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Prevention of knee osteoarthritis in athletes using prolotherapy
High reliability of repeated short burst on-water rowing trials C. Soper*, P. Hume & R. Tonks
Knowing the normal expected variation between repeated performance tests is essential for monitoring performance or studying the effect of an intervention. When multiple on-water rowing trials are required in a single rowing session or on a single day, shorter trials than the standard 2000 m rowing race must be used. No research has investigated the reliability of repeated short duration maximal effort on-water rowing trials. This study aimed to determine the expected normal variation in performance when elite level rowers' completed five 60 s 'maximal effort trials. Two male and nine female NZ 2003 squad single scullers completed five 60 s time trials at a constant self-selected high intensity stroke rate following a 1000 m warm-up. The single scull was instrumented with a linear proximity transducer (applied force) on each oar and a rotatory potentiometer (oar angle). All equipment has previously been determined to be highly linear under static and dynamic laboratory testing. Using pair wise analysis between trials one to five, total propulsive force, peak propulsive force, angle at peak force, stroke length and oar angle at the catch and finish were all highly correlated (r > 0.90). The typical expected error was lowest for stroke length (1.2%, 95% CL = 0.08 - 2.2) and worst for peak propulsive force (4.9%, CL = 6.7 17.8).
Prevention of knee osteoarthritis in athletes using prolotherapy M. Taylor*
Collagen can only be stretched 3-4% before fibrils begin to be strained and broken. The effect of strain on ligaments was measured by Panjabi et al. After a significant strain ligaments undergo a 'plastic change' becoming significantly more extensible than before. -"Under the dynamic conditions of everyday living this may result in increased joint laxity." Two studies show that a previous knee injury is the only risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA). "Even mild damage could disrupt a joint's biomechanics." -US arthritis expert Dr Roland Moskovitz. Prolotherapy (injection of an irritant solution) results in inflammation which deposits new collagen. Increased strength, mass and thickness was demonstrated in rabbit medial collateral ligaments. Electron microscopy of biopsies of human sacro-iliac joints showed collagen fibre diameter increased from 0.055 to 0.088 microns. Severe ligament instability of knees was treated with prolotherapy to the anterior (ACL) and posterior cruciates and medial and lateral collateral ligaments. Anterior-posterior and rotational mobility were significantly improved (P<0.05) and all patients had reduction in pain and were able to resume various activities such as cycling and running. A more recent randomised double-blind study of prolotherapy for 111 OA knees used a series of intra-articular 10% dextrose and lignocaine injections which resulted in 44% decrease in pain, 63% decrease in swelling, 14% increase in flexion range and 8 of the 13 with ACL laxity were no longer lax at 12 months. Blinded analysis of Xrays revealed stability of OA variables and in some cases, improvement. This simple, safe technique can be used in athletes with a knee injury to improve ligament mechanics, stabilise excessive joint mobility and reduce the long term risk of OA.
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Knowing the normal expected variation between repeated performance tests is essential for monitoring performance or studying the effect of an intervention. When multiple on-water rowing trials are required in a single rowing session or on a single day, shorter trials than the standard 2000 m rowing race must be used. No research has investigated the reliability of repeated short duration maximal effort on-water rowing trials. This study aimed to determine the expected normal variation in performance when elite level rowers' completed five 60 s 'maximal effort trials. Two male and nine female NZ 2003 squad single scullers completed five 60 s time trials at a constant self-selected high intensity stroke rate following a 1000 m warm-up. The single scull was instrumented with a linear proximity transducer (applied force) on each oar and a rotatory potentiometer (oar angle). All equipment has previously been determined to be highly linear under static and dynamic laboratory testing. Using pair wise analysis between trials one to five, total propulsive force, peak propulsive force, angle at peak force, stroke length and oar angle at the catch and finish were all highly correlated (r > 0.90). The typical expected error was lowest for stroke length (1.2%, 95% CL = 0.08 - 2.2) and worst for peak propulsive force (4.9%, CL = 6.7 17.8).
Prevention of knee osteoarthritis in athletes using prolotherapy M. Taylor*
Collagen can only be stretched 3-4% before fibrils begin to be strained and broken. The effect of strain on ligaments was measured by Panjabi et al. After a significant strain ligaments undergo a 'plastic change' becoming significantly more extensible than before. -"Under the dynamic conditions of everyday living this may result in increased joint laxity." Two studies show that a previous knee injury is the only risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA). "Even mild damage could disrupt a joint's biomechanics." -US arthritis expert Dr Roland Moskovitz. Prolotherapy (injection of an irritant solution) results in inflammation which deposits new collagen. Increased strength, mass and thickness was demonstrated in rabbit medial collateral ligaments. Electron microscopy of biopsies of human sacro-iliac joints showed collagen fibre diameter increased from 0.055 to 0.088 microns. Severe ligament instability of knees was treated with prolotherapy to the anterior (ACL) and posterior cruciates and medial and lateral collateral ligaments. Anterior-posterior and rotational mobility were significantly improved (P<0.05) and all patients had reduction in pain and were able to resume various activities such as cycling and running. A more recent randomised double-blind study of prolotherapy for 111 OA knees used a series of intra-articular 10% dextrose and lignocaine injections which resulted in 44% decrease in pain, 63% decrease in swelling, 14% increase in flexion range and 8 of the 13 with ACL laxity were no longer lax at 12 months. Blinded analysis of Xrays revealed stability of OA variables and in some cases, improvement. This simple, safe technique can be used in athletes with a knee injury to improve ligament mechanics, stabilise excessive joint mobility and reduce the long term risk of OA.
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