Total Ankle Replacement (TAR) could, in theory, partially restore joint sensation and motion, enhancing motor coordination, functional stability, and proprioception in a joint affected by osteoarthritis. The aim of this study is to evaluate ankle proprioception before and after a Total Ankle Replacement via an instrumental objective assessment. The evaluation of proprioceptive stability was carried out using the dedicated Delos Postural Proprioceptive System (DPPS). The clinical evaluation was performed by administering validated questionnaires, namely the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score and Short Form-36 (SF-36). Twenty patients were selected, undergoing a complete procedure with clinical and instrumental pre-operative and post-operative evaluation at the end of the follow-up. AOFAS ankle–hindfoot and SF-36 both showed a statistically significant improvement between the pre-operative and post-operative state. The postural tests performed using the DPPS showed that the affected limb showed results slightly lower than in pre-operative. In conclusion, according to the current data, the TAR does not show an improvement in proprioceptive joint stability, and although the registered mean values do not present a statistical significance, the stabilometry shows data lower than the healthy limb. In this perspective, further studies are recommended to highlight any rehabilitation scheme or protocols, using wider case series.

Background: Haglund syndrome is characterized by heel pain associated with posterosuperior calcaneal exostosis, insertional Achilles tendinopathy, and retrocalcaneal bursitis. When conservative treatments fail, surgical intervention is required. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a combined surgical approach, integrating percutaneous resection of the calcaneal exostosis and proximal medial gastrocnemius release (PMGR) using the Barouk technique in treating Haglund syndrome. The goal is to assess whether this approach offers superior clinical outcomes compared to percutaneous resection alone. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 224 patients undergoing combined percutaneous resection and PMGR, divided into group A (n = 106; with Achilles–plantar complex contracture) and group B (n = 118; without contracture) based on passive dorsiflexion testing. Outcomes were compared to 2 historical retrospective control groups treated with resection only: group 1 (n = 124; with contracture) and group 2 (n = 135; without contracture). All prospective patients received the combined treatment regardless of contracture status. Patients with body mass index >30 were excluded. The Foot Function Index (FFI) and Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment–Achilles (VISA-A) Questionnaire scores were collected at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months. Results: Groups A and B improved a mean 30 ± 5 FFI points and 40 ± 7 VISA-A points at 12 months (both P < .001). When compared to historical controls who underwent resection alone, the combined treatment groups showed statistically superior outcomes at all follow-up intervals ( P < .05). However, these comparisons are limited by the nonconcurrent, unmatched study design. Conclusion: This mixed prospective-retrospective study suggests potential benefits of adding Achilles–plantar complex lengthening to percutaneous calcaneal resection. However, the nonrandomized design, historical controls, and lack of patient/outcome assessor masking significantly limit causal inference. Although the combined approach showed statistically superior outcomes compared with historical controls, these findings should be considered hypothesis-generating pending validation in randomized controlled trials. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective-comparative cohort.

Foot position affects postural stability during upright standing; however, conflicting indications have been reported for the ideal foot placement during stabilometric exams. The aims of this study were to evaluate (1) the correlation between anthropometric measurements (AMs) and between-feet measurements (BFMs) in self-selected comfortable foot position (SCFP) and (2) the effect of comfortable and standardized foot position (SFP) on plantar pressure and stabilometric parameters. Stabilometry was conducted on twenty healthy subjects in terms of SCFP and SFP. Correlation between AMs and BFMs in SCFP was investigated via Pearson’s analysis. Data variability was assessed using the coefficient of variation, and statistical differences between SCFP and SFP were evaluated via the Wilcoxon test. No correlation was found between AMs and BFMs. Subjects placed their feet nearly parallel in SCFP with a wider inter-heel distance. The variability of plantar pressure parameters was greater in SFP. A lower foot contact area on the right side and higher plantar pressures in the left midfoot region (p-value < 0.05) were found in SFP as compensatory foot adaptations. According to the present study, a comfortable foot position allows for the reduction in postural stability and plantar pressure parameter variability. This position may help improve statistical power when investigating statistical differences between conditions in stabilometry.

