Athletic Injury

Researchers are investigating how balance and walking abilities relate to detailed movement measurements in people with Multiple Sclerosis MS. This observational study focuses on understanding the connection between clinical tests of function and objective biomechanical data. The goal is to identify which movement characteristics best reflect balance, gait, and physical performance challenges faced by individuals with MS. Participants will attend a single laboratory session where they undergo biomechanical analysis using the Vicon motion capture system. They will complete functional assessments of balance, gait, and physical performance, as well as questionnaires about fear of falling and fatigue. Spasticity in the lower limbs will also be assessed during this visit. During the session, participants will perform tests such as the mini-BESTest for balance, Functional Gait Assessment, Short Physical Performance Battery, and a 2-minute walk test. Questionnaires like the Fall Efficacy Scale and Fatigue Severity Scale will be completed. Researchers will analyze these collected data to explore how biomechanical and functional measures relate, aiming to improve assessment tools for MS rehabilitation.

Researchers are studying ankle and hindfoot conditions caused by biomechanical changes in this area. The trial focuses on how surgical treatments aimed at improving these biomechanical problems may relate to clinical improvements. A special 3D Multisegment Foot Model has been developed and validated to assess these biomechanical changes more precisely, and it is now used routinely at the gaitlab of UZ Leuven. The study evaluates patients who have undergone ankle or hindfoot reconstruction surgery. It uses advanced biomechanical assessments combining plantar pressure measurements and detailed 3D gait analysis with the Multisegment Foot Model. This integrated approach allows researchers to examine many biomechanical parameters within the foot and ankle region before surgery and one year after surgery. Participants will have assessments before their surgery and at multiple follow-up points including 6 months and 1 year after surgery. These assessments include gaitlab measurements, foot function questionnaires, health surveys, and pain scales. The study aims to link clinical outcomes with detailed biomechanical data, helping to better understand the effects of reconstructive surgery on foot and ankle function over time.

Researchers are studying patients with isolated anterior cruciate ligament ACL ruptures, specifically proximal tears, to understand the long-term outcomes of surgical repair. This observational study focuses on the relapse rate over five years following surgery for proximal ACL tears. The study highlights that treatment decisions depend on factors such as patient symptoms, activity level, and injury severity, with functional treatment often reserved for low-demand patients and surgery considered for others, especially athletes. Surgical repair involves fixing the torn ACL, an approach that has regained interest due to new fixation devices. This method differs from the more common ligament replacement using knee tendons. The study includes patients who had surgical repair of a proximal ACL tear between January 2019 and July 2021. Functional treatment approaches, including splints and rehabilitation, are also described but are not the focus of this study. Participants will be monitored to track the rate of ACL rupture relapse over a five-year period. Assessments include evaluations of knee stability and function, and researchers will collect data related to the surgical repairs long-term success. The study aims to provide detailed follow-up information to better understand outcomes after proximal ACL repair surgery.

This research aims to evaluate interventions to support family members who act as surrogate decision makers for critically ill patients in Intensive Care Units ICUs. These surrogates often face intense grief and stress that can affect their mental health and the quality of decisions made for their loved ones near end-of-life. The study focuses on reducing symptoms of prolonged grief disorder PGD, post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD, and related emotional challenges through a psychological intervention called EMPOWER. The study compares two approaches the EMPOWER intervention, which is a brief, cognitive-behavioral and acceptance-based treatment delivered by trained mental health professionals, and a Supportive Conversation SC that provides empathetic support without specific skill-building. EMPOWER includes six 15-minute modules and two booster phone sessions, totaling about 90 minutes plus follow-ups, while the Supportive Conversation matches this time with supportive interaction and follow-up calls. Participants are assessed up to four times before and after the intervention within three months. Participants, who are surrogate decision makers of ICU patients near end-of-life, will complete assessments on grief, PTSD, depression, regret, anxiety, and distress before the intervention, immediately after, and at 3 and 12 months follow-up. The study also includes interviews with some participants to better understand the interventions effects and contextual factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary outcomes focus on changes in grief and PTSD symptoms over twelve months, with safety and mental health monitored throughout the study period.

Researchers are evaluating the effect of semiconductor fabric sleeves on recovery after Anterior Cruciate Ligament ACL or ACL plus Meniscus arthroscopic surgery. The study aims to determine whether semiconductor sleeves improve functional outcomes and if they help patients recover faster compared to placebo sleeves that look similar but contain no semiconductor material. The trial is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled prospective clinical study led by the Illinois Center for Orthopaedic Research and Education. Participants will be assigned to one of three groups a control group receiving standard care, a group wearing semiconductor fabric sleeves, or a group wearing placebo sleeves without semiconductor material. The sleeves are worn post-operatively, with a leg sleeve worn for 4 weeks followed by a knee sleeve for 12 weeks, totaling 4 months of use. The intervention is delivered through these wearable devices, and the study compares their effects on recovery after surgery. During the study, participants will complete patient-reported outcome surveys and undergo clinical assessments including range of motion and effusion measurements up to one year after surgery. Researchers will monitor the functional progress and measure outcomes using validated tools to assess improvements. The total follow-up includes evaluations at one year to understand the longer-term effects of the sleeves on knee function after surgery.

