetivo: Describir la incidencia de la RLCA en Brasil e investigar las tendencias temporales y diferencias entre los grupos de edad y sexo. Métodos: Todos los casos reportados de RLCA en el sistema de salud pública en Brasil entre enero de 2008 y diciembre de 2014 fueron extraídos del Departamento de Informática del Ministerio de Salud de Brasil. Se utilizó un análisis de regresión lineal para evaluar los cambios en la incidencia de RLCA en la población total y entre los grupos de edad y sexo, duración de la estancia hospitalaria y los costes de hospitalización. Resultados: Un total de 48.241 reconstrucciones del LCA fue reportado entre 2008 y 2014, con una incidencia general de 3,49 por 100.000 personas/año. Los hombres representaron el 82% de los procedimientos. La incidencia de RLCA aumentó 56% en los hombres (p = 0,01) y 112% en las mujeres (p = 0,001). La duración media de la estancia hospitalaria se redujo de 2,4 días en 2008 a 1,8 día en 2014 (R2 = 0,883, p = 0,002). El coste total en todos los años fue de US$ 56 millones, con un promedio de US$ 1.145 para cada RLCA. Conclusión: Aunque la incidencia global de RLCA en Brasil sea más pequeña en comparación con otros países, se ha incrementado en los últimos años, especialmente en las mujeres. La creación de un registro de la RLCA es necesaria en el futuro para un control más preciso y nuevas investigaciones.