Amornthep Jankaew

Background : The relationship between changes in physical function and quality of life in pancreatic cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy is not yet fully understood. This study aimed to examine the physical function trajectories and their relationship with the quality of life in these patients. Methods : A total of 273 patients with pancreatic cancer were recruited for this study. Three physical functional tests (maximum grip strength, 2-minute step test [2-MST], and timed up and go) were performed at baseline (before chemotherapy) and at 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months of chemotherapy. Quality of life was measured using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire. A linear mixed-effects model was used to detect changes in physical function over time and to assess associations among the primary outcomes. Results : The grip strength significantly decreased ( P = .005), whereas the number of 2-MST repetitions significantly increased ( P < .001) at 12 months of chemotherapy. Both outcomes were significantly correlated with the physical functioning domain (grip strength: P < .001, 2-MST: P < .001). However, only the 2-MST outcome was associated with the global health status domain ( P < .001). Conclusions : Patients with pancreatic cancer showed reduced grip strength and improved 2-MST performance at 12 months of chemotherapy. Both outcomes correlated with health-related quality of life. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring functional performance in pancreatic cancer patients using both tests, particularly during the early phases of chemotherapy, and offer valuable insights for the development of rehabilitation and supportive care strategies.

Background: Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) is associated with altered neuromuscular control of the lumbopelvic–hip complex (LPHC). However, the functional behavior of the transversus abdominis (TrA) and gluteus medius (GM) during upright postural tasks, with and without the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM), remains unclear. This study aimed to compare TrA and GM activation between individuals with NSLBP and asymptomatic controls during standing and single-leg stance using rehabilitation ultrasound imaging (RUSI). Methods: Thirty-two participants (16 with NSLBP and 16 asymptomatic controls) underwent RUSI assessment under four task conditions: standing and single-leg stance, with and without ADIM. Muscle function was quantified using thickness change derived from ultrasound measurements. A two-way mixed-model analysis of variance with Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc comparisons was performed. Results: Significant group × condition interactions were identified for TrA activation (p < 0.05). Individuals with NSLBP demonstrated reduced TrA activation during standing with ADIM and reduced GM activation during single-leg stance compared with asymptomatic controls. The effect sizes were moderate to large for TrA activation and small to moderate for GM activation. Conclusions: These findings suggest task-specific differences in neuromuscular activation patterns in individuals with NSLBP. Ultrasound-derived thickness change measures obtained during functional, weight-bearing tasks may provide clinically relevant information to support motor control rehabilitation strategies.

Hamstring strains result in alterations to muscle function; however, evidence regarding how these changes affect balance performance remains limited. This study investigated the impact of altered hamstring function on balance control in athletes with hamstring injuries. Thirty-two participants (16 injured hamstrings and 16 controls) participated in this study. Hamstring properties and strength were assessed to evaluate muscle function. Participants performed maximum lean forward in both single- and double-leg stances under eyes-closed and eyes-open conditions on a force platform. Then, the center of pressure was analyzed. Injured athletes exhibited higher hamstring stiffness ( P = .028) and decrement ( P = .019), and lower strength ( P = .024 at 0° and P = .005 at 90°). Also, they displayed a greater sway range in both the anteroposterior ( P = .029) and mediolateral directions ( P = .030), together with increased center of pressure velocity ( P = .019) and a larger sway area ( P = .020) during a forward lean task under eye-closed conditions. Significant associations were identified between hamstring function and balance control. These findings indicate that alterations in hamstring function following muscle strains contribute to impaired balance control. This factor should be considered in training and rehabilitation for athletes recovering from hamstring injuries.

