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Cover Story
It’s not surprising that tactile interaction with a smartphone while walking can increase the risk of traumatic injury, but texting while walking also affects gait in ways that may ultimately have long-term effects.
By Shalmali Pal
Editor Message
New research from the University of Western Australia will put some extra spring in a runner’s step – but only if he or she is wearing the right kind of footwear. In discussions of running mechanics, we hear a lot about the spring-like properties of the lower extremities, which are significantly dependent on the…
By Jordana ...
LER: Pediatrics
From the editor: So much depends on the ankles
Several stories in this issue of LER: Pediatrics emphasize the long-term consequences of ankle instability and other problems at this important joint. Compromised ankle function can cause declines in physical activity and put children at risk for obesity, weak bones, and other problems that threaten quality of life.
Departments
Cleated sports are associated with a high incidence of lower extremity injuries. American football and soccer are particularly troublesome due to unique risk factors involving footwear design, loading patterns, and sport-specific biomechanics.
By Patricia Pande, MClScPT, CSCS, CPed
In a recent editorial in The Lancet Diabetes-Endocrinology,1 Lipsky and colleagues wrote that diabetic foot disease “…is not a one doctor disease—it demands multidisciplinary care. Furthermore, as a notoriously unglamorous problem, the disease depends on…
By Terrence P. Sheehan, MD
Obese patients have an increased risk for falls and fall-related injury, not just because of the loads involved, but also because of the strategies they use to recover from a trip or slip. Findings from a growing body of research will help in developing interventions to minimize that risk.
By Hank Black
Identifying loading patterns associated with Jones fractures and other common sports-related injuries can assist with the development of custom modifications to footwear, insoles, and training programs to help reduce injury rates and enhance athletic careers.
By Yannick Goeb, Nate Wilcox-Fogel, and Kenneth J. Hunt, MD
News
In the Moment: Sports Medicine
A pilot study has found that conservative management of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) can provide improvements in pain and function equivalent to those usually achieved with surgery.
By John C. Hayes
Collegiate athletes who sustain a concussion have an increased risk of a lower extremity injury long after returning to play, according to two recent studies that strengthen the case for a brain-sprain connection.
By Jordana Bieze Foster
Ankle kinematics prospectively predict injury risk in collegiate cross country runners, according to prospective research from the University of Memphis in Tennessee.
By Jordana Bieze Foster
In the Moment: O&P
When a lamp cord doesn’t quite reach an outlet, you reach for an extension cord. So when a custom ankle foot orthosis (AFO) didn’t quite provide the corrected forefoot abduction desired in patients with posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD), researchers from Syracuse, NY, added a lateral extension.
By Larry Hand
A walker boot is preferable to two other ankle devices for improving pain and gait after internal fixation for ankle fracture, according to research from the University of Oxford in the UK.
By Jordana Bieze Foster
Patients should refrain from driving for at least six weeks after bunion surgery due to poor braking response times that are not improved with the use of surgical shoes, according to findings from the Medical University of Innsbruck in Austria.
By Larry Hand
Market Mechanics
By Emily Delzell
Products
Evenup is excited to introduce its new product, the ToeSnug Buttress Pad, for treating hammertoes, hard and soft corns, metatarsalgia, and spreading and overlapping toes. For toes that are contracted and bent, the ToeSnug acts as a bumper above the toes to reduce dorsal pressure from footwear.
Ease Microfiber Tights by Therafirm, a Knit-Rite brand, are made with high stretch yarns for easy donning. The soft microfiber material, knit-in waistband, and smooth toe are designed to ensure all-day comfort; the waistband also resists rolling.
OPTP (Orthopedic Physical Therapy Products) has published the 34th edition of its semi-annual professional catalog. The updated catalog now includes nearly 1000 health and wellness products, many of which are offered exclusively through OPTP…
For those suffering from foot drop, the KX2 Flexible Foot Lift enables a more natural walking or running step while allowing ankle mobility. The device is comfortable, easy to use, lightweight, and adjustable.
The new Aero Walker from Advanced Orthopaedics is an advanced walker boot designed to provide the necessary immobilization and compression while maintaining a comfortable user experience.
New from Tamarack Habilitation Technologies, GlideWear Shear Protection Socks provide targeted protection from friction and shear to help prevent skin breakdown. Featuring dual-layer, low-friction fabric technology, GlideWear is engineered to provide…
New Silcare Breathe prosthetic liners from Endolite feature laser drilled perforations to allow moisture and air to escape, offering improved comfort and control for amputees and reducing the risks of socket movement, loss of connection, and skin damage.
DonJoy, a DJO Global company, is proud to introduce the TriZone Knee Brace. Featuring compression knit and silicone materials, TriZone is a lightweight, low-profile knee sleeve designed for performance as well as protection from knee pain.
The STS Company has developed a new size of its slipper casting sock for those individuals with very large feet who are in need of custom foot orthotic devices. The Extra-Extra Large (XXL) Slipper Sock is designed to create an accurate model of the…
Handler Manufacturing introduces the new and improved model 704 Sani-Grinder, with a 33% larger sanding drum to allow for better contouring and shaping of larger podiatric and orthotic appliances. The 704 Sani-Grinder is an affordable, self-contained device that requires no installation.
