Shalini Chauhan, Taulant Muka, Sachal Sadiq Najaf
et al.
Abstract Introduction Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is among the most prevalent endocrine disorders in women. Yoga has been suggested to affect hormonal and metabolic pathways, with implications for PCOS. To systematically review the effect of yoga on Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), androgen level, and metabolic parameters in women with PCOS. Methods The search was carried out in Scopus, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Trials, and Clinical Trials to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Females with confirmed diagnoses (Rotterdam criteria), undergone yoga intervention were included to explore its effects on AMH, androgen levels, and metabolic parameters. The Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2) was used to assess the risk of bias. Due to the limited number of included studies and data heterogeneity, a meta-analysis was not performed; However, descriptive summaries of included studies are presented. Results Five publications were included; however, three were identified as linked reports from a single clinical trial. Consequently, the review represents data from 258 unique participants. Only one reported result for AMH level with a mean difference and (95% CI) of changes of -2.03 ng/mL (-4.08 to 0.02), testosterone level, -8.61 ng/dL (-21.80 to 4.58), LH level -7.10 mIU/mL (-12.26 to -1.93), FSH 0.08 mIU/mL (-1.52 to 1.36). Two studies showed a mean difference and (95% CI) of changes for FBG level -4.50 mg/dL (-6.61 to -2.39) and -4.90 mg/dL (-12.34 to 2.54). Three studies showed a low risk of bias, one study had a moderate risk, and one exhibited a high risk of bias. Conclusion The present review suggests that yoga may influence AMH level, androgen level, and insulin levels in PCOS; the evidence is limited, but it is still recommended to have robust RCTs on the long-term effect of yoga on PCOS. The visual presentation of the current systematic review is presented in Fig. 3. Trial registration PROSPERO Trial Registration number: ID: CRD42022342913 (10/07/2022).
Dev Sanskriti: Interdisciplinary International Journal, published by Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar, continues to uphold its founding vision—to serve as a platform for research on interdisciplinary subjects grounded in indigenous Indian knowledge systems, with a focus on harmonizing science and spirituality. Rooted in the inspiration of Yugrishi Pandit Shri Ram Sharma Acharya, the journal remains committed to fostering insightful scholarship that contributes meaningfully to individual upliftment and societal transformation.
The current issue features a diverse array of contributions spanning yogic science, philosophy, and Ayurvedic clinical practices—each offering unique insights into ancient Indian wisdom adapted for contemporary relevance.
The first research article by Chinmay Pandya and Jana Koci explores the cultural, historical, and linguistic connections between India and the Czech Republic. Drawing on shared Indo-European roots, historical struggles for freedom, and traditions in festivals and folk arts, the study highlights how both nations embody resilience, moral values, and humanistic principles, fostering cross-cultural bridges through education, craftsmanship, and soft power.
The second research article by Amrita Sharma and Chinmay Pandya examines the effect of Pragya Yoga as a holistic practice on psychological well-being in young adults aged 18-25. Through a pre-post intervention with a control group using the PGI General Well-Being Measure, the findings reveal significant improvements in emotional regulation, self-image, and overall well-being, with notable effect sizes across genders, underscoring Pragya Yoga's potential as a culture-specific mental health resource.
The third article, a perspective written in Hindi by Varsha Singh and Gayatri Gurvendra offers an analytical reflection on the Pragyayog Sadhana Protocol for holistic health as an Indian solution to global problems. It integrates elements of Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga, and Bhakti Yoga into a daily routine accessible to all ages, emphasizing how physical, mental, and emotional well-being can lead to societal and global harmony, drawing from Vedic and Upanishadic principles.
The fourth article, a perspective by Upasana Sureshbhai Pawar and Yogita Baburao Mandle, presents an understanding of Vedanta Darshan and its conceptual comparison to Ayurveda. It delves into the schools of Vedanta (Advaita, Vishishtadvaita, Dvaita) and their alignment with Ayurvedic goals of moksha through purification of body, mind, and soul, highlighting the role of sattvic ahara and practices like self-inquiry in achieving holistic well-being and spiritual liberation.
The fifth article by Vineet Kumar, Prashant C. Patil, and Parvathy Sreekumar discusses insights into Arishta Lakshanas with respect to Panchindriya. This review correlates Ayurvedic signs of impending death—linked to sensory organs and Dosha imbalances—with modern medical indicators like death rattle and agonal breathing, emphasizing the prognostic value of these ancient observations in contemporary clinical practice.
