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Background: Medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction becomes first-choice surgical procedure for patients with a history of lateral patellar dislocations but there is limited knowledge about neuromuscular activation patterns of individuals with a history of patellar dislocation who underwent medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction., Objective: The aim of this study was to compare muscle activation levels and knee valgus during step down performance test between individuals with a history of medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction and healthy individuals., Methods: Fifteen individuals with medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction and 15 healthy individuals were included. Vastus medialis obliquus, vastus lateralis and gluteus medius muscle activation levels and knee valgus were measured during 60-s- step down performance test. Two-way repeated-measures of analysis of covariance was used for statistical analysis., Findings: Compared to the healthy individuals, individuals with medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction showed lower vastus medialis obliquus (p = .04) and gluteus medius (p = .005) activation levels, and higher knee valgus (p = .002) in last period of the step down performance test., Interpretation: Since the significant results were only observed in the fatiguing section of the test, endurance tests may provide more information about neuromuscular control of the individuals with history of medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction. Future studies should investigate whether endurance exercises that target to improve vastus medialis obliquus and gluteus medius activity result in better clinical outcomes than conventional programs for individuals with medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Despite being considered as a benign, genetic and monosymptomatic disorder, ET is a poorly understood entity with etiological and pathological heterogeneity. The aim of the present study was to examine the relation between proximal and distal muscle strength and upper limb functionality and tremor severity in patients with essential tremor (ET). The study enrolled 25 tremor patients followed at the neurology clinic of a university hospital and 19 healthy controls. Demographic data, risk factors, disease duration and dominant hand of the participants were recorded. Back and leg strength was assessed using a back and leg dynamometer and hand dynamometer and pinchmeter were used to determine hand strength. Functional ability of the participants was evaluated using the Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test (MMDT), Perdue Pegboard (PPBT) and Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT). Tremor severity was assessed using the Fahn-Tolosa-Marin Tremor Rating Scale (FTMTRS) and the Lower Extremity Clinical Tremor Assessment Scale (LECTAS). A significant difference was found in the average back and leg muscle strength between ET patients and healthy controls (p < 0.05). The mean values for right/left hand muscle strength were not significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05). Among the upper limb functional ability tests, significant differences were found between the two groups in the mean time to complete NHPT, Minnesota placing subtest and PPBT test (p < 0.05). While gender and risk factors were not significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05), there was a significant difference with respect to the educational level (p < 0.01). No significant difference was found between back and leg muscle strength and FTMTRS and LECTAS (p > 0.05). A negative correlation and a significant association were found between average strength measurements obtained with the left hand dynamometer and FTMTRS in the ET group (p = 0.030, r = - 0.434). A positive correlation and a significant association were found between left hand strength and mean turning time in the MMDT in the control group (p = 0.041, r = 0.473). ET patients experience loss of proximal muscle strength and functional disability. Further studies are planned to investigate the effects of physical therapy modalities targeting increased proximal muscle strength on tremor severity and functional ability in ET patients.

Background: The aim of this paper is to determine the effects of playing soccer on various components of physical performance such as body composition, muscular endurance, anaerobic power, flexibility, balance, and speed of individuals with transtibial amputation., Methods: Twelve amputee football players aged 26.67±7.76 years and twelve sedentary individuals aged 33±6.7 years were involved in this study. Body composition, and isotonic and isometric endurance of trunk muscles were assessed. Vertical jump test, sit-and-reach test, modified Thomas test, Berg Balance Scale, L test, and figure-of-eight walk (F8W) test were used to assess other physical fitness parameters., Results: The Body Mass Index, waist circumference and body fat percentages of the amputee soccer players were significantly lower than the sedentary amputees (P<0.05). The endurance of back extensors was significantly higher in the soccer group (119.33±47.15 s) than the endurance in the control group (26.25±15.96 s) (P<0.001). Subjects belonging to the soccer group had significantly higher anaerobic power than those in the control group (P<0.05). Flexibility, as assessed by the sit-and-reach test was significantly higher for the soccer group (P=0.002), whereas the modified Thomas test, which is also used to measure flexibility, indicated no significant difference among both groups (P>0.05). Balance was higher in the soccer group (P=0.023). The completion period of the F8W test was significantly lower in the soccer group (4.54±0.9 s) than in the control group (7.71±2.25 s) (P<0.001). No significant difference was observed in the numbers of steps measured during the F8W test (P=0.231)., Conclusions: This is the first study which investigates the effects of sports on the physical fitness of individuals with transtibial amputation with the inclusion of a control group. Overall findings present the benefits of participating in playing soccer on physical fitness parameters of amputees, but further studies with randomized controlled trials, with larger populations, and with other sport branches should be conducted to motivate all amputees to participate in sports.

Study Design: Experimental laboratory study., Objective: To compare how the design of 2 balance platforms affects ankle musculature activation for various weight-bearing exercises., Background: Balance platforms are widely used in both training and rehabilitation, and a better understanding of how platform design and type of exercise modify the demands on the ankle musculature may be helpful in staging exercise progression., Methods: Surface electromyography was used to measure the activation level of the fibularis longus, tibialis anterior, and medial gastrocnemius while performing 4 exercises on 2 different balance platforms (compliant and rigid). Twenty-four (12 females, 12 males) healthy, sedentary subjects participated in the study. Analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis., Results: There was no significant interaction between balance platforms and exercises (P>.05), and the type of platform did not influence muscle activation for the 3 muscles monitored (P>.05). The highest activation level for the fibularis longus and medial gastrocnemius was obtained during single-leg stance, and for the tibialis anterior during the single-leg squat (P<.05)., Conclusion: In this study, although the demands on the ankle musculature were similar for selected exercises performed on a compliant versus a rigid balance platform, muscle activation level varied based on the exercise.