Introduction Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) are an integral part of evidence-based medicine and provide the necessary information for clinicians to make decisions in patient management. The Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score-Physical Function Short Form (KOOS-PS) was developed to assess patients’ perception of their knee’s function. Yet, there are cultural and language barriers, when implementing PROMs in a setting for which it was not originally designed, particularly in low-middle income countries with low levels of education. To address these challenges, the study introduces a video version of the KOOS-PS with the aim to validate it in a local setting. Methods This is a validation study of a video version of the KOOS-PS against various other knee scores. The KOOS-PS was converted into videos and a Likert scale in form of icons was used as grading system. The videos were reviewed by a panel for acceptance and comprehensibility. Second, the video score was tested in a prospective study against other internationally accepted and validated knee PROMs. Patients were recruited from both the public and private sectors of healthcare. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Cronbach’s Alpha were used for psychometric testing. Results The mean time taken to complete the video score was 79 seconds. Internal consistency received an excellent Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.89. Reproducibility received a Pearson Correlation Coefficient of r=0.91 which illustrates there was no significant difference. Pearson Correlation coefficients between the converted video score and other validated scores indicated high correlation. Conclusion This is the first validation study that converts a written PROM into a video format. The results show that the video score is reliable, acceptable, and valid, and can therefore be used in clinical practice.

No description available.

Thesis (PhD (Psychology) ) -- University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus) , 2010. / The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of Cumulative Mild Head Injury (CMHI) or concussion and Post-Concussive symptomatology of football players. For this purpose, a non-equivalent quasi experimental design of fifteen (15) professional football players and non-contact control group of fifteen (15) university volleyball players were assessed on 4 reaction time tasks and Post-Concussion Symptom questionnaire. The main findings of the study showed no significant difference on cognitive changes among football players and the control group. However, the two sample t-test, ANOVA and ANCOVA analysis in respect of both football players and the volleyball control group, provided significant results of a probability of CMHI or concussion on the CALCAP’s Sequential 1 Reaction Time Test. The study makes important theoretical and practical contributions to the understanding of Post-Concussion syndrome. The study suggests that some of the Post-Concussion symptoms persist after an initial concussion

Background: There is currently a lack of investigation of injuries in junior sport, compared to that of adult cohorts. Consequently, very few published studies have demonstrated the incidence of injuries among young participants of Australian football. The aim of this study was to determine the current rate of injury in junior Australian football, and describe the patterns and severity of these injuries across all levels of play, compared to those of McMahon et al. [1]. Methods: The Junior Australian Football Safety Study was completed during 2004 using teams from New South Wales and Victoria across nine levels of play (U9 to U18). Participation and injury data were collected prospectively from all games and training sessions by Primary Data Collectors. The region, nature and cause of injury were collected on injuries that were defined in accordance with a previous 1993 study. Injury severity was identified by the action of players immediately after the injury event. Results: Overall, 40,208 hours of exposure were recorded with an injury rate of 18.0 injuries per 1,000 player hours (95% CI=16.6-19.3). Hand/finger injuries were common among all players. The main causes of injury were body contact (67%), other contact (12%) and game movement (10%). There was an increase in the frequency of sprains and strains, and injury severity with level of play. Of the injuries where the player left the field of play, 63% were able to return to participation. The rates of injury for players who did not continue participation or were advised to seek further medical aid were low. Only 28% of all injured players were advised to seek medical treatment with few injuries taken to hospital (5%). Conclusion: An observed reduction of injury rate in the U15 level of play compared to a similar 1993 study (McMahon et al.), suggests that safe game development at the junior level is likely to have been effective over the past decade. Implications for future skill development include the introduction of incidental body contact skills with further ball-handling skill development in young players, and the introduction of proprioception exercises for players at higher levels of play.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 46-48). / vii, 48 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 105 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

