JOURNAL WATCH

A COMPARISON OF TWO MUSCLE ENERGY TECHNIQUES FOR INCREASING FLEXIBILITY OF THE HAMSTRING MUSCLE GROUP. Smith

M, Fryer G Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, August 2008

This study investigated two types of muscle energy techniques that differ primarily in the duration of the post-contraction stretch phase. Forty asymptomatic participants were randomly allocated to one of two groups; either Group 1: MET with 30 seconds post- isometric stretch phase; or Group 2: MET with 3 seconds post-isometric stretch phase.

TACKLE INJURIES IN

PROFESSIONAL RUGBY UNION. Quarrie K, Hopkins W. American Journal of Sports Medicine 2008;36:1705-1716

All 140,249 tackles in 434 New Zealand professional matches were coded from video recordings for height and direction of tackle on the ball carrier, speed of tackler, and speed of ball carrier; injuries were coded for various characteristics, including whether the tackler or ball carrier required replacement or only on-field assessment. Results: There were 1348 injury assessments requiring only on-field treatment and 211 requiring player

replacement. Injuries were most frequently the result of high or middle tackles from the front or side, but rate of injury per tackle was higher for tackles from behind than from the front or side. Ball carriers were at highest risk from tackles to the head-neck region, whereas tacklers were most at risk when making low tackles. The impact of the tackle was the most common cause of injury, and the head was the most common site, but an important mechanism of lower limb injuries was loading with the weight of another player.

sportEX comment An excellent piece of work which

demonstrates the points made in the other injury prevention studies cited in this issue. It recommends strategies including further education for players about safe tackling and minor changes to laws for the height of the tackle which shouldn’t radically change the contact nature of the sport.

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sportEX comment These findings suggest that altering

Results: Both techniques appeared to be equally effective in increasing hamstring. extensibility, and there appeared to be sustained improvement one week following the initial treatment.

the duration of the passive stretch component does not have a significant impact on the efficacy of MET for short-term increases in muscle extensibility so you could save precious time in a busy treatment room.

A MANUAL THERAPY TECHNIQUE FOR CHRONIC ADDUCTOR-RELATED GROIN PAIN IN ATHLETES: A CASE SERIES. Weir A, Veger SA et al. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, July 2008 (in press)

This technique is described as ‘one hand is used to control the tension in the adductor muscles and the other hand is used to move the hip into abduction and

external rotation’. Thirty patients were treated with this flowing, circular motion that is proposed to stretch the adductor muscle group. The movement is repeated three times in one treatment session. Results showed that 83% reported good or excellent satisfaction, 90% had resumed sport and the pain score for during or after activity decreased significantly after the treatment.

sportEX comment A case of doing what it says on the tin! It’s a pity the researchers didn’t have a control group with another treatment modality.

HIP

HIP STRENGTH AND HIP AND KNEE KINEMATICS DURING STAIR DESCENT IN FEMALES WITH AND WITHOUT PATELLOFEMORAL PAIN SYNDROME. Bolgla LA

LA, Malone TR, et al. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy 2008;38:12-18

Eight patients who had been

diagnosed with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) due to overuse made up the experimental group with 8 asymptomatic volunteers (matched for age, height and body mass) forming the control group. To be eligible for the experimental group subjects had to report (a) anterior knee pain during stair descent (b) pain for a minimum of one month (c) pain during at least two of the following activities: stair ascent, squatting, kneeling or prolonged sitting, and (d) a minimum of 3 on a 10 point visual analogue pain scale. Isometric strength of the hip abductor and external rotator muscles was measured using a handheld dynamometer, and hip and knee kinematics were obtained via a video-based motion capture system during a stair descent task. The results showed that subjects with PFPS had significantly lower hip abductor and hip external rotator strength. No differences

were detected in hip adduction or internal rotation angles or knee valgus during stair descent.

sportEX comment The premise underlying this study is

that weakness of the abductor and external rotator muscles may lead to an increase in hip adduction and internal rotation and excessive knee valgus, and therefore altering the forces acting upon the patellofemoral joint. The weakness was noted but there seemed to be no subsequent alteration in lower extremity kinematics. There was in fact a trend towards maintaining greater knee varus in the experimental group compared to the control group. A suggested reason for this was that the stair descent task may not have been challenging enough, meaning that the subjects with PFPS were able to maintain lower limb alignment.

sportEX medicine 2008;38(Oct):4-6