Clinical Research Directory

Using BlazePod® for Pre-Season Screening of Lower Limb Injury Risk

Preventing lower limb injuries is a key concern in sports and physical activities. Even though injury prevention programs and pre-season screening have improved recently, these injuries still happen often. New technology might help improve traditional screening methods. The BlazePod® system offers a fresh, active way to assess function and train physical skills. This study aims to explore the link between the BlazePod® One-Leg Balance Activity (OLBA) test and the Y-Balance Test (YBT) in healthy young adults. Using kinematic analysis, we want to see if the OLBA test can serve as a preseason tool to predict ankle injuries. Participants will complete the YBT, the Weight-Bearing Lunge Test, and the OLBA test with the BlazePod® system, along with the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) and a sociodemographic questionnaire. We will record all tests using the Vicon T20S 3D motion capture system and analyze the data with MOKKA software. We expect to find a significant positive correlation between the average taps in the BlazePod® test and the combined YBT score. These results could show that the OLBA test with BlazePod® is a useful way to assess ankle injury risk.

Figure-of-eight Backward Walk Test in Elderly

Mobility is a fundamental element of healthy aging. Balance is a necessary function during mobility for all movements throughout life in elderly individuals. Falls due to balance disorders in elderly individuals cause a decrease in the quality of life. Studies in the literature indicate that 13% of individuals aged 65-69 experience falls, and this rate rises to 46% in individuals over 85. Lower extremity muscle volume and strength gradually decrease with aging. This decreased muscle strength directly impacts individuals' activities of daily living.Normal walking speed for elderly individuals is related to balance and overall health performance. However, walking assessments generally focus on walking activities in a forward direction and in a straight line. However, in daily life, we may need to sit on a chair, walk backward to navigate a narrow space, or change direction suddenly due to obstacles or environmental cues. Walking backward requires more complex motor control, and these gait training programs are known to be effective in improving balance and walking skills.Clinically, balance assessments in the elderly persons are commonly measured by using the TUG, 10-meter walk test, functional reach test, 4-square step test, and Berg balance scale. The methods used to assess balance are still not fully standardized. The best test for assessing dynamic balance and fall risk is still up for debate, especially when it comes to elderly individuals who live freely in the community. Further research is needed to determine whether lateral walking tests can identify those at high risk of falling in elderly adults. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability, validity, and minimal detectable change (MDC) of the Figure-of-8 backward walking test in healthy elderly adults.

Relationship Between Vertical Jump, Balance, Muscle Strength, Flexibility, and Foot Posture in Artistic Gymnasts

Artistic gymnastics is a highly demanding and technically complex sport that requires strength, flexibility, agility, balance, and coordination (Nassib et al., 2020). Gymnasts perform a series of dynamic movements, such as flips, turns, and somersaults, which require explosive muscular power and precise control (Potop et al., 2014). In this sport, jumping ability, balance, muscle strength, and flexibility are fundamental physical parameters that directly influence both movement quality and injury risk. Among these, jumping ability plays a particularly critical role by facilitating take-offs and aerial maneuvers, enabling gymnasts to generate the necessary height and momentum to perform complex routines effectively. Moreover, gymnasts with greater jump capacity are able to absorb landings more efficiently, thereby reducing injury risk and maintaining consistent performance throughout their routines (Feng et al., 2024; Geiblinger et al., 2025). Another essential parameter is balance-particularly dynamic balance, which can be defined as the body's ability to perceive and respond to postural changes that occur during motor activities. This involves maintaining the center of mass within the base of support, requiring a high level of neuromuscular activation. Dynamic balance is vital not only in sports but also in daily life activities such as walking, stair climbing, running, and sit-to-stand transitions. Its role in preventing injuries and enhancing athletic performance has been well established (Paillard, 2019; Dana et al., 2021). The Y-Balance Test (YBT), which measures dynamic balance in three directions-anterior (ANT), posterolateral (PL), and posteromedial (PM)-is commonly used in clinical and athletic settings. In clinical practice, a difference of less than 4 cm between limbs in each direction is considered normative. Lehr et al. (2013) reported in a study conducted among collegiate athletes that average YBT performance could serve as a predictor of future lower extremity injuries. From a biomechanical perspective, the foot represents the distal segment of the lower extremity kinetic chain. Any morphological changes or alterations in the weight-bearing alignment of the foot can influence balance control. Considering the critical role of the foot in stabilizing and modulating the kinetic chain, accurately assessing foot posture is essential. Postural characteristics such as high or low arches may impact balance capacity, jump performance, and the ability to attenuate forces during landing (Seyedahmadi et al., 2024). In light of this evidence, the primary aim of the present study is to examine the relationships between vertical jump performance, balance, muscle strength, flexibility, and foot posture in artistic gymnasts. Investigating these parameters comprehensively is expected to provide valuable insights from both scientific and clinical perspectives. Specifically, the study seeks to: Determine the relationship between vertical jump performance and lower extremity muscle strength, flexibility, and balance. Analyze the potential associations between foot posture and vertical jump, balance, and muscle strength. By addressing these objectives, the study aims to contribute to both guiding the design of training programs and reducing the risk of injury among gymnasts, thereby offering meaningful clinical implications. This is an observational, cross-sectional study. Participants will continue their regular gymnastics training routines without any intervention assigned by the investigators. Data collection will consist solely of measurements (vertical jump, balance, muscle strength, flexibility, and foot posture). No exercise program, treatment, or intervention will be applied as part of the study.

Effects of Plyometric Exercises in Female Fast Bowlers

Cricket is one of the most popular team sports in the world. Bowling action is an extremely skilled activity that has been developed over many years of practice. Physiological variables and an imbalance between the agonist and antagonist muscle groups are important risk factors for development in high skill bowlers. Exercises known as plyometric training use explosive motions to build muscle mass and improve aspects of physical fitness. Ballistic six plyometric exercises have been shown to improve performance in medium-paced cricket bowlers by increasing bowling velocity.This randomized controlled trial will be conducted in Pakistan Sports Board Lahore. This study will be completed in 10 months after the approval of synopsis. Non-probability convenient sampling technique will be used. Inclusion criteria will include female fast bowlers with age group between19 to 27years who are active team members of their respective leagues without the presence of injuries and whose composite score will be greater than 75 on star excursion balance scale will be included. Any participant post-elbow or shoulder surgery within one year of the study's pre-test or presenting with a history of elbow or shoulder injury or pain within one year of the study's pre-test will be excluded. The study will be conducted in two groups. Group A (14 players) will receive 8 weeks of upper and lower body plyometric exercises protocol. The session will last for 60 minutes and 3 times per week.10-15 mints warm up before plyometric exercises and 1-minute rest period is there between each exercise and each repetition and 3-5 minute for each set. Group B (14 players) will receive their standard exercise protocol. The session will last for 60 minutes and 3 times per week. Vertical jump test for lower extremity strength, 3-Hop test for lower extremity power and Star excursion balance test for dynamic balance is performed at the start of exercise protocol and in the end. After data collection data will be analyzed using statistical package for social sciences SPSS version 21.

Effect of Adding Blood Flow Restriction to Strengthening Exercise in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

To study the effect of adding BFRT to strengthening exercises and compare it with strengthening exercises alone in improving, muscular strength, pain, function, joint position sense, and dynamic balance test (star excursion test). in patients with PFPS.