May 2013

LER05-13CoverWebLowCover Story


Medial shin pain in runners: Evidence for orthosis use
Medial shin pain in runners: Evidence for orthosis use
Studies of the kinematic variables associated with medial tibial stress syndrome suggest possible targets for prevention and intervention, including the use of foot orthoses. By Janice K. Loudon, PT, PhD, SCS, ATC, and Michael P. Reiman, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS, ATC, FAAOMPT, CSCS

Editor Message


Out on a limb: Yes, treat the symptoms
Out on a limb: Yes, treat the symptoms
In the healthcare community there’s a lot of talk about the importance of treating the underlying cause of a disease rather than just the symptoms. But sometimes treating the symptoms can be pretty darned important too. Jordana Bieze Foster, Editor

Departments


News


In the Moment: Knee OA

By Jordana Bieze Foster

Benefits of bracing: Studies find improvement in pain, gait
Benefits of bracing: Studies find improvement in pain, gait
Studies presented at the 2013 World Congress on Osteoarthritis, held in April in Philadelphia, provide more evidence that knee bracing can improve pain and gait mechanics in patients with knee osteo­arthritis (OA)—improvements that are magnified with increased wear time.
Nonoperated knee remains vulnerable after unilateral total joint arthroplasty
Unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) does not reduce loading in the nonoperated knee, and the resulting asymmetry may help explain why many patients end up undergoing TKA in the contralateral knee within 10 years of the initial procedure, according to an Israeli study presented at the 2013 World Congress on Osteoarthritis.
Medial meniscal damage corresponds to decreased proprioceptive accuracy
Severity of meniscal abnormality in patients with knee OA is significantly associated with severity of proprioceptive impairment, according to research from the Netherlands presented at the 2013 World Congress on Osteoarthritis.
Adding exercise to diet improves pain, function in overweight knee OA patients
Adding exercise to a dietary program does not significantly increase weight loss or reduce loading in overweight patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) compared to diet alone, but the addition of exercise is associated with significant improvements in pain and function, according to preliminary results of a large 18-month trial presented in April at the 2013 ...

In the Moment: Sports Medicine

By Emily Delzell

Loose links Cortical data distinguish unstable ankles
Loose links Cortical data distinguish unstable ankles
A small study points to a “decoupling” effect between neurological and mechanical aspects of the ankle joint among some people with recurrent sprains and resultant functional ankle instability (FAI), reported investigators in a Journal of Sport Rehabilitation paper e-published on April 9.
Barefoot running with nonrearfoot strike pattern may put Achilles at risk
Women who run barefoot with a midfoot or forefoot strike pattern have higher Achilles tendon (AT) loads—and, potentially, a higher risk of tendinopathy—than rearfoot strikers, according to research e-published May 3 in the Annals of Biomedical Engineering.
Study links concussion to increased incidence of lower extremity injury
College athletes who sustain a concussion are almost four times as likely as their counterparts who avoid the brain injury to subsequently injure lower extremity muscles, according to research presented at the 2013 American Medical Society for Sports Medicine conference held in April in San Diego.

Market Mechanics

By Emily Delzell


Products


Nova Precision Podiatry Drill
Nova Precision Podiatry Drill
Algeos USA is proud to announce the launch of the Nova Precision A300xp Podiatry Drill in the US. The Nova Precision A300xp drill has a variable speed of up to 30,000 rpm and three memory storage settings for preferred revolution ...
Visco-Gel Toe Buddy
Visco-Gel Toe Buddy
PediFix introduces the newest Visco-Gel foot protection product, the Toe Buddy, which gently separates and aligns crooked toes. Visco-Gel is the company’s proprietary Gel poly­mer material that cushions, protects, and conforms to foot contours. Designed like a “buddy splint,” the ...
Locking Knees
Locking Knees
Trulife introduces the new PC (polycentric) Friction Control Knee with Lock. The new SSK602L and SSK604L are Trulife’s latest locking knees. Lightweight and durable, they can be used either in a locked position or in free motion. Both prosthetic knees ...
Turf Toe Steel Insoles
Turf Toe Steel Insoles
Aetna Felt Corporation offers Turf Toe Steel Insoles, for prevention and management of turf toe and other metatarsophalangeal joint injuries. The Turf Toe Steel Insoles are available in standard sizes, in half and full steel. The insoles are laser-cut spring ...
Trigger Point Grid Roller
Trigger Point Grid Roller
The Grid from Trigger Point Performance is a self-therapy tool that can be used to massages aches and pains in the muscles or to achieve a total body strength workout. The design of this self-therapy tool features “distrodensity” zones that ...
Grip-Top Compression
Grip-Top Compression
The Sigvaris Cotton Series closed-toe calf compression products will now be available with a grip-top in two color options, black and crispa (a medium brown), for men and women. For patients with edema in the knee area, the new grip-top ...
3D Camera System
3D Camera System
Apis Footwear offers the cutting-edge Mt. Emey 3D camera system to help customers save time and money on custom foot orthosis fabrication. The Mt. Emey 3D camera system can send 3D data about the patient’s foot with a click of ...
YogaToes Gems
YogaToes Gems
YogaPro has introduced YogaToes Gems, a “lite” version of its original YogaToes footcare product. Like the original Yoga­Toes, the Gems exercise and stretch foot muscles, which in turn helps improve foot posture. YogaToes Gems feature an under-toe lift bar that ...
StrechCordz Dual Strap
StrechCordz Dual Strap
StrechCordz from NZ Manufacturing now include a new dual stretch strap. The Stretch and Mobility Strap, with one strap made of nylon webbing connected to a stretch elastic strap, is designed for stretching that uses isometric contractions to improve flexibility. ...
Lease-to-own Foot Scanner
Lease-to-own Foot Scanner
ComfortFit Labs announces a new low-cost lease-to-own program for the company’s Tom-Cat in-office scanning systems. The Tom-Cat system provides an easy nine-second scan per foot, on-screen prescription form and data, and a no-mess casting system, with no need to send ...