Category Archives: Feature Article

Featured Issue Article

December November 2022

Plantar Pressure Analysis: From Research to Frontline Clinical Practice

I’ll try and provide you with an overview of the technologies and techniques involved in plantar pressure analysis, how that data is normally reported, and what you can do with the data so it can benefit your clinical management and evidence-based medicine. I’ll also provide examples from the…

By Nachiappan (Nachi) Chocklingam Continue reading

December November 2022

Movement Is Essential: Interrupting Prolonged Sitting in Adults Affects Cardiometabolic Health

This meta-analysis of 7 acute studies found intermittent short breaks of standing led to a significant reduction in postprandial glucose compared to prolonged sitting. Light-intensity walking was found to be a superior intervention compared to standing and prolonged sitting.

By Aidan J. Buffey, Matthew P. Herring, Christina K. Langley, Alan E. Donnelly, and Brian P. Carson Continue reading

December November 2022

A Brief Overview of Bone Fillers for Foot and Ankle Surgery

Bone repair and regeneration (osteogenesis) relies on a series of intricate events supported by the processes of osteoinduction and osteoconduction. Osteoinduction is the mechanism by which osteogenesis is induced. At this stage, immature cells develop into preosteoblasts.

By Windy Cole, DPM, CWSP Continue reading

December November 2022

Expert Perspective: Finding the Cause of Injury

What is it to say you use a biomechanical approach for your patients? Biomechanics means the functional mechanics of the body. Our bodies are unbelievable. They are very powerful, and fairly resilient. Why do they get injured? What systems or other body parts affect the injured body part?

By Richard Blake, DPM, MS Continue reading

October 2022

The Utility of Pentoxifylline to Treat a Chronic Venous Leg Ulcer: A Case Report

The relationship between calf-pump insufficiency and ulceration has long been established.1 The accompanying venous hypertension is associated with histologic and hemodynamic alterations in capillary and lymphatic microcirculation that result in pathophysiologic changes in the tissues.

By Windy Cole, DPM, CWSP Continue reading

October 2022

A Scoping Review of Heel Fat Pad Syndrome

Clinical commentaries and expert opinions have suggested that aging, injury, repetitive or prolonged overloading (eg, endurance runners), overweight, improper footwear, steroid injection, and comorbidities (eg, diabetes, rheumatic diseases) may negatively impact the structure and function of the heel fat pad.

By Alison H. Chang, Steven Zartov Rasmussen, Asger Emil Jensen, Thomas Sørensen, and Michael Skovdal Rathleff Continue reading

October 2022

International Exercise Recommendations in Older Adults (ICFSR): Expert Consensus Guidelines

The human aging process is universal, ubiquitous, and inevitable. Every physiological function is being continuously diminished. Aging and a sedentary lifestyle are associated with declines in muscle function and cardiorespiratory fitness, resulting in an impaired capacity to perform daily activities and maintain independent functioning. Continue reading

October 2022

Lower Extremity Injuries Involving The United States Rail Transportation System

Thousands of people have United States (US) rail transportation industry jobs, and millions travel by US rail each year. Injuries may occur to employees, passengers, and others who may interact with the rail transportation system. The objective of this study was to characterize lower extremity injuries involving the rail transportation system.

By Mathias B. Forrester, BS Continue reading

September 2022

Practical Biomechanics for the Podiatrist – Book 1

Biomechanics are foundational to podiatry, physiotherapy, and the study of orthotics and prosthetics. Here we provide an excerpt from the author’s recently released Book 1 of the 4-part series, Practical Biomechanics for the Podiatrist.

By Richard Blake, DPM, MS Continue reading

September 2022

The Association Between Step Count and Walking Intensity

The goal of walking 10,000 steps per day is not rooted in science. Rather, it came from a clever Japanese marketing campaign in 1964, for a pedometer called the Manpo-kei: “man” meaning 10,000, “po” meaning steps, and “kei” meaning meter. Despite the origin, this number became a benchmark to achieve while walking… Continue reading

September 2022

Chronic Venous Insufficiency and the Diabetic Patient: Is There a Connection?

Is there a link between diabetes and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)? Well, let’s just say that relationship is “complicated.” While diabetes may not directly cause venous insufficiency, it does have an effect on the tissues of the lower extremities. It has been documented that glycosylated hemoglobin is damaging to…

By Windy Cole, DPM, CWSP Continue reading

September 2022

Biomechanical Risks Associated with Foot and Ankle Injuries in Ballet Dancers

Dancing is a special competitive sport with dancers performing moves in both open and closed kinetic chains…but is training focused on injury prevention? Is it time for a shoe re-design? Dancing may be termed a special competitive sport and dancers perform an activity in both open and closed kinetic chains.

