Cross-education does not accelerate the rehabilitation of neuromuscular functions after ACL reconstruction: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Purpose

Cross-education reduces quadriceps weakness 8 weeks after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery, but the long-term effects are unknown. We investigated whether cross-education, as an adjuvant to the standard rehabilitation, would accelerate recovery of quadriceps strength and neuromuscular function up to 26 weeks post-surgery.

Methods

Group allocation was randomized. The experimental (n = 22) and control (n = 21) group received standard rehabilitation. In addition, the experimental group strength trained the quadriceps of the non-injured leg in weeks 1–12 post-surgery (i.e., cross-education). Primary and secondary outcomes were measured in both legs 29 ± 23 days prior to surgery and at 5, 12, and 26 weeks post-surgery.

Results

The primary outcome showed time and cross-education effects. Maximal quadriceps strength in the reconstructed leg decreased 35% and 12% at, respectively, 5 and 12 weeks post-surgery and improved 11% at 26 weeks post-surgery, where strength of the non-injured leg showed a gradual increase post-surgery up to 14% (all p ≤ 0.015). Limb symmetry deteriorated 9–10% more for the experimental than control group at 5 and 12 weeks post-surgery (both p ≤ 0.030). One of 34 secondary outcomes revealed a cross-education effect: Voluntary quadriceps activation of the reconstructed leg was 6% reduced for the experimental vs. control group at 12 weeks post-surgery (p = 0.023). Both legs improved force control (22–34%) and dynamic balance (6–7%) at 26 weeks post-surgery (all p ≤ 0.043). Knee joint proprioception and static balance remained unchanged.

Conclusion

Standard rehabilitation improved maximal quadriceps strength, force control, and dynamic balance in both legs relative to pre-surgery but adding cross-education did not accelerate recovery following ACL reconstruction.

from Physiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2kjgKmA
via IFTTT

Impact of ischaemia–reperfusion cycles during ischaemic preconditioning on 2000-m rowing ergometer performance

Abstract

Purpose

Although ischaemic preconditioning (IPC), induced by cycles of transient limb ischaemia and reperfusion, seems to improve exercise performance, the optimal duration of ischaemia–reperfusion cycles is not established. The present study investigated the effect of ischaemia–reperfusion duration within each IPC cycle on performance in a 2000-m rowing ergometer test.

Methods

After incremental and familiarization tests, 16 trained rowers (mean ± SD: age, 24 ± 11 years; weight, 74.1 ± 5.9 kg; \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_}\) peak, 67.2 ± 7.4 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) were randomly submitted to a 2000-m rowing test preceded by intermittent bilateral cuff inflation of the lower limbs with three cycles of ischaemia–reperfusion, lasting 5 min (IPC-5) or 10 min (IPC-10) at 220 or 20 mmHg (control). Power output, \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_}\) , heart rate, blood lactate concentration, pH, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and near-infrared spectroscopy-derived measurements of the vastus lateralis muscle were continuously recorded.

Results

No differences among treatments were found in the 2000-m test (control: 424 ± 17; IPC-5: 425 ± 16; IPC-10: 424 ± 17 s; P = 0.772). IPC-10 reduced the tissue saturation index and oxy-haemoglobin concentration during exercise compared with control. The power output during the last 100-m segment was significantly lower with IPC-10. The IPC treatments increased the heart rate over the first 500 m and decreased the pH after exercise. No alterations were observed in \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_}\) , blood lactate, or RPE among the trials.

Conclusion

In conclusion, IPC does not improve the 2000-m rowing ergometer performance of trained athletes regardless of the length of ischaemia–reperfusion cycles.

from Physiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2s67c1v
via IFTTT

BLAST-XYPlot Viewer: A Tool for Performing BLAST in Whole-Genome Sequenced Bacteria/Archaea and Visualize Whole Results Simultaneously

One of the most commonly used tools to compare protein or DNA sequences against databases is BLAST. We introduce a web tool that allows the performance of BLAST-searches of protein/DNA sequences in whole-genome sequenced bacteria/archaea, and displays a large amount of BLAST-results simultaneously. The circular bacterial replicons are projected as horizontal lines with fixed length of 360, representing the degrees of a circle. A coordinate system is created with length of the replicon along the x-axis and the number of replicon used on the y-axis. When a query sequence matches with a gene/protein of a particular replicon, the BLAST-results are depicted as an "x,y" position in a specially adapted plot. This tool allows to visualization of the results from the whole data to a particular gene/protein in real time with low computational resources.

from Genetics via xlomafota13 on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2s5um8n
via IFTTT

Development of Diagnostic SNP Markers To Monitor Hybridization Between Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) and Wapiti (Cervus elaphus)

Sika deer (Cervus Nippon) and wapiti (Cervus elaphus) are closely related species and their hybridization can result in significant allele-shift of their gene pool. Additive genetic effects and putative heterotic effects of their hybridization on growth performance could confer considerable economic advantage in deer farming. Here, we used double-digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing technology (ddRAD-seq) and detected ~320,000 genome-wide SNPs from 30 captive individuals: 7 sika deer, 6 wapiti and 17 F1 hybrids (reciprocal cross). By screening observed heterozygosity of each SNP across four taxonomic groups, we report for the first time a resource of 2,015 putative diagnostic SNP markers (species-specific SNPs for sika deer and wapiti), which can be used to design tools for assessing or monitoring the degree of hybridization between sika deer and wapiti. These ddRAD-seq data and SNP datasets are also valuable resources for genome-wide studies, including trait discovery for breeders of domestic deer.

from Genetics via xlomafota13 on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2kgf9xN
via IFTTT

Prediction of Central Neuropathic Pain in Spinal Cord Injury Based on EEG Classifier

from Physiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2kiNEDU
via IFTTT

Induced lumbosacral radicular symptom referral patterns: A descriptive study

Lumbosacral radicular symptoms are commonly evaluated in clinical practice. Level specific diagnosis is crucial for management. Clinical decisions are often made by correlating a patient's symptom distribution and imaging with sensory dermatomal maps. It is not uncommon for patients to describe non-dermatomal symptom patterns or for imaging to demonstrate pathology at levels not predicted by a dermatomal map. These observations suggest that the referred symptom distribution from lumbosacral nerve root provocation is different from dermatomal maps.

from Sports Medicine via xlomafota13 on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2Lm8L4p
via IFTTT

Prophylactic perioperative dexamethasone decreases the incidence of post-operative c5 palsies following a posterior cervical laminectomy and fusion

Post-operative C5 Palsy is a well-known complication of cervical decompression procedures. Studies have shown that posterior laminectomy and fusions confer the greatest risk of C5 palsy. Despite this, pharmacologic preventive measures remain unknown. We hypothesize that prophylactic perioperative dexamethasone will decrease the rate of post-operative C5 palsy in patients undergoing a multilevel posterior cervical laminectomy and fusion.PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of prophylactic perioperative dexamethasone in decreasing the rate of post-operative C5 palsy.

from Sports Medicine via xlomafota13 on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2Lloa57
via IFTTT