Cover Story
Evidence is linking genetic mutations to Achilles tendon and anterior cruciate ligament injuries as researchers try to connect complex motor control processes to small segments of DNA. But genetic testing is still a long way from becoming a clinical tool.
By Larry Hand
Editor Message
If you think your patients have compliance issues, be glad you’re not treating clubfoot in a place like India, Egypt, Mexico, or Bangladesh.
By, Jordana Bieze Foster, Editor
Special Report
CONFERENCE COVERAGE: International Clubfoot Symposium
Click to download the complete PDF
The Ponseti method of clubfoot management has achieved worldwide acceptance, but practitioners and researchers are still working to identify the best ways to optimize clinical outcomes while remaining sensitive to issues of cost effectiveness and cultural differences. Clinicians from around the globe gathered in October at the second International Clubfoot Symposium to discuss their successes and challenges.
Sponsored by an educational grant from…
The Ponseti method of clubfoot management has achieved worldwide
acceptance, but practitioners and researchers are still working to identify the best ways to optimize clinical outcomes while remaining sensitive to issues of cost effectiveness and cultural differences. Clinicians from around the globe gathered in October at the second International Clubfoot Symposium to
discuss their successes ...
Treatment of children with clubfoot has evolved considerably in the five years that have elapsed since the inaugural International Clubfoot Symposium, and the benefits of this evolution are particularly evident in resource-poor nations—home to about 80% of the 200,000 children born each year with clubfoot. But practitioners who treat patients in these areas still face ...
Clubfoot correction ideally should be performed during infancy, before children learn to walk, but experts agree that the Ponseti treatment method can also be effective in older children. Speakers at the International Clubfoot Symposium in October presented successful outcomes for Ponseti treatment of neglected clubfoot in patients aged up to 21 years.
By Jordana Bieze Foster
Tibialis anterior tendon transfer (TATT) is known to be associated with limited ankle dorsiflexion, but practitioners should be aware that plantar flexion also can be negatively affected, according to research presented in October at the International Clubfoot Symposium.
By Jordana Bieze Foster
Departments
Research indicates that in diabetic patients with Charcot neuroarthropathy, peripheral bone mineral density decreases over time, which can contribute to risks of hardware failure, loss of correction, delayed union, and nonunion in patients with advanced disease.
By Rachel H. Jung, DPM, MHA, MPH; Robert M. Greenhagen, DPM; Dane K. Wukich, MD; Vassilios Vardaxis, PhD; and Robert ...
Two separate studies directly compared valgus knee bracing and wedged foot orthoses for reducing knee adduction moment in patients with osteoarthritis, but came to opposite conclusions. A third study suggests combining the two interventions may be the best solution.
By Barbara Boughton
When treating patients who are going through rehabilitation, clinicians may be overemphasizing gait distance and overlooking the importance of gait speed. Clinical assessment of gait speed is simple and inexpensive but can be a significant indicator of functional recovery.
By Heather Braden, PT, MPT, PhD, GCS
Intramuscular manual therapy, also known as dry needling, is hypothesized to relieve pain by modifying tension in connective tissue. Limited evidence supports the use of IMT for plantar fasciitis, although further research is needed to rule out a placebo effect.
By Brent Harper, PT, DPT, DSc, OCS, FAAOMPT
News
In the Moment: O&P
By Jordana Bieze Foster
The mechanism by which ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) reduce drop foot in patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) involves proximal effects as well as the distal changes with which clinicians are more familiar, according to research from the UK.
Personalized insoles created using additive manufacturing technology are associated with improved biomechanics and comfort during running, according to research from Loughborough University in the UK.
Tibial bone mineral density in stroke survivors who use ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) remains significantly higher in the unaffected limb than the affected limb after more than a decade, according to research from the University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City.
In the Moment: Osteoarthritis
By Emily Delzell
Market Mechanics
Products
M.J. Markell Shoe Company offers the Tarso Clubfoot AFO, a semirigid ankle foot orthosis for use with the Ponseti method of clubfoot treatment. The Tarso Clubfoot AFO has a symmetrical shape for use on either the left or right foot. ...
Footmaxx has released an updated and improved version of its diagnostic system, Metascan. Metascan analyzes a foot in motion to help practitioners predetermine the need for foot orthoses and optimize orthotic fit. Options for diagnosing abnormal foot function and balance ...
Elite Orthopaedics introduces a new postoperative shoe: the Mesh Top Post Operative Shoe. The new shoe is designed for use on a postoperative, traumatized, diabetic, or insensitive foot. Features of the Mesh Top Post Operative Shoe include an open-toe design ...
New from Ottobock, the multi-axial Triton Low Profile (LP) foot is designed for active above- or below-knee amputees with clearances as small as 2.5 inches, particularly those with longer residual limbs. In addition to its reduced structural height, the Triton ...
Spenco Medical Corporation offers Spenco PolySorb Flow Warm performance insoles for walkers, runners, and joggers seeking support and comfort in a warm foot environment. A reflective thermal barrier, a foil layer beneath the topcloth, retains natural body heat. The topcloth ...
Alli-Flex from Allied Plastic Supply is a soft black, flexible plastic used for prosthetic liners. A cost-effective alternative to black Northvane, Alli-Flex is easy to clean and resists staining. A benefit of a black liner is its ability to mask ...
The new swim joint by Swim Again is designed to give lower limb amputees the freedom of swimming without the hassle of specialized prosthetics. The joint can be released with a pull pin, allowing the user to walk to and ...
Arcopedico’s top-selling LS shoe line has been rebranded with the nickname “Shocks” (shoes as comfortable as wearing socks) and introduced in two bright new colors, fuschia and orange. As the name implies, Shocks offer the coziness of a pair of ...
Tibion, a venture backed robotics technology company, has introduced the Tibion Bionic Leg: a wearable lower limb robotic trainer activated by the patient’s intent to move. The Tibion Bionic Leg is designed to strengthen stance, improve gait, and enhance active ...
Active Innovations introduces the Targeted Breathable Support (TBS) knee support crafted with VentiPrene, a durable, lightweight, 1/8-inch thick perforated neoprene. The material differs from standard neoprene in that it allows skin to breathe while providing compression and warmth without overheating. ...
