Cover Story
Early mobilization techniques have revolutionized both surgical and nonsurgical management of Achilles ruptures, but the resulting improved outcomes have ignited a heated discussion among practitioners as to which approach is best.
by Cary Groner
Editor Message
Genetic testing would seem to be just what the doctor ordered for sports injury prevention. But the world of sports is far from ready for genetic testing.
Given the preliminary nature of data presented in April at the ...
Special Report
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DEFENSIVE GAME PLAN: Global insights on sports injury prevention
Multinational all-star teams of sports medicine experts convened in Monaco in April for the World Conference on Prevention of Illness & Injury in Sport, now under the direction of the International Olympic Committee. LER’s exclusive coverage of this event details progress toward prevention of lower extremity injuries in basketball, soccer, volleyball, running, and ice hockey.
Sponsored by an educational grant from…
Findings contrast with prior studies
Lace-up ankle braces can significantly reduce the risk of ankle sprain in high school basketball players, even those with no history of injury, according to findings from Wisconsin that challenge current evidence-based thinking about prophylactic ankle ...
Athletes concerned about dynamic postural stability, such as those with a history of ankle sprain, may be better off with ankle bracing than taping, according to an Irish study presented in Monaco in April.
In a study of 15 male Gaelic ...
Specific mechanisms remain unclear
Multimodal warm-up exercise programs appear to have benefits for reducing the incidence of groin injuries in athletes, but researchers are working to identify which specific training components have the greatest effect.
Almost an afterthought at the 2008 sports ...
His research group has identified three physical exam findings that can effectively screen for risk of femoral acetabular impingement in adolescent hockey players, but the world’s most famous hip surgeon thinks more drastic preventive measures may be warranted much earlier ...
Jumping ability not implicated
Hard work can make up for a lack of natural talent in sports, but research from Norway suggests that may not be true when it comes to the risk of patellar tendinopathy (jumper’s knee) in young volleyball ...
Dynamic plantar pressure distributions vary between soccer and basketball players in ways that may have implications for preventing injuries related to repetitive loading, according to research from Spain presented in Monaco in April.
Investigators from Catholic University San Antonio in Murcia, ...
Efforts focus on soccer players
Norway and Denmark are traditionally rivals in soccer. But an increasingly popular Norwegian eccentric strength training technique for preventing hamstring injuries recently got a big assist from Danish researchers.
An open cluster randomized controlled trial of 50 ...
Kinetic variables, including impact peaks, do not predict risk of running related lower extremity injury in novice runners, according to research from the Netherlands.
Investigators from University Medical Center Groningen prospectively analyzed kinetics in 181 novice recreational runners (mean BMI of ...
Valgus may play supporting role
The usual luminaries were on hand in Monaco to exchange familiar barbs over the relative contributions of knee valgus and knee flexion to anterior cruciate ligament injury, but much of the new research being presented suggests ...
Genetics may be the final frontier of sports injury prevention, and researchers are only beginning to explore it. But investigators from South Africa are slowly making progress in identifying specific gene variants associated with risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury ...
Departments
Many lower extremity practitioners are not aware of the risks of distress, depression, and cognitive impairment in patients with diabetes. But screening for mental health issues and adjusting patient management accordingly can significantly improve diabetic foot care ...
Research suggests that different bracing designs may have different mechanisms of action for relief of patellofemoral pain syndrome, which is consistent with the heterogeneous nature of the condition and underscores the need to understand each design’s function ...
Not so long ago, the effectiveness of prefabricated foot orthoses relative to their custom brethren was a bitterly divisive topic. But the vitriol has dissipated over time, as practitioners have turned their focus to the appropriate selective ...
The loss of bone integrity that accompanies ACL injury persists after reconstructive surgery, even with aggressive rehabilitation. Improved interventions may help decrease patients’ risk for low bone mineral density and osteoarthrosis.
By John Nyland DPT, SCS, EdD, ATC, ...
Findings from studies of PRP can be conflicting and confusing, but lower extremity practitioners remain cautiously optimistic about the trendy treatment’s clinical potential to accelerate healing of soft tissues, bone, and diabetic wounds.
by Cary Groner
News
In the Moment: O&P
By Jordana Bieze Foster
Rotation may be key to pain relief
Research from the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City confirms that the kinetic effects of osteoarthritis knee bracing are in fact related to bracing’s effects on knee pain—but not in the way ...
An ankle foot orthosis that orients the ankle in slight dorsiflexion may help improve knee flexion during gait and reduce the risk of heel ulcers in post-stroke patients, according to research from Marquette University in Milwaukee.
Investigators performed gait analysis on ...
A Mayo Clinic study confirms previously reported offloading effects of a rocker bottom shoe design in patients with diabetic neuropathy and suggests that a plastazote insole may increase that benefit.
Researchers analyzed dynamic plantar pressures in 15 subjects with diabetic peripheral ...
Market Mechanics
Products
Ambra Le Roy Medical Products offers the Gentle Band short stretch bandages. Gentle Band bandages are designed to work as a wrap for treatment of lower extremity edema, lymphedema, diabetic foot ulcers, venous insufficiencies, and deep vein thrombosis. By exerting ...
Townsend Design offers the new RebelLock OTS Specialty Bracing Solution, a lightweight option for patients who need stability and functionality to control significant instabilities. The product comes in standard off the shelf sizes from XS to XL and can be ...
Kano Labs officially releases the KanoPrint direct form custom orthotic station, an on-the-spot custom corrective thermoforming system for in-office use that obviates casting and non-reimbursed dispensing appointments. The KanoPrint station is a platform equipped with two high-resistance silicone pads, filled ...
Sroufe Healthcare Products introduces the new Sher Orthotic Foam Block. Sher Orthotic Foam Blocks are pre-skived, pre-laminated sheets of foam materials that can be heated to quickly and easily fabricate a pair of custom foot orthotics. The thickness of the ...
The fashionable EverSheer medical compression stocking product line from SIGVARIS is now available in a medically measured 15-20mmHg compression level. The EverSheer line of compression stockings combines breathability and moisture management with consistent sheerness from ankle to thigh. EverSheer products ...
SwimEx offers a new “Comprehensive Aquatic Exercise DVD Set.” The four disc DVD set is designed to provide all the information needed for clinical use of a SwimEx pool, including the science and technology of why and how it works. ...
BioSoft diabetic socks from Orthofeet are functionally engineered to maximize comfort and protection. Very loose knit construction and non-constricting welts facilitate blood flow. The dual tone design with white soles enables easy detection of wounds. Inverse toe-linking provides a virtually ...
Patient compliance in diabetic shoes starts with providing your patients the styles they’ll want to wear. The four new men’s dress styles in the Urban Comfort Collection bring timeless classic style and fashion to Dr. Comfort’s men’s line. New styles ...
Ever-Safe, a women-owned business established in January 2010, seeks to provide workers with medical and safety apparel featuring anti-microbial and fluid-resistant properties. Made in the USA, the Ever-Safe socks have been tested for eight months on people who are on ...
New from Hapad, Comf-Orthotic Extra Cushioning Full Length Insoles are tri-laminate replacement insoles engineered for sensitive and insensitive feet. The new full-length insoles are modeled after the company’s Comf-Orthotic Sports Replacement Insole, except the top layer has been replaced with ...