We express our deep appreciation to all reviewers and contributors for their scholarly dedication and valuable efforts. We hope this issue will encourage deeper engagement with indigenous knowledge systems and inspire further academic inquiry in the fields of yoga, Ayurveda, philosophy, and allied disciplines.
We welcome feedback and suggestions from our readers to continue improving the journal as a meaningful platform for interdisciplinary research rooted in Indian traditions. Enjoy reading and enrich yourself. Have a wonderful year ahead!
Nadia Hassan Abd-Elhameed, Heballah Mohammed Kamal, Mai Elsayed Abbass
Abstract Background The core stability program is commonly utilized as an intervention method to improve postural control. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of core stability exercises on upper limb reaching in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy (CP). For this purpose, 30 hemiparetic CP children of both sexes were recruited for the study. The children were between the ages of 4 and 6. According to the modified Ashworth scale (MAS), the degree of spasticity varied from 1 to 1 + , and for children who were selected, the average Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS) ranged from 25 to 42. Children were assigned into two groups at random (study group and control group). The pediatric reach test (PRT) was used to assess each child both before and after two consecutive months of therapy. The children in both groups received the same program of selected physical therapy exercises, but the children in the study group also performed the selected physical therapy program in addition to the core stability exercises. Results By comparing the mean values of all assessed variables before and after therapy, both groups improved significantly (p = 0.0001). When comparing post-treatment outcomes, there were significant differences between the control and study groups in all assessed variables (p = 0.0001) in favor of the study group. Conclusion Core stability exercises may be used to improve reaching in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy. Trial registration This study was authorized by the Faculty of Physical Therapy’s ethics committee under the number “REC/012/003125” and registered in ClinicalTrial.gov with the number “NCT05316090” on 9 April 2022 retrospectively.
We present an explicit solution to the discrete-time Bellman equation for minimax optimal control of positive systems under unconstrained disturbances. The primary contribution of our result relies on deducing a bound for the disturbance penalty, which characterizes the existence of a finite solution to the problem class. Moreover, this constraint on the disturbance penalty reveals that, in scenarios where a solution is feasible, the problem converges to its equivalent minimization problem in the absence of disturbances.
The digitization of healthcare presents numerous challenges, including the complexity of biological systems, vast data generation, and the need for personalized treatment plans. Traditional computational methods often fall short, leading to delayed and sometimes ineffective diagnoses and treatments. Quantum Computing (QC) and Quantum Machine Learning (QML) offer transformative advancements with the potential to revolutionize medicine. This paper summarizes areas where QC promises unprecedented computational power, enabling faster, more accurate diagnostics, personalized treatments, and enhanced drug discovery processes. However, integrating quantum technologies into precision medicine also presents challenges, including errors in algorithms and high costs. We show that mathematically-based techniques for specifying, developing, and verifying software (formal methods) can enhance the reliability and correctness of QC. By providing a rigorous mathematical framework, formal methods help to specify, develop, and verify systems with high precision. In genomic data analysis, formal specification languages can precisely (1) define the behavior and properties of quantum algorithms designed to identify genetic markers associated with diseases. Model checking tools can systematically explore all possible states of the algorithm to (2) ensure it behaves correctly under all conditions, while theorem proving techniques provide mathematical (3) proof that the algorithm meets its specified properties, ensuring accuracy and reliability. Additionally, formal optimization techniques can (4) enhance the efficiency and performance of quantum algorithms by reducing resource usage, such as the number of qubits and gate operations. Therefore, we posit that formal methods can significantly contribute to enabling QC to realize its full potential as a game changer in precision medicine.
