September 2013

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Taking an adaptive path to active
Taking an adaptive path to active
Adaptive sports programs offer a fun, social way for people with disability to be more physically active and improve their self-image at the same time, through pursuits ranging from tranquil fly-fishing to intense rock wall climbs. By Emily Delzell

Editor Message


Out on a limb: Benefit without bare feet
Out on a limb: Benefit without bare feet
The minimalist shoe trend may be fading, but interest in finding ways to reap the benefits of barefoot running without actually going barefoot remains strong. Jordana Bieze Foster, Editor

LER Special Education Series

pediatric-hypotonia-specialFor a parent, the only thing more frustrating than knowing something isn’t quite right with your young child is hearing that nothing can be done until the underlying cause of the symptoms is identified. Luckily, parents of children with hypotonia can be spared the latter frustration.

As we detail in this special publication, early intervention in children with hypotonia—sometimes as early as in the neonatal intensive care unit—is not only possible but strongly recommended by experts, even in the absence of an underlying diagnosis.

Sponsored by an educational grant from SureStep.

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Departments


Lower body mechanics bolster overhead throws
Lower body mechanics bolster overhead throws
Lower extremity biomechanics  can significantly affect the risk of upper extremity injury in overhead throwing athletes, such as baseball and softball pitchers and catchers, and the functional stability of the lumbopelvic-hip  complex is essential to preventing those injuries. By Gretchen D. Oliver, PhD, FACSM, ATC, LAT, Hillary Plummer, MAT, ATC, and Lisa Henning
PAD and reamputation in patients with diabetes
PAD and reamputation in patients with diabetes
In patients who undergo a minor foot amputation following a diabetic foot ulcer, severe peripheral arterial disease is the primary risk factor for subsequent major amputation, which underscores the importance of early detection and intervention for PAD in this population. By Vincent S. Nerone, DPM, Kevin D. Springer, DPM, Darren M. Woodruff, DPM, and Said A. ...
Original research: Knee self-massage for OA pain
Original research: Knee self-massage for OA pain
The medical literature supports the use of massage for relief of osteoarthritis symptoms, but therapist-administered treatments can be cost-prohibitive. This study found that self-massage can also be effective, even when the initial supervised sessions are continued by patients at home. By Dorothea Atkins, ThD, RN, and David Eichler, PhD
Core stability and lower extremity injury risk
Core stability and lower extremity injury risk
A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that clinical tests of core strength and stability can help predict risk of lower extremity injury in athletes, which in turn supports the need for a multisegmental approach to the development of injury prevention programs. By Valerie Snider, MS, ATC, and Gary Wilkerson, EdD, ATC
Effect of sex hormones on incidence of knee pain
Effect of sex hormones on incidence of knee pain
New research suggests that vasti muscle activation in women varies throughout the menstrual cycle, adding to the growing body of literature pointing to a connection between sex hormones and knee injury risk. The exact nature of that relationship, however, remains unclear. By Matthew S. Tenan, MA, ATC, and Lisa Griffin, PhD

News


In the Moment: Sports Medicine

By Jordana Bieze Foster

The NFL’s ACL issue: Experts debate contributing factors
The NFL’s ACL issue: Experts debate contributing factors
A flurry of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in National Football League (NFL) players early in the preseason has medical experts theorizing about the contributing factors and what can be done to protect players in the future.
Balance training also improves jump height in youth basketball players
Twelve weeks of balance training using unstable surfaces improves jump performance as well as balance in youth basketball players, according to an Italian study published the August issue of Sport Sciences for Health.
Increased running cadence simulates some advantages of going barefoot
The acute effects of increased running cadence are similar to those of barefoot running, according to two studies that looked at the two techniques in a single group of runners.

Market Mechanics


Products


Nature Fit Foot Orthoses
Nature Fit Foot Orthoses
The Nature-Fit 9000 series of prefabricated semirigid foot orthoses from Tri Hawk International is designed to provide instant relief in the practitioner’s office, while the patient is waiting for custom devices to arrive, or in some cases as an alternative to a custom device. Orthoses in the series are made from a durable nonporous polymer ...
DCS-FS6 Plantar Fasciitis Sleeve
DCS-FS6 Plantar Fasciitis Sleeve
Darco International announces the DCS-FS6 Plantar Fasciitis Sleeve. The DCS features FS6 technology that provides graduated compression zones that work together to help relieve pain. The sleeve can be worn while sleeping or relaxing, or under socks when active. The DCS-FS6 is constructed of medical-grade fabric that is latex free and designed for comfort. Zones ...
I-Runner Footwear
I-Runner Footwear
I-Runner athletic footwear is a new category of shoes for people with and without diabetes: medical shoes for the comfort shoe market and comfort shoes for the medical shoe market. These lightweight, extra-depth shoes feature a breathable upper, a neuropathy-friendly toe box with bunion/bunionette pockets, polyurethane insoles, and shock-absorbing midsoles. Designed by a pedorthist and ...
EVO Hinge Ankle Stabilizer
EVO Hinge Ankle Stabilizer
The EVO Hinge Ankle Stabilizer, which features a removable plastic hinge, is easily converted to the traditional ASO (ankle stabilizing orthosis) EVO to facilitate treatment progression. The combination of the plastic hinge and the stabilizing strap technology provide even greater inversion/eversion control and protection against syndesmotic ankle sprains than the original ASO. The stabilizing straps ...