Association of cetylated fatty acid treatment with physical therapy improves athletic pubalgia symptoms in professional roller hockey players

Enrico Pampaloni; Elena Pera; Duilio Maggi; Riccardo Lucchinelli; Dante Chiappino; Andrea Costa; Veronica Venturini; Germano Tarantino

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04526

Association of cetylated fatty acid treatment with physical therapy improves athletic pubalgia symptoms in professional roller hockey players

Heliyon. 2020 Jul 28;6(7):e04526. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04526. eCollection 2020 Jul.

Authors

Enrico Pampaloni¹, Elena Pera², Duilio Maggi³, Riccardo Lucchinelli³, Dante Chiappino⁴, Andrea Costa¹, Veronica Venturini¹, Germano Tarantino⁵

Affiliations

¹ Physioterapy Center, Physio Point, Lucca, Italy.
² Alesco Srl, Pisa, Italy.
³ USL 12, Versilia, Italy.
⁴ Diagnostic Imaging OU, Massa Hopsital, Massa, Italy.
⁵ Pharmanutra SpA, Pisa, Italy.

Abstract

Background: Athletic pubalgia (AP), a frequent problem among professional roller hockey players (PRHPs), consists of lower abdominal and groin pain, without the presence of true hernia.

Aims: We assessed cetylated fatty acids (CFAs) in association with conservative therapy for treatment of AP in PRHPs.

Methods: Ultrasound examination was performed before and after treatment. Strength tests were performed and AP-related pain was measured during the treatment period.

Findings: Nine of 10 enrolled PRHPs completed a 12-week treatment with CFAs in association with conservative therapy, consisting of manual therapy, diathermy or ultrasonography. Initial ultrasound examination showed AP signs in 7 (70%) of 10 PRHPs. After 12 weeks of therapy, these signs could only be detected by ultrasound in 2 (22.2%) of 9 PRHPs. An increase in muscle strength (already after first week of treatment) and a reduction of AP-related pain were also observed during the treatment.

Conclusion: The association of CFA treatment with a conservative rehabilitation therapy improves muscle strength and pain and may accelerate recovery from AP.

Keywords: Athletic pubalgia; Cetlyated fatty acids; Clinical research; Diagnostics; Health profession; Medical imaging; Musculoskeletal system; Physical therapy; Sports hernia; Strength test; Ultrasound.