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Background: Physical exercise in addition to standard care (SC) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) is now a common practice in many care units. However, exercises can cover a wide range of interventions, and the specific effects of different interventions still deserve to be further investigated., Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of 12 weeks of two different types of physical exercises with SC in patients suffering from PD., Design: Pseudo-randomized controlled trial., Setting: University laboratory for outcomes, University Hospital Centre for interventions., Population: Fifty-two outpatients suffering from mild to moderate PD at baseline., Methods: Participants were allocated to three groups: the strength training (ST) group performed individualized upper and lower limbs strength training, the aerobic training (AE) group performed tailored gradual aerobic cycling, and the third group received SC. The effects of the interventions on body function were assessed by measuring isokinetic concentric peak torque for knee extension and flexion, peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) and peak work load (PWL) during an incremental maximal cycling test. Changes in mobility were evaluated from spatial-temporal gait features measured by mean of an accelerometer system and the Six-Minute Walk Distance (6MWD) Test. We used questionnaires to estimate health-related quality of life and habitual physical activity., Results: No significant changes in any outcome measures occurred in the SC group. More than 80% of the participants adequately completed the AE and the ST interventions. The ST group significantly improved all peak torque measures (P≤0.01), except knee extension in the least affected side (P=0.13). This group also improved the PWL (P=0.009) and 6mwd (P=0.03). The AE group improved the VO2peak (P=0.02) and PWL (P<0.001)., Conclusions: Physical fitness in patients with PD rapidly improved in compliance with training specificities, but better fitness hardly translated into better mobility and health-related quality of life., Clinical Rehabilitation Impact: Physiotherapists can efficiently propose physical conditioning to patients with mild to moderate PD, but these interventions are insufficient to improve gait and participation. Notwithstanding, ST is an efficient intervention for improving walking capacity.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the history of low back pain and quality of lumbopelvic motor control in soccer players. Forty-three male elite soccer players (mean age, 18.2 ± 1.4 years) filled in questionnaires related to low back pain and attended a session to assess lumbopelvic motor control by means of five tests (the bent knee fall out test, the knee lift abdominal test, the sitting knee extension test, the waiter's bow and the transversus abdominis test). A physiotherapist, blinded to the medical history of the participants, scored (0 = failed, 1 = correct) the performance of the players for each of the tests resulting in a lumbopelvic motor control score ranging from 0 to 5. Forty-seven per cent of the soccer players reported a disabling low back pain episode lasting at least two consecutive days in the previous year. These players scored worse lumbopelvic motor control than players without a history of low back pain (lumbopelvic motor control score of 1.8 vs. 3.3, P < 0.01). The between-groups difference was particularly marked for the bent knee fall out test, the knee lift abdominal test and the transversus abdominis test (P < 0.01). In conclusion, most soccer players with a history of low back pain had an altered lumbopelvic motor control. Further research should examine whether lumbopelvic motor control is etiologically involved in low back pain episodes in soccer players.

Aim: Jumper's knee is a frequent chronic overuse syndrome of the proximal part of the patellar tendon. Platelets contain lots of growth factors which could enhance the healing process of tendons. The aim of this study was to clarify the possible efficacy of one injection of Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in cases of rebel jumper's knees., Methods: Twenty patients with chronic proximal patellar tendinopathy were enrolled. Assessments were made before infiltration of PRP, and 6 weeks and 3 months after the infiltration, using a 10-point visual analogic scale of pain, clinical examinations with a pressure algometer, algofunctional scores (IKDC and VISA-P), functional assessments (isokinetic and optojump evaluations) and imagery (ultrasounds and MRI). The PRP was obtained with an apheresis system (COMTEC®, Fresenius-Kabi, Bad Homburg, Germany). Six millilitres of PRP were injected without local anesthetic. One week after infiltration, patients started a standardized sub-maximal eccentric reeducation., Results: During daily activities pain significantly decreased with time. At functional evaluation, it decreased as well, but without significant functional improvement. No improvements in the imagery measurements were observed. Younger patients seemed to be more susceptible to have an improvement of pain by the PRP infiltration., Conclusion: This study demonstrates that a local infiltration of PRP associated with a submaximal eccentric protocol can improve symptoms of chronic jumper's knee in patients non-responsive to classical conservative treatments.