Category Archives: Feature 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