Ankle sprains are a common injury, especially among children and adolescents, leading to prolonged pain and delayed return to normal activities. This trial investigates whether using a smartphone app for children and young adults with acute ankle inversion injuries improves functional outcomes such as pain, mobility, and return to activity compared to standard paper handouts. The study focuses on guidance tailored to pain management and recovery, aiming to overcome the limitations of current one-size-fits-all care approaches. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups one group will use a smartphone app that provides education, daily reminders on pain management including medication and exercises, and collects pain and functional scores at several timepoints up to 14 days. The other group will receive standard care through paper-based discharge instructions and will use a data collection app only for recording outcomes. The app-based group receives interactive support, while the standard care group receives the same information in printed form. During the study, participants will record pain levels and functional abilities using standardized scales on days 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, and 14 after discharge. Researchers will monitor pain management methods, range of motion exercises, and time to return to pre-injury function. The primary outcome is the Activities Scale for Kids-performance version score on day 7 post-discharge. The study includes children and young adults aged 12 to 30 years and involves assessments focused on recovery progress and safety over the two-week period.

Anterior cruciate ligament ACL tears are common injuries that affect the knees stability and can lead to post-traumatic osteoarthritis. This trial evaluates the effects of oral alendronate ALN, a medication known for its bone-protecting properties, on knee function and healing after ACL reconstruction surgery. The study is a phase 4, multi-center, double-blind, randomized controlled trial comparing ALN to placebo in patients undergoing ACL reconstruction. Participants will receive a weekly oral dose of 70 mg of ALN or a placebo for 8 weeks, alongside a standard rehabilitation program. ALN has been chosen due to its high bone-binding ability and longer action duration, with previous animal studies supporting its potential benefits. The placebo used is manufactured under strict quality standards. Both groups will undergo the same rehabilitation protocol to ensure consistency. During the 12-month study, participants will be assessed on knee stability, bone changes around the surgical tunnels, knee laxity, muscle strength, and self-reported knee symptoms and function. The primary outcome is measured by changes in the Single-leg Hop Test at 4.5, 6, and 12 months. Safety and tolerability of ALN are monitored, with known side effects including mild gastrointestinal symptoms. The trial aims to improve recovery outcomes following ACL reconstruction.

This research investigates how aging affects motor control, focusing on healthy elderly individuals and patients with mild cognitive impairment. Researchers aim to understand differences in upper limb motor adaptation and to develop interventions that improve motor function and cognitive abilities through multisensory rhythmic skill training. The study also uses artificial intelligence to classify grasp patterns among young adults, elderly, and those with mild cognitive impairment. Participants are assigned to one of three groups virtual reality-based rhythmic skill training using VR headsets and controllers for 35 minutes, rhythmic skill training with visual feedback via a computer interface for 35 minutes, or an upper limb strengthening exercise program supervised by a therapist. These interventions include various exercises and sensory stimulations designed to enhance motor planning, execution, and cognitive processing. Throughout the study, participants undergo assessments at baseline, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks to measure changes in grip behavior, sensory perception, manual dexterity, and cognitive function using tests like the Mini-Mental Status Examination and Purdue pegboard test. Researchers monitor motor adaptation and cognitive improvements, with the overall goal of preserving independence and quality of life for the elderly. The study is randomized and double-blind, lasting up to 16 weeks.

Researchers are creating a database of psychophysiological data collected from athletes during maximal effort tests. This study aims to better understand the relationship between exercise intensity and both objective measures like heart rate and subjective measures such as perceived exertion. The goal is to improve how maximal effort tests are conducted and to offer more personalized training recommendations. Participants will perform a maximal effort test on a treadmill, with researchers gathering data such as ergospirometry, blood samples, and ratings of perceived exertion. This study involves a single group undergoing these tests to build a comprehensive physiological database. During the study, participants will be monitored through various assessments including exercise capacity tests lasting up to one hour, blood sampling, and questionnaires about their perceived effort. These measures will help researchers analyze endurance and exercise intensity, with the study lasting until 2040. Participants health and performance data will be carefully recorded and analyzed to support personalized training advice.

Musculoskeletal disorders and injuries cause significant disability worldwide, affecting people of all ages and leading to pain, limited mobility, and reduced quality of life. This ongoing open-label, single-arm phase IIIa study is evaluating the safety of a human allogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cell product called StromaForte in patients with musculoskeletal injuries andor degeneration. The study aims to assess safety and changes in pain over one year after treatment with these stem cells. Participants receive 50 million StromaForte cells locally injected under ultrasound guidance at the injury or degeneration site, combined with or without 100 million cells given intravenously over about 30 minutes. If local injection is not possible, only the systemic intravenous treatment is given. Additional doses may be administered with specified minimum intervals between local and systemic doses. Four subgroups based on connective tissue injury or degeneration type are included. During the study, patients are monitored for adverse events up to one year after treatment. Researchers assess pain levels in each injured or degenerated area, quality of life measures using questionnaires, and changes in pain between treatment subgroups. Follow-up can be face-to-face or remote. This comprehensive evaluation will provide data on safety and patient-reported outcomes following StromaForte administration for musculoskeletal conditions.