Biomedical subjects

Jill L Cook

Publications and source records attributed to Jill L Cook.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

The effect of topical wheatgrass cream on chronic plantar fasciitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy of a topical wheatgrass cream for improving pain and function in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: Eighty participants with chronic plantar fasciitis were randomly assigned to a treatment group (wheatgrass cream) or a control group (placebo cream). All participants applied a cream twice daily for 6 weeks. Follow up was conducted at 6 and 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for daily first-step pain and the Foot Health Status Questionnaire (FHSQ) for overall foot function. Secondary measures of foot posture, calf muscle strength and range of ankle dorsiflexion were also assessed. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between groups with respect to main outcomes of first-step pain or foot function at any time. Both groups improved significantly from baseline to 6 weeks, and these improvements were maintained at 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The topical application of wheatgrass cream is no more effective than a placebo cream for the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed2005

Is vascularity more evident after exercise? Implications for tendon imaging.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to investigate the effect of activity on tendon vascularity in 17 abnormal patellar tendons. CONCLUSION: Tendon vascularity is significantly increased by activity (p < 0.001). From this finding, we infer that imaging abnormal tendons with color Doppler sonography to detect neovascularization may be most useful after the patient exercises. Investigations to determine how much activity is necessary to ensure maximal vascularity is detected by Doppler sonography are required.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Neovascularization and pain in abnormal patellar tendons of active jumping athletes.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate tendon pain in abnormal patellar tendons with and without neovascularization. STUDY DESIGN: Comparative design. SETTING: Multidisciplinary tendon study group at a competitive volleyball venue. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred eleven volleyball players volunteered to participate in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjects' patellar tendons were imaged with ultrasound, with and without Doppler. Tendons that were imaging abnormal were categorized according the presence of tendon neovascularization. Subjects completed 3 pain scales that examined function (Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment score, 100-point maximum), pain with tendon load (decline squat, visual analogue scale, 100-mm maximum), and maximum pain for the previous week (visual analogue scale, 100-mm maximum). A 1-tailed Mann-Whitney U test compared pain scores in abnormal tendons without neovascularization to abnormal tendons with neovascularization. RESULTS: Functional scores were lower (Victorian Institute of Sport score, median, 78; P = 0.045) and pain scores under tendon load were greater (decline squat pain, median, 19; P = 0.048) in subjects with abnormal tendons with neovascularization than subjects with abnormal tendons without neovascularization (Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment score, median, 87; decline squat pain, median, 0). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the presence of neovascularization in abnormal patellar tendons is associated with greater tendon pain compared with abnormal tendons without neovascularization in active jumping athletes.

Athletic Injuries↗

PubMed2003

Rehabilitation of lower limb tendinopathies.

Tendon rehabilitation requires an extensive assessment, and identification of deficits that impact on sporting performance. Rehabilitation must address all these deficits and may take several months. Return to sport may require short- or long-term load modification. Surgery also requires a long recovery time, and may not guarantee a return to sport.

Adolescent↗