Abstract Background The previous effects of acupuncture-related interventions in improving chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) symptoms and quality of life (QoL) remain unclear in terms of pairwise comparisons. Aims This systematic review and network meta-analysis aimed to determine the hierarchical effects of acupuncture-related interventions on symptoms, pain, and QoL associated with CIPN in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods Nine electronic databases were searched, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, EBSCO, Medline Ovid, Airiti Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Journal full-text database (CJFD), and Wanfang. Medical subject heading terms and text words were used to search for eligible randomized controlled trials published from database inception to May 2023. Results A total of 33 studies involving 2,027 participants were included. Pairwise meta-analysis revealed that acupuncture-related interventions were superior to usual care, medication, or dietary supplements in improving CIPN symptoms, CIPN pain, and QoL. Furthermore, network meta-analysis indicated that acupuncture plus electrical stimulation (acupuncture-E) had the greatest overall effect among the various interventions. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) revealed that acupuncture-E ranked the highest in improving CINP symptoms. Acupuncture alone was most effective in reducing CIPN pain, and acupuncture plus moxibustion (acupuncture-M) ranked highest in enhancing QoL. Conclusion This finding suggests that acupuncture-related interventions can provide patients with benefits in improving CIPN symptoms, pain, and QoL. In particular, acupuncture-E could be the most effective approach in which the provided evidence offers diverse options for cancer patients and healthcare professionals. Implication for the profession and/or patient care These findings provide valuable insights into the potential benefits of acupuncture-related interventions for managing symptoms, pain, and QoL associated with CIPN in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Among the various interventions studied, overall, acupuncture-E had the most significant impact and was effective for a minimum duration of 3 weeks. On the other hand, transcutaneous electrical acupoint/nerve stimulation (TEAS) was identified as a noninvasive and feasible alternative for patients who had concerns about needles or the risk of bleeding. It is recommended that TEAS interventions should be carried out for a longer period, preferably lasting 4 weeks, to achieve optimal outcomes. Trial registration The study protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews. Registration Number: CRD42022319871.
Ignacio Roldan, Andras Palffy, Julian F. P. Kooij
et al.
The detection of multiple extended targets in complex environments using high-resolution automotive radar is considered. A data-driven approach is proposed where unlabeled synchronized lidar data is used as ground truth to train a neural network with only radar data as input. To this end, the novel, large-scale, real-life, and multi-sensor RaDelft dataset has been recorded using a demonstrator vehicle in different locations in the city of Delft. The dataset, as well as the documentation and example code, is publicly available for those researchers in the field of automotive radar or machine perception. The proposed data-driven detector is able to generate lidar-like point clouds using only radar data from a high-resolution system, which preserves the shape and size of extended targets. The results are compared against conventional CFAR detectors as well as variations of the method to emulate the available approaches in the literature, using the probability of detection, the probability of false alarm, and the Chamfer distance as performance metrics. Moreover, an ablation study was carried out to assess the impact of Doppler and temporal information on detection performance. The proposed method outperforms the different baselines in terms of Chamfer distance, achieving a reduction of 75% against conventional CFAR detectors and 10% against the modified state-of-the-art deep learning-based approaches.
We develop a switched predictor-feedback law, which achieves global asymptotic stabilization of linear systems with input delay and with the plant and actuator states available only in (almost) quantized form. The control design relies on a quantized version of the nominal predictor-feedback law for linear systems, in which quantized measurements of the plant and actuator states enter the predictor state formula. A switching strategy is constructed to dynamically adjust the tunable parameter of the quantizer (in a piecewise constant manner), in order to initially increase the range and subsequently decrease the error of the quantizers. The key element in the proof of global asymptotic stability in the supremum norm of the actuator state is derivation of solutions' estimates combining a backstepping transformation with small-gain and input-to-state stability arguments, for addressing the error due to quantization. We extend this result to the input quantization case and illustrate our theory with a numerical example.
Group dance, a sub-genre characterized by intricate motions made by a cohort of performers in tight synchronization, has a longstanding and culturally significant history and, in modern forms such as cheerleading, a broad base of current adherents. However, despite its popularity, learning group dance routines remains challenging. Based on the prior success of interactive systems to support individual dance learning, this paper argues that group dance settings are fertile ground for augmentation by interactive aids. To better understand these design opportunities, this paper presents a sequence of user-centered studies of and with amateur cheerleading troupes, spanning from the formative (interviews, observations) through the generative (an ideation workshop) to concept validation (technology probes and speed dating). The outcomes are a nuanced understanding of the lived practice of group dance learning, a set of interactive concepts to support those practices, and design directions derived from validating the proposed concepts. Through this empirical work, we expand the design space of interactive dance practice systems from the established context of single-user practice (primarily focused on gesture recognition) to a multi-user, group-based scenario focused on feedback and communication.