The aim of the current study was to identify and describe the incidence and mechanism of injuries that occurred to judoka at a South African national tournament. Therefore the objectives of the study were to determine the following: To describe and compare the type and incidence of injuries occurring at a South African national championship in respect of three different age groups as well as gender; To describe and compare the types of mechanisms occurring at a South African national championship in respect of three different age groups as well as gender; To describe and determine the treatment methods used by judoka at a South African national championship. To determine and describe the training methods of judoka and the potential impact on incidence of injuries at the relevant national judo championship. To achieve the aims and objectives set out in the present study, the literature regarding injury incidence and mechanisms causing those injuries were reviewed along with other martial arts, in order for comparisons to be made within judo and other martial arts. To evaluate and describe injury in judo an exploratory-descriptive epidemiological approach was used in order to gather relevant data. The use of detailed questionnaires was used to capture information regarding physical preparation for the tournament along with a screening questionnaire that captured important data relating to injuries prior to competing in the South African national tournament. In order for the main aim of the study to be achieved an injury questionnaire was presented to all injured judoka who partook in the study at the tournament. This questionnaire captured critical information regarding the occurring injury and the mechanism responsible for the injury. Judoka sampled consisted of 141 judoka of which 110 were males and 31 were females. This sample size of judoka consisted of three age groups with each group representing a different age range. This allowed for the observation of more injuries but also allowed one to compare injuries obtained by younger judoka to that of older judoka. For the purposes of this study groups 4 (ages 14 to 16), 5 (ages 17 to 19) and 6 (ages 20 and older) were used. The reason for selecting these three age groups was due to the fact that they would be participating under international regulations with strangulations and armlocks allowed for in a fight. Group 4 consisted of 49 judoka; the smallest group studied was that of group 5 and consisted of 28 judoka with group 6 being the largest sampled group with 64 judoka. Of the 141 sampled judoka 103 injuries were recorded with males obtaining more injuries than that of female judoka. The results from the study were placed into table and graph formats and described via descriptive statistics. In order to explain the variation within groups inferential statistics as well as Cohen‟s d were utilised to determine both statistical and practical significances between the different age groups. When describing statistics via the use of frequency distribution tables, statistical significance was tested via Chi2 tests of independence, Cramér‟s V was utilized to determine practical significance. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was done to determine intra-group differences with the F statistic reported for significant findings as it reports the variance of group means. The present study found that male judoka within their respective age groups competed in judo for a longer duration than that of females, that the older the judoka was the greater the likelihood that the judoka would have competed for a longer duration of time at a provincial level of judo with group 5 and 6 having competed on a provincial level longer than that of group 4 judoka. Over a 12 month period judoka sustained almost four minor injuries and less than one major injury on average. Females on average were found to have sustained more minor injuries over a period of a year than that of males. The results indicate that only 37.9 percent of judoka compete with existing injuries with more males (40.0 percent) participating with an existing injury compared to that of females at 31.5 percent. The time spent training the various judo components was similar across all three age groups with a statistically significant differences (F (1,81) =4.216, p=.043) found between the genders of group 4 males and females with males practicing more ne-waza a week. On average time spent doing gym work was 177.39 minutes a month with males training for a longer duration 192.69 minutes a month than that of females. Group 5 judoka spent the greatest time in a month doing gym training at 201.35 minutes a month. A gender difference was noted in upper body strength training (F (1,81) = 4.12, p =.046). Males favoured upper body strength training compared to that of females. A total of 103 (73.0 percent) of the sample group were injured once or more. Group 4 judoka (age 16 to 17) had the highest injury incidence for incurring a injury at least once at 75.5 percent. The injury incidence for groups 5 (age 18 to 19) and 6 (age 20 + years) for incurring at least one injury was 71.4 percent and 50.0 percent respectively. The results indicate that 72.7 percent of males reported at least one injury compared to 74.2 percent of females. The present study found that the head and neck (42.7 percent) followed by the upper body (34.0 percent) to be the anatomical regions with the highest incidence of injury. The upper body anatomical site most frequently injured as expected was the shoulder joint at 11.7 percent with the knee, the lower body site with the greatest incidence of injury. Cuts (38.8 percent) accounted for the largest proportion of injuries with the most occurring injury to males being that of a cut (45.6 percent) and sprains (37.5 percent) for females. A statistically significant difference was found between the two genders in relation to the types of occurring injuries, with a moderate practical significance noticed (Chi2 (4) = 12.33, p = .015, V = 0.35). The major mechanisms of injury to the judoka was throwing / being thrown (35.5 percent) and impacts / collisions with other judoka (33.9 percent). These mechanisms of injury were also identified as the major mechanisms leading to injury in both genders. A total of 17.7 percent of fights were terminated due to injury with fewer males (14.5 percent) having fights terminated due to a serious injury compared to that of females (29.0 percent). A statistically significant difference was found between the two genders in relation to the termination of fights due to injuries with a small practical significance noticed with (Chi2(1) = 7.93, p = .005, V = 0.19). The most identified treatment at the tournament for judo was that of icing the injured area. Male judoka indicated 36.4 percent of injuries were treated with ice with females treating 36.0 percent of their injuries with ice. Males indicated that the return to the sport after becoming injured was less (0.75 weeks) than that of females (1.71 weeks) and a statistically significant difference was found between the genders and recovering from injury (F (1,81) = 4.22, p = .043, d = 0.41).

