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The aim of this study was to assess the extent of exercise intolerance in Fabry disease (FD) patients and to report individual effects of physical exercise. Exercise capacity and strength of 14 patients (mean age 46 years, 6 females) were determined using cycle ergometry and isokinetic measurements. Patients performed a strength/circuit exercise training protocol for 12 months. The mean relative maximum performance of the group was low at baseline and increased by 12.1% (baseline: 1.9 [0.9−3.4] W·kg −1 vs . re-test: 2.1 [1.1–3.8] W·kg −1 ; p =0.035) during the study. Patients’ mean baseline maximum performance blood lactate of 5.4 [1.3–9.9] mmol·L −1 increased to a mean of 7.2 (2.4–10.2) mmol·L −1 ( p =0.038). Mean strength of the lower limbs (left/right extensors and flexors, total work of 5 sets) changed from 2269 (1017–2913) kg·m 2 ·s - 2 to 2325 (1359–3107) kg·m 2 ·s -2 (not significant). Patients reported increased well-being, daily activity and reduced fatigue during the study. Our results indicate that exercise intolerance in FD patients often results from physical inactivity. FD patients may perform exercise training to improve exercise capacity and muscle strength. Future studies will address the clinical benefits of exercise in FD.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate joint position sense (JPS) in patients with posttraumatic glenohumeral instability. Materials and methods In 28 patients with posttraumatic instability and in a matched control group of 30 subjects proprioception capability was evaluated. For documentation of proprioception an angle reproduction test (ART) was performed with which joint positions sense (JPS) was measured for abduction, flexion, and rotation in three angles each. Results In both groups there was a significant better JPS with visual control than without. In contrast to the control group the patients were not able to increase angle reproduction capability without visual control when comparing positions below shoulder level with positions at or above shoulder level. When comparing the patients to the controls there were differences in most of the ARTs with worse results in the patient group. These differences were significant in 150 degrees flexion with and without visual control, in 150 degrees abduction without and in 100 degrees abduction with visual control. For rotation there were trends for almost all joint positions, however, the differences were significant only in the -45 position. When comparing the noninjured contralateral shoulder of the patients with the control group, there still were differences. Again these were not in all joint positions significant, but significant worse JPS could be demonstrated in 150 degrees abduction without visual control, 50 degrees flexion without visual control, -45 degrees rotation without and 0 degrees rotation with visual control. Conclusions A proprioceptive deficit can be documented in patients with posttraumatic glenohumeral instability. This may be one reason for permanent instability. The contralateral joint also shows reduction in joint position sense. For consecutive treatment as well as for rehabilitation both shoulder joint should be addressed.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY To compare the proprioceptive abilities of total knee arthroplasty patients and a control group. METHOD In a knee arthroplasty patient group of 28 and in 25 healthy volunteers the proprioceptive function was examined. To measure the proprioceptive function the motion analysis system with reflecting markers was chosen. In each patient 16 measurements from different starting points in different joint positions with and without visual controlling were performed. RESULTS The results demonstrated significant differences between the patients and volunteers independent of the starting point, the joint position and the visual controlling. Also the comparison with the 30 and 60 degree position showed significant differences. In the patient group were not shown significant values comparing the starting position, the visual controlling and the comparison with the healthy leg. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Knee arthroplasty conducts to loss of proprioception in the operated and healthy leg. Visual controlling can not solve these problems. The worst results were achieved in 60 degrees position. The starting position can not influence the results.

UNLABELLED In 30 healthy volunteers (12 female, 18 male; age: 22-36 years) we evaluated the proprioceptive function of the glenohumeral joint. The volunteers were asked to place the arm in different positions with and without visual control. The test was performed for the dominant as well as for the non dominant extremity. The following joint positions were measured: 50 degrees, 100 degrees, 150 degrees abduction, 50 degrees, 100 degrees, 150 degrees flexion, +45 degrees, 0 degree, -45 degrees rotation in 90 degrees of abduction. The documentation of the joint position was performed with a motion analysing system with passive reflecting markers. The results showed significant differences between the measurements with and without visual control. Without visual control we found the worst results for flexion and extension below shoulder level. We documented significant differences of the results with and without visual control for this range of motion. However, for external rotation above the shoulder level we could not demonstrate significant differences. In neutral rotation as well as internal rotation we found again significant differences. Therefore, proprioception seems to be worse below the shoulder level (50 degrees abduction, flexion). Better results in comparison with the entire group had two volunteers with general good coordinative capabilities. We could not demonstrate differences between the dominant and non dominant extremity nor between male and female. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Our results demonstrated low variance of the proprioceptive function of the glenohumeral joint in healthy volunteers. This may serve as a base for further evaluations in different patient populations.

