Regional differences in the biological variability of plantar pressure as a basis for refining diagnostic gait analysis.

The variability of movement plays a crucial role in shaping individual's gait pattern and could, therefore, potentially serve diagnostic purposes. Nevertheless, existing concepts for the use of variability in diagnosing gait present a challenge due to the lack of adequate benchmarks and methods for comparison. We assessed the individuality of contribution of foot parts that directly mediate the transmission of forces between the foot and the ground in body weight shifting during walking based on 200 pedobarometric measurements corresponding to the analysed foot parts for each of 19 individuals in a homogeneous study group. Our results show a degree of individualisation of the contribution of particular foot parts in the weight-shift high enough to justify the need to consider it in the diagnostic analysis. Furthermore they reveal noticeable, functionally driven differences between plantar areas most apparent between the lowest individuality for the first foot ray and the highest for second one and metatarsus. The diagnostic reference standard in pedobarometry should describe the contribution in the shift of body weight during walking for each area of the foot separately and include information on the intra-individual variation and individualisation of descriptors of the contribution. Such a comprehensive standard has the potential to increase the diagnostic value of pedobarometry through enrichment of the assessment description.

Standardized astragalus extract for attenuation of the immunosuppression induced by strenuous physical exercise: randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: This paper aimed to verify how a supplementation of rower's diet with Astragalus Membranaceus Root (AMR) modulated their immune system response to maximal physical exertion. METHODS: The double-blind study included 18 members of the Polish Rowing Team assigned to the supplemented group (n = 10), and the placebo group (n = 8). The participants performed a 2000 m test on a rowing ergometer at the beginning and at the end of the six-week of intensive training camp during which the supplemented group received 500 mg of AMR. Blood samples were obtained prior to, 1 min after completing, and 24 h after the exertion test. The levels of interleukin 2 (IL2), interleukin 4 (IL4), interleukin 10 (IL10), interferon ɤ (IFN-É£), and lactic acid were determined. Subpopulations of T regulatory lymphocytes [CD4+/CD25+/CD127-] (Treg), cytotoxic lymphocytes [CD8+/TCRαß+] (CTL), natural killer cells [CD3-/CD16+/CD56+] (NK), and TCRδγ-positive cells (Tδγ) were determined with flow cytometry. RESULTS: After the camp, the initial NK and Treg levels sustained at the baseline, while Tδγ counts increased relative to the levels in the placebo group. In the supplemented subgroup, a decrease in IL2 level in reaction to maximal exertion clearly deepened while the change in IL-2/IL-10 level induced by the recovery after this exertion clearly increased, relative to the changes in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: AMR restored the immunological balance in strenuously trained athlets through a stabilization of NK and Treg cells with a positive trend in Tδγ towards Th1 response during restitution by cytokine IL2 modulation.