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This study was aimed at investigating the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on the joint friction parameters and biomechanical properties of articular cartilage in a non-traumatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) model. Fifty adult male Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs were randomly divided into five groups: control, OA60, OA + US, OA + PRP and OA + US + PRP). Non-traumatic knee OA was induced with a single dose of 3 mg of mono-iodoacetate (MIA) by intra-articular injection. Intra-articular PRP was injected twice in the OA + PRP and OA + US + PRP groups. LIPUS was delivered in 10 sessions in the OA + US and OA + US + PRP groups. By use of the pendulum free oscillation test, joint friction (coefficient of friction) was measured. In addition, the instantaneous elastic modulus and aggregate modulus were measured using the stress-relaxation test. MIA injection decreased cartilage thickness, instantaneous elastic modulus and aggregate modulus, and increased joint friction. The friction coefficients in the OA + US and OA + US + PRP groups reached near-normal values, and there was no significant difference compared with the control group (p = 0.232 and p = 0.459, respectively). The instantaneous elastic modulus and aggregate modulus in the OA + US group increased significantly compared with the OA + PRP group (p0.05). It seems that both LIPUS and PRP injection effectively improved joint lubrication, but LIPUS was superior to PRP in improving the mechanical properties of the articular cartilage.

Sensory and sub-sensory foot vibration have beneficial effects on the static and dynamic balance of patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Previous foot vibration during walking was applied at sub-sensory threshold in both stance and swing phases of the gait cycle in DPN. This study aimed to investigate the effects of footwear with vibration above the sensory threshold applied to the swing phase of the gait cycle on the dynamic balance of DPN. Fifteen patients with DPN and 10 matched healthy control participants were enrolled in this study. Dynamic balance assessment was investigated by the sit to stand and turn tests while electromyography activity (root mean square, RMS) of the vastus lateralis (VL), tibialis anterior (TA), and peroneus longus (PL) muscles were recorded at baseline, after 10 min of wearing the vibratory sandal without vibration, and after 10 min of wearing the sandal with vibration. Repeated measure analysis of variance was conducted for data analysis. Wearing the vibratory sandal slightly increased the speed of weight transfer in both groups and COP sway in DPN (P 0.05), and close to significant decrease of turn sway (P = 0.07) in both groups. There were significant differences of the PL RMS in turn test (P = 0.03) in DPN and peak RMS of the PL after 10 min of wearing the sandal with vibration in both groups (P 0.05). The results of the present study demonstrated that PL activity was significantly influenced by the vibratory sandal as its tendon passing across the sole and in direct contact with the source of the vibration.

the post-treatment period. Overall adherence was significantly associated with outcome in the total period (for WOMAC physical function and pain). In addition, the different adherence variables were only poorly correlated with each other. Conclusions: Better outcome of exercise therapy, both during and after the treatment period was associated with higher levels of adherence. Physical therapists may need to encourage patients not only to attend the sessions but also to consistently perform exercises at home, to optimize treatment effects of exercise therapy.