Athletic Injury

Researchers are investigating the relationship between functional measures of balance and gait and objective kinetic and kinematic parameters in people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This cross-sectional observational study aims to understand how biomechanical gait and balance data collected through the Vicon motion analysis system relate to clinical assessments of balance, gait, and physical performance. The study seeks to identify which biomechanical factors are most closely linked to functional abilities and mobility challenges in MS. Participants will attend a single laboratory session where they will undergo biomechanical analysis of balance and gait using the Vicon motion capture system. They will also complete standardized functional tests including the Mini Balance Evaluation Systems Test, Functional Gait Assessment, Short Physical Performance Battery, and a 2-Minute Walk Test. Additionally, they will fill out questionnaires assessing fear of falling and fatigue and have their lower-limb spasticity evaluated with the modified Ashworth Scale. During the session, which takes about 40 minutes for the primary kinetic and kinematic analysis and additional time for functional assessments, researchers will collect detailed movement data alongside clinical measures. This data will be analyzed to explore correlations between biomechanical parameters and functional outcomes. The study includes assessments of postural control, gait performance, physical endurance, fatigue, and spasticity. The findings aim to improve understanding of movement impairments in MS and support better clinical assessments and rehabilitation approaches.

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 repair's 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 compare two surgical methods for treating hip labral tears, a condition affecting the cartilage around the hip joint. The study focuses on patients with femoroacetabular impingement and traumatic labral tears to evaluate which treatment may lead to better hip function and pain relief. The trial is a randomized, double-blind comparison conducted by Ain Shams University. Participants will undergo hip arthroscopy under general anesthesia, where surgeons will use two portals to access the hip joint under fluoroscopic guidance. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive either arthroscopic labral repair, which uses suture anchors to fix the tear, or arthroscopic labral debridement, which involves removing damaged tissue using electrocautery. Both procedures address any labral, cartilage, or bony issues present during surgery. Participants' hip function and pain levels will be assessed before surgery and at 1, 3, and 6 months, as well as at 1 year after the procedure, using the Hip Outcome Score, Harris Hip Score, and Visual Analog Scale. These evaluations will help measure changes in hip function and pain over time. The study follows patients for a total of one year after surgery to monitor recovery and outcomes.

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 intervention's 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.

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 I/IIa study is evaluating the safety of a human allogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cell product called StromaForte in patients with musculoskeletal injuries and/or 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.