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Cover Story
During 2020, emergency department (ED) visits in the United States (US) not related to COVID-19 declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for certain populations and certain types of illness or injury. This study described product-related lower extremity injuries managed at EDs during 2020 and compared it to previous years.
By Mathias B. Forrester, BS
Latest Articles
Lower Extremity Compression Garments Use by Athletes: Why, How Often, and Perceived Benefit
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Wound Care Update: New Uses for Adipose Grafts in Podiatry and Wound Care
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Effects of Offloading Devices on Static and Dynamic Balance in Patients with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Systematic Review
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Common Skin and Nail Conditions of the Lower Extremity: Part 3
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The Future of Orthotics Manufacturing
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The Coming Renaissance Will Unlock the Innovation Vault in Orthotics
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Embracing the Transformation Brought by a Black Swan
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Now We Know: Virtual Is Real
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2021 “Normal” Same as 2019, Just Different
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Pandemic’s ‘Marathon Journey’ Forces Change
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Limb Preservation in a Post-pandemic World: Virtually or Physically We’re all in this Together
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Making the “New Normal” a “Smarter Normal”
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Meeting Highlights from NATA
About NATA: Athletic trainers are health care professionals who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and sport-related illnesses. They prevent and treat chronic musculoskeletal injuries from sports, physical and occupational activity, and provide immediate care for acute injuries. Athletic trainers offer a continuum of care that is unparalleled in health care. The National Athletic Trainers’ Association represents and supports more than 40,000 members of the athletic training profession. Visit nata.org for more information.
In an analysis of more than 26,000 injuries across high school and college sports, the sports with the most injuries were male football (25.6%), female basketball (8.5%), female soccer (8.1%), male basketball (7.1%), and female volleyball (6.5%). However, even though gymnastics and lacrosse accounted for fewer injuries, those injuries were typically associated with a…
New research presented at the National Athletic Trainers’ Associations’ 2021 NATA Virtual Clinical Symposia & AT Expo, held virtually this year due to COVID-19, found that middle school sports have an overall higher rate of concussion than reported in high school and collegiate settings. The research also concluded that middle school athletes playing…
Another study from the ACHIEVES project reported at the National Athletic Trainers’ Associations’ 2021 NATA Virtual Clinical Symposia & AT Expo described the epidemiology of injuries sustained by middle school age wrestlers in a large metropolitan school division as limited data about wrestling existed at the middle school level.
Special Features
Insoles to Mazimize Proprioception, Part I
By Mark Cucuzella, MD, FAAFP
The whole concept of minimal shoes is to give the runner an experience similar to what they would get if they were actually barefoot. A primary goal is to get the athletes in the least amount of shoe that is safe for them today and gradually reduce the shoe as the foot strengthens.
One of the main benefits about being truly barefoot is maximizing proprioception, the valuable sensorimotor information we receive from the foot/ground interface. The foot’s dense proprioceptive system plays a critical role in the activation and efficiency of muscles controlling gait, posture, and alignment. When we introduce a layer between the sole of the foot and the ground, we add a layer of sensory insulation. So, let’s look at the role of a critically important aspect of the shoe – the insole layer, the layer that is in contact with the foot.
Insoles have traditionally been broken down into 3 main categories; cushioning, support, and custom orthotics. Recently a 4th category, foot strengthening or proprioceptive feedback insoles, has been introduced.
Many foot and ankle specialists focus on the musculoskeletal conditions of patients. Skin and nail conditions of the feet, however, are some of the most common complaints that patients have. This 3-part series describes the most common conditions patients present with to my office and provide some effective treatment options.
By Paul J. Betschart, DPM
Vaccines are greatly reducing the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths. Vaccines developed early in the pandemic continue to provide protection against severe disease caused by new variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease.
During the four weeks following May 13, 2021 when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention relaxed its guidelines on mask wearing for those who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, sales of Over The Counter (OTC) medications for easily transmitted ailments like colds and coughs experienced sharp increases as people’s social circles start to expand again.
Three pathogenic coronaviruses have emerged in the past two decades: the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19. Both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 are Sarbecoviruses.
Data from the prospective EPIC-Oxford Study show that non-meat eaters, especially vegans, had higher risks of either total or some site-specific fractures, particularly hip fractures. This is the first prospective study of diet group with both total and multiple specific fracture sites in vegetarians and vegans, and the…
Entering the digital world of orthotics and prosthetics begins with a decision on how to scan a patient. So we should first consider the scanning equipment. There are many choices for different applications in the world of digital scanning outside of orthotics and prosthetics.
By Terrell S. Tate, BOCP,CO
Industry News & Updates
Superfeet, Ferndale, WA, has been acquired by private equity firm Westward Partners. Effective June 15, Westward assumed majority ownership. As the company transitions from being 100% employee-owned, the company will change structure from an S Corporation to a limited liability company.
Missouri State Representative Rasheen Aldridge (D-St. Louis) has stated that he plans to forward legislation to make healthcare more accessible to people with disabilities, including helping seniors with disabilities to receive access to care in their homes.
Researchers at Western Michigan University (Western) have developed a boot that is designed to accelerate the healing of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). The boot, called SenLore, offloads pressure on DFUs and also delivers a combination of heat and electrical stimulation to increase blood flow and dramatically speed up the healing process.
The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) welcomed Kathy Dieringer, EdD, LAT, ATC, as its new president, serving a 3-year term. She has more than 30 years of sports medicine experience and brings with her a deep passion for the athletic training profession and a clear vision for her new role as she succeeds outgoing President, Tory Lindley, MA, ATC.
Researchers from Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine and 2 South Korean institutions—Sungkyunkwan University and Chonnam National University—have developed an efficient technique for muscle regeneration and functional restoration in injured rats.
DJO, a subsidiary of Colfax Corporation and a global provider of medical technologies to get and keep people moving, announced that it has completed the acquisition of MedShape, a privately held orthopedic medical device company founded in 2005.
The Last Word
Source: Broatch JR, Brophy-Williams N, Phillips EJ, et al. Compression Garments Reduce Muscle Movement and Activation during Submaximal Running. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2020 Mar;52(3):685-695. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002182.
