The cost savings might Selleckchem ISRIB be the result of a preventive effect on knee injuries in the intervention group. Future research should primarily

focus on the preventive effect of specific exercises from The11 in relation to knee injuries, and the possible cost savings. Despite the lack of a proven preventive effect, the potential of a structured prevention program to reduce costs associated with injuries is of particular interest in view of the increasing healthcare costs worldwide. eAddenda: Figure 1, Table 4 available at jop.physiotherapy.asn.au Ethics: The study protocol was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the University Medical Centre Utrecht, The Netherlands; reference number 08/263.

All participants provided written informed consent before the start of the study. Funding: This study was funded by the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw), reference number 50-50110-96-554, and the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB). The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the authorship or publication of this contribution. The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) and the Royal Netherlands Football BI6727 Association (KNVB). In addition, we would like to extend a special word of thanks to the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) for their support and co-operation. The authors appreciate the co-operation of the coaches, medical staff and soccer players of all participating soccer clubs who provided the data for this project. “
“Osteoarthritis

is the most prevalent articular disorder worldwide (Bijlsma 2002), with thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis being a common manifestation in unless middle or older aged people (Pellegrini 2005). Thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis involves degeneration of the joint articular surfaces, with associated hyaline cartilage loss, ligament laxity, osteophyte formation, synovial inflammation, and muscle weakness (Pellegrini 2005). Advanced thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis is characterised by deterioration of the superficial surfaces of the joint and ectopic bone regeneration (Wajon and Ada 2005, Im et al 2010). The main symptom of this condition is pain at the base of the thumb, usually resulting in functional impairments in the performance of activities of daily living, and occupational and recreational tasks (Slatkowsky-Christensen et al 2007). In advanced disease, adduction contracture of the first web space with secondary thumb carpometacarpal hyperextension is also commonly seen (Wajon and Ada 2005).