By Fengfeng Li, Ntwali Adrien, and Yuhuan He Continue reading

September 2022

Dog Bites of the Lower Extremity Treated at Hospital Emergency Departments

There are millions of pet dogs in the United States (US), and thousands of people are treated at US hospital emergency departments (EDs) each year for dog bites. Approximately 20-25% of these dog bites affect the lower extremity. The objective of this study was to characterize dog bites of the lower extremity treated…

By Mathias B. Forrester, BS Continue reading

August 2022

The Prodigy Sports: Early Specialization & Possible Long-Term Consequences

What do I mean by the prodigy sports? Specifically, I’m talking about sports that involve adolescents and younger who are already focusing on and playing only one sport. It’s a key chapter in my co-authored book, #HeySportsParents.1 Sports like gymnastics and figure skating are good examples, but we could add soccer, tennis, volleyball, swimming, etc.! Most doctors, therapists, and trainers are unanimous in frowning on…

By Robert Weil, DPM Continue reading

August 2022

Surviving a Knee Injury at 80

A month after my 80th birthday, I was doing a lunge. I bent my right knee and stretched out my left leg. My foot slipped. A sharp pain stabbed my knee. My leg buckled underneath me. If there was a popping sound, I didn’t hear it.  The next day, after an X-ray and a physical assessment of my knee, the physician’s assistant at an Ortho Urgent Care declared that I had injured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the medial collateral ligament (MCL).

By Marianna Crane, retired Continue reading

August 2022

The Utility of Silver Alginate

Exudate management is a common clinical concern when treating chronic wounds. Excessive wound leakage can be harmful to peri-wound skin1 and can require more frequent dressing changes. These dressing changes can damage tissue, be painful to the patient, and utilize nursing time, thereby increasing nursing costs. A dressing that is absorbent and requires minimal dressing changes could improve wound healing, while reducing patient discomfort and…

By Windy Cole, DPM, CWSP Continue reading

August 2022

Trainer’s Perspective: Strategies to Prevent Lower Extremity Injuries Common in Dodgeball

Dodgeball is a unique sport – it challenges a player’s every energy intermittently. Can you throw from a backwards turn mid-air and hit the opposing player in such a way that he or she can’t catch the ball – all while dodging incoming balls from the opposing team – and then run to the back of the court and stop?

By Brenda Kramer, BS Continue reading

August 2022

Player’s Perspective: Ode to Dodgeball Wargear – Shoes

Pairing an activity to the right pair of shoes is incredibly important. It is so important that I wish I had taken it more seriously when I first started playing dodgeball. When you go to a shoe store and tell them you need shoes for dodgeball, they often recommend trainers, or tennis-style shoes. Depending on your type of play, I really do not recommend this.

By Stacy Huen Continue reading

August 2022

Malnutrition: How It Affects Wound Healing in the Elderly

Various screening tools can be used to identify malnutrition early in the wound care process, improving healing times and quality of life. Anti-aging is not only a buzzword but a multimillion-dollar industry. Despite the many advertising claims and promises, we all experience physical and bodily changes as we age.

By Nancy Collins, PhD, RDN, LD, NWCC, FAND, and Ame Proietti Continue reading

August 2022

Inventor’s Corner/How I Built That: All Carbon Fiber Footwear Plates Are Not Alike

The evolution of carbon fiber plate technology has accelerated in the past few years becoming an integral part of high-end running shoes produced by many of the top brands. The Nike Vaporfly first debuted in 2017 and its popularity, along with its performance, prompted a new paradigm in running shoe technology. The Vaporfly series features a rocker-shaped carbon fiber plate embedded in the…

By Matthew Arciuolo, C.Ped. BOC Continue reading

July 2022

Cardiometabolic Benefits of Replacing Sedentary Time with Light Physical Activity

Reduced sedentary time and increased light- and moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity had beneficial effects on several cardiometabolic risk markers in adults with metabolic syndrome.

By Taru Garthwaite, Tanja Sjöros, Saara Laine, Henri Vähä-Ypyä, Eliisa Löyttyniemi, Harri Sievänen, Noora Houttu, Kirsi Laitinen, Kari Kalliokoski, Tommi Vasankari, Juhani Knuuti, and Ilkka Heinonen Continue reading

July 2022

Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans

Preschool-Aged Children: Preschool-aged children (ages 3 through 5 years) should be physically active throughout the day to enhance growth and development. Adult caregivers of preschool-aged children should encourage active play that includes a variety of activity types. Children and Adolescents: It is important to provide young people opportunities and… Continue reading

July 2022

Disrupting Sedentariness With Short Exercise Bouts Improves Insulin/Glucose Metabolism

The health consequences of prolonged sedentary behavior—defined as activities with ≤1.5 metabolic equivalents of energy expenditure in a sitting or reclining posture—include an increased risk for cardiometabolic diseases and all-cause mortality…

By Tobias Engeroff, Eszter Füzeki, Lutz Vogt, and Winfried Banzer; Han C. G. Kemper, Academic Editor Continue reading

July 2022

Resistance Training Protects Age-Related Muscle Mass Loss*

The old adage is right: aging is not for sissies. Data shows that age-related losses in skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function weaken physiological resilience leading to increased vulnerability to catastrophic events. Each body may age in response to its unique life events, but every body does age. The Baby Boom generation (those born 1946–1964), benefitted… Continue reading

July 2022

Improving Walker Device Safety Keeps Patients Moving Forward

Aluminum frame walkers have been helping people get around since the late 1940’s. Did you ever wonder if they could do more? Inspiration comes to us in many forms. For Tim Visos-Ely, his inspiration came from personal experience with his grandmother. Not quite 10 years ago, Grandma Chris had a series of strokes that left her…

By Laura Fonda Hochnadel Continue reading