The American journal of sports medicine
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Retropatellar cartilage damage has been suggested as an etiological factor for patellofemoral pain (PFP), a common knee condition among young and physically active individuals. To date, there is no conclusive evidence for an association between cartilage defects and PFP. Nowadays, advanced quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques enable estimation of cartilage composition. ⋯ There was no difference in composition of the patellofemoral cartilage, estimated with multiple quantitative MRI techniques, between patients with PFP and healthy control subjects. However, clinically relevant differences could not be ruled out for T1ρ in the adolescent population. Retropatellar cartilage damage has long been hypothesized as an important factor in the pathogenesis of PFP, but study findings suggest that diminished patellofemoral cartilage composition is not associated with PFP.
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Patients with exercise-induced lower leg pain may suffer from deep posterior chronic exertional compartment syndrome (dp-CECS). Current evidence for the efficacy of surgery is based on retrospective studies. Effects of fasciotomy on symptoms associated with dp-CECS have not been systematically studied, and reasons for unsuccessful surgery are unknown. ⋯ Fasciotomy was beneficial in 71% of patients with dp-CECS in the lower leg; 47% of study patients experienced a good to excellent outcome. Outcomes were stable in the long term. Persistent complaints were often caused by other untreated conditions.
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In ice hockey players, serious bone injuries in the foot and ankle, especially those attributed to impact from the moving puck, may be radiographically occult and underrecognized. ⋯ MRI can show severe bone injuries that are not visible radiographically in ice hockey players. Most fractures and high-grade contusions involve the medial ankle and midfoot bones, can be caused by direct blows from the puck, and are associated with prolonged recovery times.
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Arthroscopic release of the iliopsoas tendon may alleviate pain associated with internal snapping hip, but previous reports of physical function, hip strength, and muscle atrophy after surgery are mixed. ⋯ Arthroscopic iliopsoas release results in iliopsoas atrophy with a 25% volume loss and a 19% reduction in seated hip flexion strength.
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Running-related hamstring strain injuries remain a delicate issue in several sports such as soccer. Their unremittingly high incidence and recurrence rates indicate that the underlying risk has not yet been fully identified. Among other factors, the importance of neuromuscular coordination and the quality of interplay between the different hamstring muscle bellies is thought to be a key determinant within the intrinsic injury risk. Muscle functional magnetic resonance imaging (mfMRI) is one of the tools that has been proven to be valid for evaluating intermuscular coordination. ⋯ This was the first study to assess the causal relation between the intramuscular recruitment pattern and the risk of sustaining an index or secondary hamstring strain. Changes in intermuscular interplay seem to significantly increase the risk of sustaining index hamstring injuries in male amateur soccer players. Inadequate eccentric muscle endurance could be associated with an increased risk of sustaining a recurring hamstring injury.