Cover Story
Total knee arthroplasty significantly improves functional outcomes in obese patients, but is also riskier than in normal-weight patients. As the number of obese patients with knee osteoarthritis continues to rise, clinicians are being challenged to find a balance between the risks and the benefits.
By Susan M. Odum, PhD, and Bryan D. Springer, MD
Editor Message
When more conventional approaches lead to inconsistent or inexplicable findings, researchers sometimes find that assessing the variability of an outcome can provide a valuable perspective. But researchers still have a great deal to learn about how much variability is too much, or too little, with regard to lower extremity issues.
Jordana Bieze Foster, Editor
Special Educational Series: Pediatrics
Shaping the future
One of the most rewarding aspects of pediatric lower extremity care is the knowledge that early intervention can have a positive effect on a child’s entire adult life—a theme that is repeated throughout this special publication dedicated to lower extremity pediatrics.
Departments
Patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease showing the greatest increase in speed appear to respond to and utilize the energy storing and releasing properties of a carbon fiber composite ankle foot orthosis differently from those who had smaller increases in walking speed.
By Janet S. Dufek, PhD; Edward S. Neumann, PhD, PE, CP; M. Cameron Hawkins, PhD; and ...
Despite the documented benefits of supervised exercise in patients with claudication, its effect on actual clinical practice has been disappointing due to a lack of reimbursement. But practitioners and researchers have been investigating other options, with encouraging preliminary results.
By Cary Groner
Transcranial magnetic stimulation research suggests cortical excitability may be able to help differentiate healthy, previously injured, and functionally unstable ankle joints, and underscores the need to clinically target both mechanical and proprioceptive deficits in patients with FAI.
By Alan R. Needle, PhD
Studies show that lower extremity amputation rates in patients with diabetes vary widely, sometimes even within individual healthcare systems. What’s more difficult to determine is why these variations exist and what can be done to improve access to care for all patients.
By Larry Hand
The etiology of Achilles tendon rupture is multifactorial, but the injury occurs most frequently in the athletic population. Clinicians still miss 24% of ruptures acutely, particularly in older patients, those in whom sports was not the causative mechanism, and those with high BMIs.
By Steven M. Raikin, MD
News
In the Moment: Sports medicine
By Emily Delzell
Two studies published early this year found platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection improved pain and function in patients with chronic severe plantar fasciitis who hadn’t responded to conservative treatments.
Researchers reported in February that integrative neuromuscular training (INT) enhances motor skills in girls, improving fitness and offering potential protection from development of risk factors for anterior cruciate ligament tears and other musculoskeletal injuries.
Researchers from Qatar reported in February that soccer players who sustain a hamstring injury are likely to have isokinetic strength deficits when they return to play, but the effect of those deficits on reinjury rates is unknown.
Market Mechanics
By Emily Delzell
Products
Rocktape’s Active-Recovery series of athletic tapes is available in more than 55 designs and colors, including Tattoo, Pink Camouflage, Biohazard, Argyle, U.K. Flag, Pink Skull, and Tiger. Rocktape kinesiology tape works by lifting the skin away from the soft tissue underneath, which allows more blood to move into an injured area to accelerate healing and ...
Sole Supports now offers new EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) Orthotics. Constructed using Sole Supports’ newly designed optical calibration process, the EVA Orthotics are an alternative to more rigid plastic devices and are suitable for geriatric patients or patients with diabetes. The softer material combines compression with flexion…
The PediFix Footcare Company announces the first antifungal with the broad-spectrum killing power of clotrimazole, in an exclusive essential oils carrier formula. ClotrimazOil is an alternative to tolnaftate and unde- cylenic acid. Clotrimazole kills six types of fungi, yeasts, and molds that traditional antifungals don’t.
Aetrex Worldwide offers two new lines of shoes: Apex Petals and Apex Stretchables. Apex Petals offers fashion-forward styles designed to provide maximum comfort and protection. The lightweight shoes have removable double depth insoles and slip-resistant soles made from injected EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate).
The BRD Sport Achilles Ankle brace is designed to provide reliable relief of pain due to Achilles tendinitis, achillobursitis, or post-traumatic irritation. Three-dimensional knitting offers a four-way stretch to improve fit and comfort. An anatomically contoured silicone tendon pad aids with increased joint stabilization and recovery.
Solana Surgical announces the launch of the FuseForce SuperElastic Fixation System, an implant system for fusing the small joints in the foot and ankle. The FuseForce System is a complete, sterile kit containing superelastic nitinol (memory metal) staples and all the instruments required for implantation.
OPTP introduces its newest star, the new Star Roller, designed for therapeutic self-massage, relaxation techniques, body alignment, and core strengthening exercises. Designed and patented by a physical therapist, it features deep ridges running the length of the foam roller, alternately compressing and releasing tense or rigid…
Dr. Jill’s Foot Pads now offers Dr. Jill’s Orthotics—customizable, ready-to-dispense foot orthoses. Designed by a podiatrist, the thin, lightweight, durable devices come with a lifetime guarantee that they will never break, crack, or bottom out.
Ottobock announces the launch of the WalkOn Reaction AFO. Fabricated from a prepreg advanced carbon composite, the Reaction is lightweight, low profile, and extremely tough. It is designed for patients with weak dorsiflexion, poststroke impairment, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, neuromuscular atrophy, peroneal paralysis, and partial foot amputation.
Propét introduces the AdaptaStep recovery shoe, under its Propét Preferred therapeutic foot care line. AdaptaStep is designed to help alleviate fluid build up, speed healing, and promote a quicker return to normal gait. The Variable Flex Technology system features removable inserts in the forefoot to allow for…