Excellence in a wide variety of medical applications poses considerable challenges for AI, requiring advanced reasoning, access to up-to-date medical knowledge and understanding of complex multimodal data. Gemini models, with strong general capabilities in multimodal and long-context reasoning, offer exciting possibilities in medicine. Building on these core strengths of Gemini, we introduce Med-Gemini, a family of highly capable multimodal models that are specialized in medicine with the ability to seamlessly use web search, and that can be efficiently tailored to novel modalities using custom encoders. We evaluate Med-Gemini on 14 medical benchmarks, establishing new state-of-the-art (SoTA) performance on 10 of them, and surpass the GPT-4 model family on every benchmark where a direct comparison is viable, often by a wide margin. On the popular MedQA (USMLE) benchmark, our best-performing Med-Gemini model achieves SoTA performance of 91.1% accuracy, using a novel uncertainty-guided search strategy. On 7 multimodal benchmarks including NEJM Image Challenges and MMMU (health & medicine), Med-Gemini improves over GPT-4V by an average relative margin of 44.5%. We demonstrate the effectiveness of Med-Gemini's long-context capabilities through SoTA performance on a needle-in-a-haystack retrieval task from long de-identified health records and medical video question answering, surpassing prior bespoke methods using only in-context learning. Finally, Med-Gemini's performance suggests real-world utility by surpassing human experts on tasks such as medical text summarization, alongside demonstrations of promising potential for multimodal medical dialogue, medical research and education. Taken together, our results offer compelling evidence for Med-Gemini's potential, although further rigorous evaluation will be crucial before real-world deployment in this safety-critical domain.
Extracting medication names from handwritten doctor prescriptions is challenging due to the wide variability in handwriting styles and prescription formats. This paper presents a robust method for extracting medicine names using a combination of Mask R-CNN and Transformer-based Optical Character Recognition (TrOCR) with Multi-Head Attention and Positional Embeddings. A novel dataset, featuring diverse handwritten prescriptions from various regions of Pakistan, was utilized to fine-tune the model on different handwriting styles. The Mask R-CNN model segments the prescription images to focus on the medicinal sections, while the TrOCR model, enhanced by Multi-Head Attention and Positional Embeddings, transcribes the isolated text. The transcribed text is then matched against a pre-existing database for accurate identification. The proposed approach achieved a character error rate (CER) of 1.4% on standard benchmarks, highlighting its potential as a reliable and efficient tool for automating medicine name extraction.
Luuk Poort, Lars A. L. Janssen, Bart Besselink
et al.
This paper introduces the concept of abstracted model reduction: a framework to improve the tractability of structure-preserving methods for the complexity reduction of interconnected system models. To effectively reduce high-order, interconnected models, it is usually not sufficient to consider the subsystems separately. Instead, structure-preserving reduction methods should be employed, which consider the interconnected dynamics to select which subsystem dynamics to retain in reduction. However, structure-preserving methods are often not computationally tractable. To overcome this issue, we propose to connect each subsystem model to a low-order abstraction of its environment to reduce it both effectively and efficiently. By means of a high-fidelity structural-dynamics model from the lithography industry, we show, on the one hand, significantly increased accuracy with respect to standard subsystem reduction and, on the other hand, similar accuracy to direct application of expensive structure-preserving methods, while significantly reducing computational cost. Furthermore, we formulate a systematic approach to automatically determine sufficient abstraction and reduction orders to preserve stability and guarantee a given frequency-dependent error specification. We apply this approach to the lithography equipment use case and show that the environment model can indeed be reduced by over 80\% without significant loss in the accuracy of the reduced interconnected model.
Vinicius de Moraes Alves, Amanda Gilvani Cordeiro Matias
Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, realizado com base na análise secundária de informações disponíveis no Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade (SIM), período de 2010 a 2020, no estado da Bahia. O objetivo foi analisar as Declarações de Óbito (DO) por causas não-externas emitidas pelos Institutos Médico-Legais (IML) da Bahia. A análise dos dados foi realizada mediante utilização dos softwares Tabwin e o Microsoft Office Excel, pelo qual os dados foram tabulados. As declarações de óbito emitidas pelos IML do Estado, totalizaram 159.157, sendo 36.196 (≅23%) por causas não-externas, cuja maioria foram registradas na cidade de Salvador atingindo ≅ 22%. O perfil desses óbitos era de pessoas idosas, cujas causas mais prevalentes foram desconhecidas, cardiovasculares e respiratórias, respectivamente. Suas possíveis causas são reflexos de diversas origens, como a ausência de Serviço de Verificação de Óbitos, aspectos da formação médica no Brasil e estrutura policial, por exemplo, gerando uma cascata de transtornos aos IML, familiares do falecido e para o serviço público. Mortes naturais, as quais deveriam ter a sua DO emitida pelos médicos assistentes, substitutos ou pelos Serviço de Verificação de Óbitos, vêm sendo sistematicamente direcionadas aos IML da Bahia. Sugere-se a ampliação da implantação de Serviço de Verificação de Óbitos, aliado as adequações no ensino médico, no que tange aos aspectos deontológicos e éticos que contemplem melhor confluência, para desenvolvimento de habilidades, competências e responsabilidades, relativas as normativas do exercício profissional do médico, nos diferentes serviços públicos que lidam com ato prescritivo do óbito.