There is growing evidence that exhaustive exercise can induce a suppression of the innate immune functions. Most studies so far describe exercise induced changes in cell counts or functional responses while information regarding intracellular signal transduction parameters is lacking. Therefore in the present study we investigated in granulocytes the regulation of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) which is an important intracellular second messenger. Healthy volunteers underwent a treadmill exercise test at 80% of their maximal oxygen uptake until exhaustion. Granulocytes were separated before and 1 hour after the test. [Ca2+]i was analyzed spectrophotometrically using the Ca2+ sensitive fluorescent dye Fura-2, while the oxidative burst and phagocytosis were measured by flow cytometry. While resting [Ca2+]i levels were unchanged, the Ca2+ transient induced N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl phenylalanine (fMLP) and platelet activating factor (PAF) were enhanced 1 hour after the test compared to pre-exercise values although fMLP receptor density did not change. In contrast, oxidative burst and phagocytosis evoked by fMLP and phorbol-myristate-acetate (PMA) were decreased after exercise. Together, our data support the view that exhaustive exercise affects regulation of Ca2+ signaling in granulocytes. The potentiation of Ca2+ signals is not accompanied by an enhancement of cellular functional parameters suggesting a blockade in intracellular signalling pathways.

Sensomotory function after ACL-reconstruction was tested prior and after a proprioceptive rehabilitation program with the Kinesthetic Ability Trainer (KAT 2000) which documented the static balance index (SBI). A control group consisting of healthy subjects was also tested two times with a time interval of six weeks. The results showed an adaptation effect to the testing device in the control group with an 17.12% increase of the SBI. There were no differences between the dominant and non dominant extremity. The active sensomotory function in the healthy knee of the operated patients showed no difference to the control group. Proprioceptive capabilities of the acl-reconstructed knee joints was significant reduced 6.42 weeks after surgery. A special proprioceptive rehabilitation program for six weeks significantly reduced this deficit. In the patient group sensomotory function of both knee joints could be increased to a level higher than in the control group. In the operated extremity the static balance index increased 27.75% and in the non injured extremity the SBI increased 16.88%.

UNLABELLED We documented the effect on sports specific capabilities of long lasting wear of ankle braces in 14 handball players. For a period of 4 months half of the team performed all athletic activities with an ankle brace. The other players served as control performing the same athletic activities without wearing a brace. For documentation of the coordinative capabilities a special jump-test with a COMET-system was used. This test was performed after a standardised warm-up at the beginning and at the end of the 4 months observation period with and without an ankle brace. The results showed that wearing the used ankle brace for a period of 4 months did not lead to a negative effect on jumping capabilities. The brace group showed even an increased ability in the used test. This could be documented in short as well as long term effects. CONCLUSION Long wear of ankle braces do not lead to negative side-effects in sports specific capabilities that are represented by the performed jump-test.

UNLABELLED In 8 male subjects we undertook acceleration measurements under standardised conditions at the tibia, the hip and the head. The measurements were performed on a normal flat street as well as on a bicycle route with velocities of 15 km/h, 20 km/h and 25 km/h. Additionally we documented the range of motion at the knee joint. Maximal positive acceleration at the head sensor was 10.75 m/s2 at a velocity of 25 km/h on the bicycle route. At the hip the highest measured value was documented with 15.10 m/s2 at 25 km/h also on the bicycle route. Die maximal tibia acceleration was 55.8 m/s2 at 25 km/h again on the bicycle surface. The amplitude averaged signals showed the highest suppression between tibia and hip. CONCLUSION Compared to other athletic activities acceleration and joint load in in line-skating is only low.

Bei 15 mannlichen kniegesunden Probanden und 10 mannlichen Patienten mit insuffizientem Kreuzband wurden mit und ohne unterschiedlichen Kniebandagen koordinative Fahigkeiten bei einem 9-3-6-3-9-Lauf sowie bei einem Einbeinsprungtest uberpruft. Im Rahmen der Untersuchung wurden die Patelladyn-, die Kasseler Patellarsehnen-, die Super-Genuplus-, und die Genuhit-Kniebandage getestet. Zusatzlich wurde durch die Probanden eine subjektive Bandagen-Bewertung durchgefuhrt. Beim 9-3-6-9-Lauf ergaben sich in der Kontrollgruppe keine signifikanten Unterschiede. Ohne Bandage ergab sich beim Vergleich der verletzten Gruppe mit der Kontrollgruppe ein hochst signifikanter Unterschied. Alle Bandagen fuhrten bei den Patienten zu einer deutlichen Verbesserung, ohne jedoch das Niveau der unverletzten Extremitaten zu erreichen. Beim Einbein-Sprungtest ergaben sich in der Kontrollgruppe keine signifikanten Differenzen. Mit dem verletzten Bein wurden die Sprungzeiten nach Anlage einer Bandage signifikant besser. Bei der subjektiven Bandagenbewertung beurteilten beide Gruppen die Patelladyn-Bandage am besten. In 15 male healthy volunteers and 10 male patients with ACL-deficiency sports specific capabilities were evaluated with a 9-3-6-3-9-run and a single-leg jumping test. Each subject was tested with and without different knee bandages. We evaluated the Patelladyn-, the Kasseler-, the Super-Genuplus-, and the Genuhit-bandage. Additionally a subjective assessment of each bandage was performed by the volunteers. There were no significant difference performing the 9-3-6-3-9-run between all of the bandages in the control-group. Comparing the injured group with the control there were significant differences. All bandages led to improvement without reaching the running time, which was used by the controls. Performing the Single leg jumping test there were also no differences with the different bandages in the healthy control group. However, after applying a bandage in the injured subjects, the time improved significantly. In the subjective assessment the Patelladyn-bandage scored best.

