Intra-articular Hymovis injection for managing hip OA in active sportsmen. A 24-month observational retrospective clinical investigation

BackgroundHip Osteoarthitis (OA) risk is sport-specific and depends on frequency, intensity, and type of mechanic stress the hip is subjected to. This retrospective observational study aims to investigate the safety and performance of Hymovis (HYADD-4) injection, a hexadecyl (C-16) HA-derivative, when used to manage symptomatic hip OA in active middle-aged sportsmen over a 24-month observation period.MethodsThe retrospective analysis included clinical records of active sportsmen, aged between 40 and 65 years, and suffering from symptomatic Kellgren-Lawrence grade II to III hip OA, treated with two (24 mg/3 ml) Hymovis injections, two weeks apart, every 3–4 months, for two years. When available, data on MRI examination were included in the analysis as well as Heidelberg Sports Activity Score (HAS) and Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS) questionnaires.ResultsThirty patients (56.4 ± 7.3 years) were included in the study, sixteen cyclists and 14 tennis players. For all patients, HAS and most HAGOS scores improved significantly (p < 0.05) at the first control visit (4 months) and further improved over time. For all other scores an important clinical benefit was experienced by more than 50% of participants. No adverse events were recorded.ConclusionTreatment of hip OA in active sportsmen with Hymovis seems a safe and effective approach for the management of OA symptoms, by potentially protecting cartilage and subchondral bone from further damage.     

The psychology behind doping in sport

Drugs and methods to improve physical performance among athletes have been used since the beginning of sport history, but the use of performance enhancing drugs has not always been regarded as cheating. In short, the motives for doping are improving and maintaining physical functioning, coping with the social/psychological pressures and striving for social and psychological goals, including economic benefits. Factors such as, “doping dilemma”, “win at all costs”, cost versus benefit, and the specificity of some specific doping agents, also play major roles. It seems that action on the athletes′ attitude about the achievement of physical improvement and creating effective methods to reveal the drug abuse, are two main ways in winning the struggle against doping.     

A pilot study using magnetic resonance imaging to determine the pattern of muscle group recruitment by rowers with different levels of experience

Objective. To determine whether it was possible using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to define the pattern of muscle recruitment in a specific sport (rowing) and to see whether there were differences in this pattern between athletes of different experience. Design and method. It has been shown that during vigorous exercise the water content of muscle increases transiently. This can be observed using MRI, where the prolonged T2 relaxation time of muscle can be demonstrated. In this study we have exploited the increase in signal seen in exercised muscle on short TI inversion recovery (STIR) sequences, to show how rowers of different experience use different muscle groups. Results.We have shown that trained athletes recruit selected muscle groups to carry out a given task, which they carry out more efficiently than untrained or less experienced athletes. Conclusion.We have provided the basis of potential research to refine training methods, in order to develop specific muscle groups in athletes, in the hope of achieving a higher level of performance at an earlier stage in their training. We have also defined a technique that may be of clinical value in cases of muscle dysfunction. Received: 13 September 1999 Revision requested: 19 November 1999 Revision received: 30 December 1999 Accepted: 4 January 2000