Purposes: Cartilage thickness could be a significant biomarker for the early identification of knee osteoarthritis. However, reference data on cartilage thickness across various age groups are still lacking. Consequently, this study aims to establish reference values for cartilage thickness while examining differences related to sex and age groups. Methods: The study included 232 participants. Bilateral measurements of knee articular cartilage thickness were conducted using ultrasound (US) at three anatomical sites: the lateral femoral condyle, medial femoral condyle and intercondylar area. Three readings were taken per site by an experienced radiologist with expertise in musculoskeletal US. The mean cartilage thickness was calculated, and comparisons were performed between sexes using independent samples t ‐tests and across various age groups (young, middle‐aged, older adults and retirement age) using one‐way analysis of variance. Results: Male participants demonstrated significantly higher cartilage thickness than females across all examined locations, except the middle area of the right knee. Notable differences among age groups were seen in the right lateral ( p = 0.002) and medial ( p = 0.019) compartments, along with the left medial compartment ( p = 0.008). Analysis of the male subgroups indicated that those in the retirement age category exhibited greater cartilage thickness in the right lateral and medial compartments, as well as the left medial compartment, compared to other age groups. Conclusion: Males showed greater cartilage thickness than females across most knee areas. Additionally, age‐related variations in cartilage thickness were primarily observed in males, particularly in those of retirement age, while no significant age‐related differences were detected in females. These results underscore the importance of considering sex and age when evaluating knee cartilage health using US. Level of Evidence: Level III.

Background: The sit-to-stand (STS) task is a fundamental movement integral to daily activities and is widely used as a functional test to evaluate lower limb strength, balance, and postural control across various populations. However, limited literature provides biomechanical analysis comparisons between traditional double-leg STS tasks and single-leg STS tasks. Objective: This study aimed to compare muscle strength, movement times, and center of pressure (COP) variables across three STS conditions: single-leg STS on the dominant limb, single-leg STS on the non-dominant limb, and double-leg STS. Materials and methods: Twenty healthy participants (10 males and 10 females; 21.60±1.14 years old) participated in a cross-sectional study. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction of the knee extensors and hip abductors was assessed for both the dominant and non-dominant limbs. Participants performed the three STS testing conditions on the Zebris FDM pressure plate. Movement time and COP outcome variables (sway area, total path length, velocity, and path length in anteroposterior and mediolateral directions) were recorded and analyzed across the three STS tasks. A paired t-test was used to compare the means of the primary outcome variables within groups. A one-way repeated measures ANOVA was conducted to assess outcome differences among the testing conditions, with significance set at p<0.05. Results: Findings indicated no significant difference in knee extensor or hip abductor muscle strength between the dominant and non-dominant limbs. Movement times for the single-leg STS tasks on both limbs were significantly longer than for the double- leg STS task (p<0.001), with no difference between dominant and nondominant limbs. Additionally, COP variables (sway area, total path length, mean velocity, and mediolateral path length) were significantly lower in the single-leg STS tasks on both limbs compared to the double-leg STS task (all p<0.001), with no differences observed between dominant and non-dominant limbs. Conclusion: Compared to double-leg STS tasks, single-leg STS tasks are associated with longer movement times and reduced COP measures. These findings provide preliminary reference values for STS tasks and suggest that the single-leg STS may serve as a potentially useful tool for assessing balance impairments and functional mobility. Further research is required to validate its sensitivity in pathological populations.

This study aimed to investigate posterior chain muscle function and the influence of pointe shoes in ballet dancers with and without low back pain (LBP) in the Arabesque. Twenty-nine young professional ballet dancers (17 with LBP and 12 healthy controls) were recruited. Muscle strength and mechanical properties of the erector spinae and hamstrings were assessed. The displacement of centre of mass (COM) during Arabesque under different shoe conditions (R-class, Chacott, and own shoes) was measured with a motion capture system. The LBP group exhibited greater dynamic stiffness and decreased mechanical stress relaxation time in the lateral hamstring compared to the control group. During Arabesque, the LBP group demonstrated significantly greater anterior-posterior displacement of the COM and a larger percentage of time to achieve maximal trunk extension angle. The COM displacement in vertical and medial-lateral directions was smaller in the R-class than in their own shoes. LBP impacts muscle mechanical properties, particularly in the lateral hamstring. The compromised muscle function resulted in a longer time to spinal extension during Arabesque, signifying that reduced trunk control contributed to greater COM displacement. Hence, it is essential to emphasise that evaluating muscle properties and dynamic postural control is imperative for dancers experiencing LBP.