Miscellaneous systems and treatments, Public aspects of medicine
Abstract Introduction Allergic rhinitis is a global health problem that can potentially be managed through acupressure. Our clinical observations have identified Allergic Rhinitis Acupressure Therapeutic (ARAT) as a novel acupressure treatment acting on specific acupoints, which may enhance the effectiveness of acupressure. Therefore, we propose a three-arm randomized controlled trial will be conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of ARAT for perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR). Methods/design In this trial, eligible 111 participants diagnosed with PAR will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: the ARAT group, the non-specific acupoints group, or the blank control group. The primary outcome will be the change in the total nasal symptom score, and the secondary outcomes will include: 1) changes in the scores of the standard version of Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQs); 2) acoustic rhinometry and anterior rhinomanometry; 3) changes in the scores of relief medication usage; 4) incidence of adverse events. Additionally, we will measure and compare the changes in cytokine levels (IL-5, IL-13, IFN-γ, and TSLP) in nasal secretions. The RQLQs and primary outcomes will be assessed at the beginning, middle, and end stages of the treatment period, with monthly follow-ups conducted over a total of three months. The secondary outcomes and biomarkers in nasal secretions will be measured at the beginning and end of the treatment period. Any adverse events or need for rescue medication will be carefully noted and recorded. Discussion This study may produce a new acupressure treatment prescription that is easy to learn, more targeted, and adaptable. This trial represents the first clinical investigation comparing ARAT treatment for PAR with the non-specific acupoints group and blank control group. Our data is expected to provide evidence demonstrating the safety and efficacy of ARAT for PAR patients, while also exploring the functional mechanism underlying ARAT treatment, moreover, the results offer valuable insights for healthcare professionals in managing PAR symptoms. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2300072292. Registered on June 08, 2023.
Thomas Schwierz, Rajkumar Palaniappan, Oleksii Molodchyk
et al.
The integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) into the electrical grid causes various challenges in the distribution grids. The complexity of smart grids as multi-domain energy systems requires innovative architectures and algorithms for system control. While these solutions are good on paper, several testing methods are required to test the applicability of components, functions and entire systems to the existing energy grids. In this paper, a full-scale low-voltage test setup in the Smart Grid Technology Lab (SGTL) at TU Dortmund University is used to evaluate the capability of an Optimal Power Flow Algorithm (OPF) to support voltage control, congestion management, and to provide redispatch to the higher grid levels. While conventional redispatch is commonly done preemptively, this paper analyses the possibility of providing redispatch to the higher voltage levels without taking the future grid state into consideration. The importance of this implementation is that the smart grid application used to execute the OPF is configured based on IEC 61850 data models, making the software independent of the hardware. Such standardised control algorithms are interoperable and can be implemented on any hardware that suits the requirements.
David Fiedler, Michal Čertický, Javier Alonso-Mora
et al.
Mobility-on-demand (MoD) systems consist of a fleet of shared vehicles that can be hailed for one-way point-to-point trips. The total distance driven by the vehicles and the fleet size can be reduced by employing ridesharing, i.e., by assigning multiple passengers to one vehicle. However, finding the optimal passenger-vehicle assignment in an MoD system is a hard combinatorial problem. In this work, we demonstrate how the VGA method, a recently proposed systematic method for ridesharing, can be used to compute the optimal passenger-vehicle assignments and corresponding vehicle routes in a massive-scale MoD system. In contrast to existing works, we solve all passenger-vehicle assignment problems to optimality, regularly dealing with instances containing thousands of vehicles and passengers. Moreover, to examine the impact of using optimal ridesharing assignments, we compare the performance of an MoD system that uses optimal assignments against an MoD system that uses assignments computed using insertion heuristic and against an MoD system that uses no ridesharing. We found that the system that uses optimal ridesharing assignments subject to the maximum travel delay of 4 minutes reduces the vehicle distance driven by 57 % compared to an MoD system without ridesharing. Furthermore, we found that the optimal assignments result in a 20 % reduction in vehicle distance driven and 5 % lower average passenger travel delay compared to a system that uses insertion heuristic.
