The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of active abduction exercise of the great toe on the medial and lateral sesamoid bones in hallux valgus (HV) patients by measuring radiography. Methods: In this study 27 young subjects were separated into two groups (normal group and HV group). Two pictures were taken by radiography while maintaining resting and while holding maximal active abduction of the great toe in sitting position on an x-ray table. All radiographs were used to measure the distance of the medial and lateral sesamoid bone from the longitudinal axis of the first metatarsal bone, respectively. Paired t-test was used for analysis of the resting and active abduction exercise in groups. Independent t-test was used to evaluate statistical significance between normal group and HV group. The statistical significance level was p< 0.05. Results: In active abduction exercise of the normal group, distance of the medial and lateral sesamoid bones was not significantly different compared to resting condition. In active abduction exercise of the HV group, change of distance of the medial and lateral sesamoid bones showed statistically significant difference compared to resting condition. The distance between the medial sesamoid bone showed a more significant decrease in the HV vs. normal group, while the distance between the lateral sesamoid bone was significantly greater in the HV vs. normal group. Conclusion: These findings suggest that active abduction exercises, to reduce or prevent deterioration of the HV angle, should be considered for sesamoid bone displacement to improve muscle balance in the great toe.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of active abduction exercise of the great toe on the medial and lateral sesamoid bones in hallux valgus (HV) patients by measuring radiography. Methods: In this study 27 young subjects were separated into two groups (normal group and HV group). Two pictures were taken by radiography while maintaining resting and while holding maximal active abduction of the great toe in sitting position on an x-ray table. All radiographs were used to measure the distance of the medial and lateral sesamoid bone from the longitudinal axis of the first metatarsal bone, respectively. Paired t-test was used for analysis of the resting and active abduction exercise in groups. Independent t-test was used to evaluate statistical significance between normal group and HV group. The statistical significance level was p< 0.05. Results: In active abduction exercise of the normal group, distance of the medial and lateral sesamoid bones was not significantly different compared to resting condition. In active abduction exercise of the HV group, change of distance of the medial and lateral sesamoid bones showed statistically significant difference compared to resting condition. The distance between the medial sesamoid bone showed a more significant decrease in the HV vs. normal group, while the distance between the lateral sesamoid bone was significantly greater in the HV vs. normal group. Conclusion: These findings suggest that active abduction exercises, to reduce or prevent deterioration of the HV angle, should be considered for sesamoid bone displacement to improve muscle balance in the great toe.

1)The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of distance measurements from the medial border of the scapula to the spinous process of the thoracic vertebrae when obtained using tape and photography measurements. The study included 20 healthy subjects (10 males, 10 females); for a total of 40 scapula measurements. The distance measurements made using tape or photography methods were conducted with the subject in a standing position. Repeated tape and photography measurements were conducted in two sessions on different days by two examiners to assess the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the two methods. The reliability of scapular distance measured using tape and photography methods was tested using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC(3,1)) and the standard error of measurement (SEM). The inter-rater reliability of the tape measurement method was excellent (ICC=.77) and the intra-rater reliability was fair to good (ICC=.74). The inter-rater and intra-rater reliabilities of the photography measurement method were excellent (ICC=.76 and .76 respectively). Our results suggest that photography measurement is an objective and qualitative measurement tool for scapular distance measurements.

The purpose of this study was to compare the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of three methods for measuring iliotibial tract length in 40 knees of 20 subjects. The measurements were performed by two examiners and one assistant. The length of the iliotibial tract was measured using three methods: the first used a modified Ober test with an inclinometer, the second used a modified Ober test with a marker, and the third used active adduction test with a marker in the supine position. Each examiner used the three methods in two sessions. For the first method, the inclinometer value was recorded manually. For the second and third methods, Image J analysis software was used to analyze the photographs taken. The intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the measured value was assessed by means of intra-class correlation coefficients [ICC (3,1)] and the standard error of measurement. The intra-rater reliabilities of the three methods were excellent (ICC=.97, .95, and .94, respectively), and the inter-rater reliabilities of the first and second methods were fair to good (ICC=.64 and .65, respectively). The inter-rater reliability of the third method was excellent (ICC=.88). Our results suggest that the active adduction test is an objective and qualitative measurement method for measuring iliotibial tract length. We recommend that the active adduction test be used for measuring iliotibial tract length in the clinical setting.

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