Cover Story
Stem cell therapy is rapidly gaining momentum as a clinical option for indications including meniscal injury, wound healing, and osteoarthritis. But high-level research on the technology’s efficacy and long-term safety is hard to come by.
By Emily Delzell
Editor Message
Say what you will about FIFA’s political entanglements—soccer’s international governing body has set the standard for developing injury prevention programs that are effective not just in a controlled research setting but also in the real world.
Jordana Bieze Foster, Editor
Special Educational Series: Pediatrics
Children are not simply smaller versions of adults, and therefore their healthcare shouldn’t be a scaled-down version of adult management. We know this. But every once in a while we come across a poignant reminder of just how important that maxim is.
Special Section
All the countries in the world share the challenge of keeping athletes healthy, and in April, sports medicine experts from across the globe met in Monaco to discuss the best ways to address those challenges at the IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury & Illness in Sport. LER’s exclusive coverage of this event details clinical and scientific progress toward prevention of lower extremity injuries from ankle sprains to hamstring strains.
By Jordana Bieze Foster
Sponsored by an educational grant from…
Departments
A lack of oxygen can negatively affect wound healing in a number of ways, but surgical, pharmacological, and other technological advances are allowing clinicians to enhance oxygen delivery to damaged tissues and…
By Nanjin Park, DPM; Latricia Allen, DPM, MPH; Mary Nametka, MSN, RN, CWS, CWON, FNP-BC; Vickie R. Driver, MS, DPM, FACFAS
Research on the use of elastic therapeutic tape in patients with chronic ankle instability is limited, but recent findings do suggest that leaving the elastic tape on for several days is associated with improvements in…
By Janet Simon, MS, ATC; Emily Hall, MS, ATC; and Carrie Docherty, PhD, ATC
Updated guidelines and new appropriate use criteria for nonoperative management of knee osteoarthritis aim to focus more directly on typical knee OA patients, who often have comorbidities that can complicate care and…
By Larry Hand
Patients often look to foot and ankle practitioners for advice about footwear choices. But a recent survey of physicians found that nearly half don’t educate their patients about footwear guidelines, and that only one in…
By Daniel Farber, MD
News
In the Moment: O&P
By Greg Gargiulo and Emily Delzell
Ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) improve self-reported balance confidence and may also improve physical functioning in individuals with chronic poststroke hemiplegia, according to a study published in the April issue of…
An integrated orthotic and rehabilitation program for soldiers with severe lower extremity trauma improves physical function and pain and decreases consideration of late amputation, even when patients begin it more than two years after injury.
Bracing costs less and prevents recurrent ankle sprain more effectively than bracing plus neuromuscular training (NMT), according to a cost-effectiveness analysis of injury prevention methods.
Market Mechanics
By Emily Delzell
Products
Hely & Weber introduces the Shields II hinged brace, which maintains the multiuse dynamic control features of the original Shields Brace but is lower profile, lighter weight, and more breathable.
Euro International, now successfully operating as Streifeneder USA, announces the launch of the AK-Suspender. Designed for use with a transfemoral prosthesis, the suspender’s high-tech style and…
KidZerts announces a new footwear product for children, the KidZerts Klute Arch Support Sandal, which is designed to help align the lower extremities for improved posture and balance.
JMS Plastics Supply has added sloped blockers to its growing family of materials and supplies for milling machines used in computer-aided design and manufacturing.
Cascade Dafo’s popular line of prefabricated Fast Fit foot orthoses has a new streamlined look. HotDog, PattiBob, and Chipmunk shoe inserts now feature a breathable blue fabric covering, designed to improve durability while keeping feet cool and comfortable.
Ottobock announces two new products: the Skeo 3D liner and the MagnoFlex lock. The Skeo 3D is a silicone prosthetic liner that introduces Anatomy Specific Geometry (ASG) technology, which reflects the complexity of the lower leg anatomy and…
ComfortFit Orthotic Labs announces a partnership with Redi-Thotics whereby the Max and Flex products will be added to ComfortFit’s comprehensive line of prefabricated orthotic devices.
OTS Corporation has introduced its new Double Adjustable Ankle Joint. The new ankle joint features an all stainless steel construction for stronger, longer lasting control. The lightweight (1.5 oz) joint has an ultra-small joint head to reduce overall bulk.
The PediFix Footcare Company introduces its DiabeticDefense line of topical products. These formulas help people with diabetes take better care of their feet. They wash away fungus and bacteria and help prevent skin breakdown that can lead to infections and ulcers.
Northwest Podiatric Laboratory introduces a new line of prefabricated foot orthoses, Elite OTC, as a medical-grade alternative to insoles from specialty retailers.