In 20 volunteers the relationship between rear-foot pronation and increasing physical exertion during treadmill ergometry was examined. In order to assess the influence of regularly performed running training a group of 10 endurance trained middle- and long-distance runners (age: 27.4 +/- 4.9 years; weight: 71.0 +/- 8.8 kg; height: 184.2 +/- 8.3 cm) was compared to another group of 10 untrained subjects (age: 24.7 +/- 2.1 years; weight: 73.3 +/- 9.8 kg; height: 179.1 +/- 8.3 cm). The examinations were carried out on a treadmill using a high-frequency motion analyzing system. Heart rate, blood lactate as well as rear-foot pronation were measured. Regarding heart rate and lactate concentration there were significant differences between trained and untrained volunteers. The pronation angle increased with higher speed up to a maximum of 6.54 +/- 4.22 degree for the trained group and 6.84 +/- 4.59 degree for the untrained group. With reference to maximal as well as submaximal stages the pronation angles showed no significant differences between both groups. Following the maximal exercise level the runners performed an additional 3 min run with a velocity reduced by 8 km/h compared to the maximal speed. At this level the total group as well as the untrained group showed significantly greater pronation angles compared to those of the corresponding velocity at the beginning of the test. The extent of the differences, however, was not significantly correlated with the lactate levels. Our results demonstrate that the increase of the pronation angle is a function of the running speed. But there is also an influence of fatigue, which depends neither on the running velocity nor on the lactate levels during exercise. Therefore, further investigations should emphasize the question which factors are responsible for this effect.

In 60 adolescent volunteers aged 8 to 16 years we assessed the proprioceptive capability of the shoulder complex by an angle reproduction test. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the proprioceptive capability of adolescent tennis players. 40 were tennis players, 20 non tennis players served as a control group. Documentation of the reproduced angle was performed by a motion analyzing system with passive markers. Angle reproduction of all volunteers was best in the midrange of motion (100 degrees flexion, 100 degrees abduction, neutral rotation in 90 degrees abduction). The worst results were documented below shoulder level (50 degrees flexion, 50 degrees abduction, internal rotation in 90 degrees abduction). A correlation to sex or dominant extremity could not be found. Subjects older than 12 years showed a tendency for better angle reproduction compared to the younger subjects. Tennis players older than 12 years demonstrated significant better capabilities for angle reproduction in some movements of the shoulder complex.

UNLABELLED In order to document sport specific skills, 23 athletes with functionally unstable ankle joints as well as 18 healthy volunteers were evaluated by performing a single leg jumping test. For external stabilization of the ankle an Aircast-Brace, a Ligafix-Air-Brace, a Malleoloc-Brace as well as a tape bandage were applied. There was no negative influence on the jumping performance of the tested stabilizing devices in the uninjured ankle joints. There was also no significant difference between the devices. For functional unstable ankle joints most of the devices showed significant improvement of jumping performance. The best results were achieved by the Aircast-Brace, followed by the Malleoloc-Brace, the Ligafix-Brace and the tape bandage. Again, there was no significant difference between these devices. While the reaction time showed no difference in all test situations, the time for stabilizing the ankle joint was significantly worse in those ankle joints without a brace. CLINICAL RELEVANCE For athletic activities, which are dominated by movement patterns comparable to the applied jumping test, the tested stabilizing devices seem to have no negative effect on sports specific capabilities.

During the German championships in parachuting 78 paratroopers were asked about acute injuries and chronic pain using a questionnaire. A total amount of 131 injuries was described. These were evaluated in terms of dimension and localisation. Upper and lower parts of the body were injured with a comparable frequency. Bruises (42%), fractures (19%), sprainings (16%) and dislocations (10%) were most often described. The overall injury rate according to the total number of descents (0.09%) was lower than that reported by previous literature. Therefore it can be concluded that parachuting for experienced jumpers is less dangerous than assumed until today.