The Pilates method consists of a series of exercises designed to stretch and strengthen muscles, thereby improving muscle elasticity and joint mobility. This study aims to evaluate the influence of Pilates on the spine, lower limbs, and abdominal strength using specific tests. Forty young female volleyball players from University Sports Center of Campobasso were equally randomized into two groups: the Pilates group and the control group. The Pilates group underwent a 32-week biweekly training program (from October 2022 to May 2023) in addition to their regular athletic training. All athletes participated in the following tests: Modified Schober Test (MST) for flexion and trunk rotation, Modified Fingertip-To-Floor Test (MFTFT), Straight Leg Raise (SLR), Popliteal Angle (PA), and Half Sit-Up (HSU). In the Pilates group, the results from the MST for flexion and trunk rotation, SLR, PA, and HSU showed statistically significant improvements 32 weeks after the start of the training protocol (p < .05). However, no significant changes were observed in the control group. Additionally, both groups demonstrated significant improvements in MFTFT. These findings suggest that Pilates training can be an effective method to enhance flexibility and performance in young female volleyball players. Coaches should consider incorporating Pilates into their programs.

Postural abnormalities in the sagittal plane are common in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and increase the risk of falls. Previous studies have reported short-term benefit of corrective corsets in PD patients assessed by clinical and instrumental methods, while long-term effects on sagittal posture in upright standing and during walking remain unexplored. Fifteen PD patients with postural abnormalities on the sagittal plane, evaluated via the NeuroPostureApp, and ten healthy subjects matched for age and BMI were assessed by 3D motion analysis in upright posture. Then, the PD patients were evaluated with and without the K1 Posture Keeper during standing and walking at baseline (T0) and after three months of use (T1). The results showed an anteriorization of the head–cervical region with respect to the trunk and a whole-body misalignment in PD patients compared to healthy controls. The use of the K1 Posture Keeper induced a back shift of the nasion with a better alignment of the head with respect to the trunk, pelvis, and feet in upright standing and during walking, underlining an improvement in the sagittal alignment of the entire body in PD. These findings showed the therapeutical role of K1 Posture Keeper on sagittal posture in static and dynamic conditions, potentially due to proprioceptive reorganization.

Background/Objectives: Subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS) is the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorder of the shoulder, accounting for 44% to 65% of clin-ical presentations. This condition involves mechanical stress on the soft tissues within the subacromial space. This review aims to synthesize evidence on acromial, glenoid, and ligamentous variations to provide a framework for individualized surgical and rehabilitative strategies. Methods: A rigorous literature search was performed across PubMed, Embase, and Scopus. Eligibility was strictly limited to original re-search—including cross-sectional and retrospective designs—that evaluated demo-graphic and anatomic predictors such as age, sex, and hand dominance in relation to shoulder morphology. Results: Acromial morphology is classified using the Bigliani system into Type I (flat), Type II (curved), and Type III (hooked). Os acromiale, present in 7–15% of the population, causes dynamic narrowing of the subacromial space. Gle-noid dimensions exhibit significant sexual dimorphism and ethnic variability, while hand dominance typically increases retroversion on the dominant side. In gleno-humeral osteoarthritis, humeral head osteophytes ≥13 mm are strong predictors of ec-centric B2 glenoid morphology. Biomechanically, SAIS patients demonstrate excessive superior humeral translation (1.5–5 mm) and disrupted scapulothoracic kinematics, often exacerbated by slouched posture. Finally, recognizing congenital variants like the Buford complex is vital to avoid unnecessary surgical repairs. Conclusions: Shoulder pathology is multifactorial, arising from a convergence of static anatomical deviations and dynamic kinematic failures. The profound morphometric diversity between sexes and ethnicities necessitates patient-specific, individualized approaches to shoulder arthroplasty and rehabilitation.