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Aim: ACL rupture is more common in females than in males. The injury can result in chondral and meniscal damage or chronic instability. Most often ACL rupture occurs during landing after throwing and jumping in ball sports. Many studies have reported on incidence, mechanism of injury and predisposing factors in professional athletes. In contrast, we have investigated the impact of mass sports on predisposing factors for the female ACL rupture., Method: In an empirical analytical study leg-axis dynamics, proprioception and foot load of 44 women participating either in regular mass sports or in no sports were investigated by video analysis and on the Biodex-Stability Platform., Results: Our study demonstrates that mass sports improves proprioception of the knee joint. Non-sportive subjects had an increased valgus leg axis during landing in comparison with mass sport participants., Conclusion: Here, we show to the best of our knowledge for the first time that moderate sports activity has a positive effect on predisposing factors of the female ACL rupture. We conclude that prevention programmes focussed on jumping and proprioception can lower the incidence of female ACL ruptures.

The purpose of this article was to assess functional gait outcome. Fifty-five patients with severely displaced intra-articular calcaneus fractures and soft tissue damage were evaluated prospectively with computerized dynamic pedography and a clinical scoring scale. The treatment protocol assigned 30 patients to open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) and 25 to closed reduction and stabilization with a biomechanically tested hinged external fixator. Gait parameter was evaluated by measuring plantar pressure distribution, length of a double-step, double-step duration, standing duration, effective foot length, and width of gait. Pedographic measurements were performed with a custom-made gait analysis system (medilogic Gangas, Berlin, Germany). Results were graded by an extended protocol of questionnaires and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot scales. Radiographs were reviewed according to the Sanders classification at the time of follow-up (7.3 years). All measurements were statistically analyzed (t test; Mann-Whitney U test). Aberrations were associated with all calcaneal fractures in both groups. Dynamic gait analysis showed gait asymmetry in all patients. The type of treatment (ORIF or a hinged fixator) of severely displaced calcaneus fractures did not affect gait analysis nor result in significantly different (P > .05) patient outcome scores. The gait analysis system allows a valid dynamic pedographic measurement. The hinged external fixator can be recommended in displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures with severe soft tissue damage to reduce complications associated with ORIF. ACFAS Level of Clinical Evidence: 2c.

Introduction: There are only a few studies about mountain-biking. These give a statistical review of injuries in recreational sports - sometimes related to competition sports. This study was performed to evaluate injuries, training and driving style of professional cross-country-mountain-biker., Methods: 49 professional mountain-bikers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland were interviewed retrospectively by standardised questionnaire., Results: Most commonly the cervical spine and knee (each with 25.7 %) as well as the lumbar spine (22.8 %) are affected by recurrent disorders (n = 101). These disorders are more common in the pre-season and at the end of the season. The most common fracture is the clavicula fracture (n = 15). Ligament and tendon injuries are less frequent (n = 3). Most drivers choose jogging and cross-country for compensation and stretching and massage for regeneration. A regular training for trunk strength accomplish 27 of 49 drivers. Most drivers accomplish a specific strength training in the pre-season, some drivers practise also during the season., Discussion: Recurrent disorders in the cervical and lumbar spine and the knee are the most common disorders in competitive mountainbikers. Trunk training should be emphasised. Further research is needed to improve driving technique to account for the reported disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Aim: The aim of the study was to examine the coordinative abilities of arthroplasty patients in comparison to age-matched healthy individuals with a special test profile. Furthermore, we wanted to evaluate the effect of a coordinative training program performed in the late period of rehabilitation on the patients' coordinative status., Methods: We measured the coordinative abilities of 75 arthroplasty patients and age-matched healthy individuals with a special test profile for arthroplasty patients. In a prospective study, the effect of a six-week comprehensive coordinative training program 3-6 months after implantation was evaluated for 56 patients. A test profile developed for this investigation served to evaluate the effect of the training on the coordinative abilities., Results: There are significant differences in the coordinative abilities between arthroplasty patients 3-6 months after implantation and age-matched healthy probands. The coordinative abilities can be improved significantly by special coordinative training., Conclusion: By means of our test profile, rehabilitation outcome with regard to motor coordination becomes measurable and rateable. The values of healthy individuals serve as a baseline. A classification of the motor coordination before and after rehabilitation is possible. In the late period of rehabilitation clear deficits remain. A special training can improve the motor coordination of patients with arthroplasties. The training program is regarded as an important and fundamental part of the rehabilitation.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to achieve injury situations in European team handball with a video based method., Methods: A video tape containing 59 injuries of an Olympic handball tournament were analyzed by two observers (sports-scientist, orthopaedic surgeon). The analysis was based on a method previously published by Teitz, which was developed to analyze ACL-injuries. The parameters body region, field position, contact/non-contact, offense/defense, field player/goal keeper were mainly used., Results: The most injuries were localized at the head (N = 20), the lower limb (N = 15), thorax and abdomen (N = 9) and the upper limb (N = 9). Concerning the field, the most injuries were in the midfield (N = 20), followed by the left (N = 13) and right (N = 9) outside position. The injured players were mostly in the offense (84 %), and in the majority of cases the field players were affected (97 %). 86 % of the injuries accomplished by contact., Conclusion: The head has a high risk, predominantly of contact injury. Contact-injuries could only be reduced by strict decisions of the referees. Non-contact injuries should be prevented by a special coordinative training.

Introduction: Fractures of the wrist and forearm are the most frequent injuries in Inline-Skating. Clinical experience has shown that these injuries can be prevented the use of wrist protectors. But various authors have shown that fractures can also occur despite the use of wrist protectors. Aim of this study was to examine different wrist protectors in a biomechanical set up., Method: A standardized trauma was simulated using an artificial hand with a certain weight. The forces with or without protective devices have been recorded by a force moment sensor. The results of different protectors have been compared., Results: A mean force of 956 N was measured without the use of a protective device. With the application of a wrist protector these forces were reduced between 4 and 20 %. The best values have been reached with models with a strong base plate., Conclusions: The results of the present study may explain the clinical observation that wrist and forearm fractures can occur despite the use of a wrist guard. The protective effect of a wrist protector depends highly on the model that is used.