Kanghong Shi, Nastaran Nikooienejad, Ian R. Petersen
et al.
In this paper, we propose a new approach to address the control problem for negative imaginary (NI) systems by using hybrid integrator-gain systems (HIGS). We investigate the single HIGS of its original form and its two variations, including a multi-HIGS and the serial cascade of two HIGS. A single HIGS is shown to be a nonlinear negative imaginary system, and so is the multi-HIGS and the cascade of two HIGS. We show that these three types of HIGS can be used as controllers to asymptotically stabilize linear NI systems. The results of this paper are then illustrated in a real-world experiment where a 2-DOF microelectromechanical system nanopositioner is stabilized by a multi-HIGS.
Emergency care is a critical area of medicine whose outcomes are influenced by the time, availability, and accuracy of contextual information. The success of critical or emergency care is determined by the quality and accuracy of the information received during the emergency call and the data collected during emergency transportation. The Internet of Things (IoT) consists of many smart devices and components that communicate via their connection to the Internet, which is used to collect data with sensors that obtain personal health parameters. In the past, most health measurement systems were based on a single dedicated orientation, and few systems had multiple devices on the same platform. In addition to traditional health measurement technologies, most such systems use centralized data transmission, which means that health measurement data have become the exclusive intellectual asset of the system developer. Therefore, this study develops an IoT-based message-broker system that is deployed and demonstrated for five health devices: blood oxygen, blood pressure, forehead temperature, body temperature, and body weight sensors. A central controller accessed by radio-frequency identification (RFID) collects clients’ health profiles on the cloud platform. All collected data can be quickly shared, analyzed, and visualized, and the health devices can be changed, added to, and removed reliably when the requirements change. Additionally, following the message queuing telemetry transport (MQTT) protocol, all devices can communicate with each other and be integrated into a higher-level health measurement standard (such as blood pressure plus weight or body temperature plus blood oxygen). We implement a smart healthcare monitoring system (SHMS) and verify its reliability. We use MQTT to establish an open communication format that other organizations can follow to perform individual patient vital sign monitoring in potential applications. The robustness and flexibility of this research can be verified through the addition of other systems. Through this structure, more large-scale health detection devices can be integrated into the method proposed in this research in the future. Personal RFID or health insurance cards can be used for personal services or in medical institutions, and the data can easily be shared through the mechanism of this research. Such information sharing will enable the utilization of medical resources to be maximized.
Medical emergencies. Critical care. Intensive care. First aid
Georgios Kalifis, Theodorakys Marín Fermín, Vasilios Raoulis
et al.
Introduction: Meniscal tears in professional soccer players, may lead to decreased game time and potentially affect their career and quality of life in the long term. Advancements in surgical techniques and increased duration of many elite soccer players’ career may necessitate re-evaluation of the treatment strategies. Objectives: To review the current literature regarding surgical management of meniscal tears in professional soccer players. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed has been conducted. Studies in English, reporting results of surgical management of meniscal tears or meniscal deficiency in professional soccer players were included. Studies not mentioning return to play (RTP), not examining professional soccer players or not published in English were excluded. Results: Following meniscus repair, an 82% to 90% RTP is reported. Mean time to RTP has been reported from 4.3 to 5.5 months. The outcomes of a single study reporting partial meniscectomy results in professional soccer athletes were 100% RTP at a mean of 1.5 months. Successful results with RTP 92.3 to 100% after salvage procedures such as meniscal allograft transplantation or collagen meniscal implant has been reported, Mean time to RTP stood at 10 to 11.8 months. In addition, knee osteoarthritis is more common after lateral meniscectomy in comparison to medial meniscectomy in the long-term follow-up. Conclusion: Surgical management of meniscal lesions in professional soccer players is the mainstay of treatment. Partial meniscectomy may offer temporary relief and fast RTP. Meniscal repair requires a longer rehabilitation period but may have a chondroprotective effect on the knee. Explicit player consultation and individualized approach may lead to optimal outcomes.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system, Other systems of medicine