No description available.

The effect of a preseason conditioning program of balance and jump landing training exercises was studied to evaluate its influence on static and dynamic balance and the occurrence of ankle and knee injuries in Basketball. Fifty-eight female representative Basketball players (aged 9 – 17 years) were studied over one season. Twenty-nine of these players participated in a six week training program implemented during the preseason. Pre and post tests measured balance and injuries documented over one season. The experimental group’s static and dynamic balance improved significantly as measured by a stork stand test and a multiple single-leg hop-stabilisation test In a post hoc analysis of dynamic balance, participants in the 12 – 13 years experimental group performed significantly better on dynamic balance, whereas the 12 – 13 years control group performed poorest compared with all other age cohorts. The lower limb injury rate for the 29 experimental group participants was .78 injuries per 1 000 hours, while the control group sustained no lower limb injuries in the 2001 season, based on the injury definition utilised in the study. This finding was statistically significant although three of the four injuries sustained were contact injuries. The study findings indicate that appropriately defined balance training can be beneficial for improving balance ability in female Basketball players. Evidence was found in the study for the existence of a critical age when balance training should be introduced to maximise the benefit for young female adolescent Basketball players. / Master of Education (Hons)

The sample included 29 healthy competitive male distance runners. Bilateral measurements were taken for selected variables of the talocalcaneal flexibility by means of a mechanical goniometer, and of the peak isokinetic knee strength on a Cybex II device. The frontal and horizontal plane motions of the lower limbs of the subjects were recorded by high speed filming and videotaping while they were running on a motor driven treadmill at their training pace under two conditions: with running shoes and barefoot. A detailed description of each runner's history was obtained and bilateral dominance characteristics were determined. Significant functional asymmetries were found for subtalar joint flexibility (eversion, inversion, and eversion/inversion ratio) and peak isokinetic knee strength (flexion, extension, total, and flexion/extension ratio). Significant kinematic asymmetries were revealed during the foot support phase in lower leg angle, rearfoot angle, mediolateral velocity of the foot, and in some temporal parameters. The two running conditions differed significantly only for the pretouchdown phase of support. Significant trends of association were identified between selected components of the lower limb functional and kinematical asymmetries which were characterized by consistent laterality patterns. Multivariate asymmetry components and running injury patterns were independent. Only asymmetries in foot pronation during barefoot running tended to significantly differentiate between runners grouped by injury incidence. The phenomenon of functional and kinematic asymmetries in runners is warranted.