Bagheria

Researchers are studying different warm-up methods in young competitive swimmers to see how they affect athletic performance. The focus is on Post-Activation Performance Enhancement PAPE, a technique thought to improve performance after short bursts of intense activity. The study compares three warm-up protocols added to the swimmers usual routine, measuring their impact on jump height and swim times over various distances. The study involves four groups one doing squats with elastic bands, one performing drop jumps from a box, one combining both exercises, and a control group that follows no special warm-up. Each exercise protocol has specific sets, repetitions, and recovery times to evaluate their effects. The squats use different resistance bands, while the drop jumps use a 45 cm box for plyometric training. Participants will undergo baseline assessments before warm-ups and repeated tests immediately after and up to 12 minutes later. Measurements include countermovement jump height, swim times, skin temperature, heart rate, muscle oxygen levels, and perceived exertion. The study uses a randomized design and statistical analysis to compare results, aiming to identify the most effective warm-up for young swimmers. The study will run from December 2025 to February 2026.

This research investigates how a limited range of motion in the ankle joint, specifically dorsiflexion of the tibio-talar joint, may affect recovery after knee replacement surgery. The study focuses on patients aged 65 to 85 years undergoing primary total knee replacement, aiming to understand if ankle joint deficits can limit full knee extension and overall motion recovery. Patients eligible for the study are assessed before surgery to measure ankle joint movement. Those with limited ankle dorsiflexion are placed in the exposed group, while others form the non-exposed group. The study is observational and tracks these patients during their treatment at the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, involving departments of orthopaedics and rehabilitation medicine. Participants will undergo joint movement measurements before surgery, with physiotherapists assessing both the ankle and knee while patients lie down. The main outcome is the range of motion of the knee joint, measured pre-operatively. The study will follow patients over time to observe how ankle movement limitations influence knee recovery after surgery, with data collected to guide future treatment approaches.