Knee and hip extension are two proposed mechanisms of non-traumatic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. This study aimed to investigate the changes of the hip extension angles following exertion induced by an overground simulated soccer match-play. Fifteen male recreational players consented to this study and were required to complete a 90 minutes of simulated soccer match-play. Knee and hip angles were measured at initial contact during 45° anticipated side-cutting tasks performed prior to the simulation (time 0 min), at the end of the first half (time 45 min) prior to the second half (time 60 min) and at the end of the soccer match simulation (time 105 min). A two (group: dominant, nondominant) × four (time: 0 min, 45 min, 60 min and 105 min) mixed between- and within- subjects ANOVA was utilized. Results revealed that both knee and hip extension angles were significantly altered over time (knee: F3,102 = 4.464, p = 0.005, η2 = 0.116; hip: F3,102 = 9.998, p = 0.000, η2 = 0.227), however no significant differences were observed between dominant and nondominant sides (knee: F1,34 = 0.026, p = 0.872, η2 = 0.001; hip: F1,34 = 0.225, p = 0.638, η2 = 0.007). Pairwise comparisons indicated that the knee and hip is more during the second half of the simulation (time 60 min and time 105 min), compared to pre-exertion (time 0 min) (p < 0.05). The more erect knee and hip landing postures observed suggested a greater risk of ACL injury during the latter stage of each halves of match-play, supporting epidemiological observations. Further interrogations of the kinematic differences in the knees and hips across limb dominance are warranted for a more comprehensive understanding of the changes in a multiplanar perspective following soccer specific fatigue development.

Objective: This review aims to the existing structural neuroimaging literature in Parkinson disease presenting with freezing of gait. The summary of this article provides an opportunity for a better understanding of the structural findings of freezing of gait in Parkinson disease based on MRI. Methods: This systematic review of literature follows the procedures as described by the guideline of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Results: Initial searches yielded 545 documents. After exclusions, 11 articles were included into our study. Current findings of structural MRI on freezing of gait in Parkinson disease are associated with structural damage between sensorimotor-related cortical grey matter structures and thalamus, but not cerebellum and smaller systems, as well as extensive injuries on white matter connecting between those structures. Conclusion: Current findings of structural MRI on freezing of gait in Parkinson disease are associated with structural damage between sensorimotor-related cortical grey matter structures and thalamus, but not cerebellum and smaller systems, as well as extensive injuries on white matter connecting between those structures.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a ball-oriented soccer match-play simulation on the hamstrings eccentric torque production. Seven male recreational athletes volunteered for this study. Participants completed 90-minutes of the ball-oriented soccer simulation interceded by a 15-minute half time interval with five successful trials of hamstrings eccentric contractions on an isokinetic dynamometer at selected time points throughout the simulation. A 2 (limb: dominant; non-dominant) × 4 (time: 0 min; 45 min; 60 min; 105 min) “split-plots” analysis of variance (SPANOVA) revealed significant reductions in hamstrings eccentric peak torques over time, while no significant change was apparent in hamstrings eccentric angles of peak torque. There was also no interaction effect of limb dominance over time for both peak torque and angles of peak torque parameters. The observed changes suggest that exertions from a ball-oriented soccer match-play simulation may have detrimental effects on the hamstrings eccentric strength parameters thus may increase risk of ACL injury. High variabilities in angles of peak torques were also observed in this study. Future exploration is warranted in order to address the extent of variabilities that may be present in larger sample sizes thus providing a better understanding of the influence of these variabilities on the muscular strength parameters of ACL injury risk. The findings suggest firstly, that fatigue from soccer-specific exertions during match-play may increase an athlete’s susceptibility to ACL injury, and secondly, that with accumulating fatigue, the nondominant limb may be equally at risk of injury as the dominant limb, contradicting previous findings from epidemiological studies.

No abstract

Highlights Vim thalamotomy is a usual procedure to control Parkinson tremor. The ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus is difficult to identify. The precision is crucial importance for the successful Vim thalamotomy. Vim line technique (VLT) is useful for the determination of the vim location.