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Knee osteoarthritis is highly prevalent in middle-aged and older people, and biomechanical interventions include modifications of the gait and activities of daily living (ADL). This study investigated the effects of gait and ADL modifications compared with conventional exercise for improving knee function in community-dwelling middle-aged and older people. Fifty middle-aged and older people were randomly allocated to the control ($n=22$) or intervention ($n=28$) groups. The control group performed conventional straight leg raising and knee joint range of motion exercises, and the intervention group modified their gait by decreasing the knee adduction moment and increasing hip muscle activities, and performed range of motion exercises in a bathtub. In both groups, the program was implemented for 12 weeks. The Japan knee OA measure score, walking speed, and hip abduction strength significantly improved in both the control and intervention groups. The health-related quality of life (Short Form 8: SF-8) was significantly improved in the intervention group compared with the control group. Gait and ADL modifications achieved effects similar to those of conventional knee joint exercise, and might be more effective for improving physical function-related quality of life.

The objective of this research is to study the effects of static resistance training of neck muscles on neck-type cervical spondylosis (NTCS) with upper cross syndrome (UCS). The NTCS patients with UCS were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group. The observation group was given conventional therapy plus static resistance training of neck muscles, while the control group was given conventional therapy plus ordinary cervical exercises. The scores of the visual analogue scale (VAS), neck disability index (NDI), and clinical assessment scale for cervical spondylosis (CASCS) and the cervical physiological curve were compared, and the overall efficacy was analyzed. After treatment, the VAS and NDI scores were lower in the observation group than in the control group. The cervical physiological curve was more significant in the observation group. The CASCS score was higher in the observation group than the control group after treatment. The observation group had obviously superior clinical efficacy. Therefore, in the treatment of NTCS with UCS, static resistance training of neck muscles can ameliorate the clinical symptoms of patients and restore the cervical physiological curve, with definite short-term efficacy, making it superior to ordinary cervical exercises, so it is worthy of clinical popularization.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of rehabilitation training combined with visual feedback balance training on motor functions in patients with knee injuries. Methods: A total of 80 patients with sports-related knee injuries from the outpatient and inpatient departments of Lishui City People’s Hospital were randomly divided into control and observation groups, with 40 patients in each group. The control group underwent rehabilitation training based on biomechanical principles, and the observation group underwent additional visual feedback balance training. Trunk control ability, limb motor function, and walking stability were compared between the two groups before, 1 month after, and 3 months after training. Results: After 1 month of training, the lower-limb function scores, trunk control ability scores in activities such as turning to the healthy side and the affected side on the bed, sitting and standing balance, and scores for Dynamic Gait Index and Berg balance scale were all higher in the observation group compared with the control group ($P<0.05$). After 3 months of training, the differences in scores between the two groups became more pronounced ($P<0.05$). Conclusions: Rehabilitation training based on biomechanical principles combined with visual feedback balance training effectively improved the limb motor function, enhanced the trunk control ability, and maintained the body balance and walking stability in patients with sports-related knee injuries. This study provided a more effective novel rehabilitation approach for the postoperative recovery of patients with knee injuries.

Background: Improving lower limb muscle strength is important in preventing progression of osteoarthritis (OA) and its symptoms. Exercise with branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation has been reported to affect protein anabolism in young and elderly persons. However, few studies provided daily BCAAs for patients with OA.

Objective: This study examined the effects of combined BCAAs and exercise therapy on physical function improvement in women with hip OA scheduled for total hip arthroplasty.

Methods: The subjects were 43 women with OA (age: 64.2$\pm$9.4). The participants were randomly divided into two groups: BCAA ($n=21$) and control ($n=22$). The combined therapy was carried out for one month. Exercise intervention involved hip abductor muscle exercise in both groups. For the nutritional intervention, 6g of BCAAs or 1.2g of starch were consumed within 10min before starting the exercise.

Results: There was a marginally significant difference in the main effect between the groups in 10-m timed gait time. The improvement rate in hip abductor muscle strength of the contralateral side was significantly greater in the BCAA group.

Conclusion: By combining BCAA intake and exercise therapy, a significant improvement in hip abductor muscle strength of the contralateral side was achieved in women with OA.

Background: Hamstring strain injuries remain a challenge for both athletes and clinicians given the high incidence rate, slow healing, and persistent symptoms. Increased tension in the neural structures is a known causative factor for hamstring tightness for which neural mobilization has emerged as a significant adjunct to routine stretching techniques.

Objective: To compare the short-term effects of neural sliding and neural tensioning on hamstring length in male recreational soccer players with hamstring tightness.

Methods: Sixty-two participants between ages 18 and 30 years were randomly assigned to one of the two groups viz. neural sliding or neural tensioning. Participants in either group performed the given stretching protocol in three sets. The Active Knee Extension Test (AKET) and Sit and Reach Test (SRT) were recorded before intervention, immediately after intervention, and after 60min. between- and within group-analysis was done using analysis of variance.

Results: Between-group analysis showed that neural tensioning was more effective than neural sliding in improving hamstring length on both measures, however this difference was negligible. Within-group analysis demonstrated that the mean post-test scores on the AKET test and SRT were significantly greater than the pre-test scores in both groups ($p<0.05$). A reduction in the post-test scores was observed after 60 min, irrespective of the type of stretching ($p<0.05$).

Conclusion: There was no difference in short-term effects of neural sliding or neural tensioning on hamstring flexibility in male recreational soccer players. Both groups showed improved flexibility immediately after the intervention with reduction in the effect after 60min.