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Aim: To investigate the common flexor tendon (CFT) thickness and the frequency of ultrasound (US) pathological alterations in its structure in a healthy population and to evaluate if these findings can be correlated with dominant hand, age, gender, body mass index, workload, menopause status., Material and Methods: The study population consisted of 111 healthy volunteers. Bilateral CFT thicknesses were measured at 5 mm, 10 mm and 15 mm distance to medial epicondyle. Tendon echotexture, tears, calcification, enthesophyte, and neovascularization were also evaluated., Results: The CFT was thicker on the dominant side at all three locations (2.1 versus 1.9 mm proximal, 4.0 versus 3.7 mm in the middle and 7.0 versus 6.6 mm distal, all p<0.05). Thickness correlated negatively with postmenopausal duration in all landmarks, except for the nondominant side distal part and positive with body mass index, significantly on the dominant side proximal and middle parts. A statistically significant correlation was found between heavy workers group and tendon thicknesses on the proximal and middle parts of the dominant side and the distal part of the non-dominant sides. US tendinosis was detected in 24/222 tendons, calcification in 11/222 tendons and enthesophyte in 33/222 tendons. The threshold age was 46.5 years for enthesophytes and 51.5 years for calcifications. The prevalence of calcification and enthesophyte tended to be higher in blue-collar workers and on the dominant side., Conclusions: The CFT thickness varies depending on measurement locations, handedness, body mass index, postmenopausal duration and workload. The US signs of tendinosis may be encountered in a symptom-free population. Calcification and enthesophyte tended to be more frequent in blue-collar workers.

Context: Sport-specific adaptations at the glenohumeral joint could occur in adolescent athletes because they start participating in high-performance sports in early childhood. Objective: To investigate shoulder-rotator strength, internal-rotation (IR) and external-rotation (ER) range of motion (ROM), and acromiohumeral distance (AHD) in asymptomatic adolescent volleyball attackers to determine if they have risk factors for injury. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: University laboratory. Participants: Thirty-nine adolescent high school-aged vol-leyball attackers (22 boys, 17 girls; age = 16.0 ± 1.4 years, height = 179.2 ± 9.0 cm, mass = 67.1 ± 10.9 kg, body mass index = 20.7 ± 2.6 kg/m²). Main Outcome Measure(s): Shoulder IR and ER ROM, total-rotation ROM, glenohumeral IR deficit, AHD, and concen-tric and eccentric strength of the shoulder internal and external rotators were tested bilaterally. Results: External-rotation ROM was greater (t38 = 4.92, P < .001), but IR ROM (t38 =-8.61, P < .001) and total ROM (t38 = -3.55, P = .01) were less in the dominant shoulder, and 15 athletes had a glenohumeral IR deficit (IR ROM loss > 18°). We observed greater concentric internal-rotator (t38 = 2.89, P = .006) and eccentric external-rotator (t38 = 2.65, P = .01) strength in the dominant than in the nondominant shoulder. The AHD was less in the dominant shoulder (t38 = -3.60, P < .001). Conclusions: Adolescent volleyball attackers demonstrat-ed decreased IR ROM, total ROM, and AHD and increased ER ROM in their dominant shoulder. Therefore, routine screening of adolescent athletes and designing training programs for hazardous adaptive changes could be important in preventing shoulder injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of manual therapy with exercise to kinesiotaping with exercise for patients with subacromial impingement syndrome. Methods: Randomized clinical before and after trial was used. Fifty-four patients diagnosed as having subacromial impingement syndrome who were referred for outpatient treatment were included. Eligible patients (between 30 and 60 years old, with unilateral shoulder pain) were randomly allocated to 2 study groups: kinesiotaping with exercise (n = 28) or manual therapy with exercise (n = 26). In addition, patients were advised to use cold packs 5 times per day to control for pain. Visual analog scale for pain, Disability of Arm and Shoulder Questionnaire for function, and diagnostic ultrasound assessment for supraspinatus tendon thickness were used as main outcome measures. Assessments were applied at the baseline and after completing 6 weeks of related interventions. Results: At the baseline, there was no difference between the 2 group characteristics (P > .05). There were significant differences in both groups before and after treatment in terms of pain decrease and improvement of Disability of Arm and Shoulder Questionnaire scores (P < .05). No difference was observed on ultrasound for tendon thickness after treatment in both groups (P > .05). The only difference between the groups was at night pain, resulting in favor of the kinesiotaping with exercise group (P < .05). Conclusion: For the group of subjects studied, no differences were found between kinesiotaping with exercise and manual therapy with exercise. Both treatments may have similar results in reducing pain and disability in subacromial impingement in 6 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]