bands

Objective Tension-band wiring with Kirschner wires (TBW) is a common surgical technique for olecranon fractures (OFs), but has limitations like implant removal and soft tissue irritation. Tension-band high-strength suture with absorbable screw (TBSAS) technique can effectively solve these issues. This study aims to demonstrate the biomechanical stability and clinical efficacy of the TBSASC technique for treating OFs (Mayo IIA) (AO 21-B1.1). Methods Four finite element models for OFs (Mayo IIA) compared fixation constructs: TBW with cortical penetration (TBWC), TBW with intramedullary fixation (TBWM), TBSAS with cortical penetration (TBSASC), and TBSAS with intramedullary fixation (TBSASM). Displacement and stress distributions were analyzed under various loading conditions. Corresponding 3D-printed physical models tested static tensile strength, fatigue resistance, and torsional stability. Clinically, 13 patients with OFs (Mayo IIA) treated with TBSASC between April 2023 and April 2025 were prospectively followed. Operative data, complications, fracture healing, range of motion, VAS pain score, and MEPS were recorded to assess safety and efficacy. Results Finite element analysis (FEA) showed the TBSASC group achieved mean fracture displacements slightly inferior but without statistical significance to the gold-standard TBWC group (max 0.192 mm vs. 0.178 mm, p > 0.05). TBSASC significantly reduced stress on both implants (max 79.99 MPa) and bone (85.80 MPa) compared to TBWC (464.82 MPa and 137.54 MPa, respectively). Biomechanically, TBSASC withstood physiological loads without failure, with its ultimate load, fatigue, and torsional resistance slightly inferior but without statistical significance to TBWC (p > 0.05). Clinically, 13 patients treated with TBSASC were followed for a mean of 14.7 months. Mean operative time was 66.1 min. Fractures healed by 7.1 weeks. Pain (VAS) decreased from 6.0 at 1 month to 0.15 at 6 months, and elbow function (MEPS) improved from 79.2 to 95.8 over 12 months, with 76.9% of patients very satisfied. No complications occurred. Conclusion The TBSASC technique demonstrates acceptable preliminary safety and feasibility for OFs (Mayo IIA), providing sufficient stability for fracture fixation and early functional exercise, effectively reducing complications associated with metal implants and trauma from secondary removal surgery, suggesting its potential as a promising alternative that warrants further investigation in larger, prospective comparative studies.

matched text: “band”

Physical inactivity is a critical risk factor in the development of multiple cardiometabolic conditions, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and obesity. At the muscular level, it promotes insulin resistance and ectopic fat accumulation, contributing to the age-related decline in physical fitness. In contrast, structured physical exercise is a non-pharmacological strategy capable of reversing these processes by improving body composition, muscular strength, and blood pressure. However, there is significant interindividual variability in response to exercise, which limits the effectiveness of generalized programs and underscores the need for personalized exercise prescriptions. Furthermore, physiological adaptations to exercise do not occur simultaneously or uniformly. Temporal dynamics of adaptation differ according to the biological system involved, training modality, and individual characteristics. Understanding how these responses vary over time and between individuals is essential for optimizing clinical interventions and promoting healthy aging, particularly among individuals with cardiometabolic risk. In this context, the present doctoral thesis includes two studies derived from a randomized controlled trial (NCT06201273), aimed at evaluating the effects of eight weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and resistance training (RT) using elastic bands in older adults with cardiometabolic risk factors. Changes in physiological and functional variables—such as blood pressure, body composition, isometric strength, and functional capacity—were analyzed, along with interindividual variability in response and the temporal evolution of these adaptations. Participants were classified as responders or non-responders based on individual response thresholds, enabling the characterization of both the magnitude and trajectory of exercise-induced effects. This thesis is based on two scientific studies that have been published in international peer-reviewed journals. In the first study (Chapter 1), the objective was to assess the effects of two low-volume exercise protocols—resistance training with elastic bands and high-intensity interval training using cycle ergometers—on systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure in hypertensive older adults undergoing pharmacological treatment. The intervention lasted eight weeks, with evaluations at baseline, week 4, and week 8. Specifically, the aims were to (1) evaluate the blood pressure-lowering effects of RT and HIIT at four and eight weeks, (2) compare the effectiveness of both modalities in reducing the proportion of non-responders (NRs), (3) examine the time-course adaptations in SBP and DBP among responders (Rs) and NRs, and (4) document changes in clinical blood pressure classification over the course of the intervention. In the second study (Chapter 2), the objective was to investigate the effects of two low-volume exercise protocols—RT and HIIT—on body composition, isometric muscle strength, and functional capacity (assessed using the six-minute walk test, 6MWT) in older women with impaired cardiometabolic health. Specifically, the study aimed to (1) assess outcomes after eight weeks of training, (2) compare the effectiveness of RT and HIIT in reducing the proportion of NRs between weeks four and eight, and (3) explore the temporal dynamics of physiological and functional adaptation among Rs and NRs.

matched text: “bands”