Lower Extremity Review
Qualifying for the Olympic Games or the Paralympics is about taking athletic performance to the next level. Sometimes it’s also about taking rehabilitation to the next level. That’s where lower extremity practitioners come in. By Cary Groner
Have a bad day at the office? At least you didn’t have to worry about not having any electricity. Or clean water. Most of us take these things for granted. But for some practitioners, in places devastated by war or by natural disaster, they are very real concerns that go hand in hand with lower extremity care. By Jordana Bieze Foster, Editor
Up to 10% of the population may present with heel pain, which underscores the importance of practitioner familiarity with the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis and the associated risk factors.
By Capt. Danielle L. Scher, MD; Lt. Col. Philip J. Belmont, Jr., MD; and Maj. Brett D. Owens, MD
The roll-over shape, a means of directly measuring rockers during gait, can help determine ways of optimizing orthotic and prosthetic devices so that the resulting gait is as natural as possible.
By Andrew H. Hansen, PhD
The concept of evidence-based running shoe selection is nice in theory, but in fact, the literature is replete with conflicting findings on a range of issues, from arch height to shoe construction.
By Col. Joseph M. Molloy, PT, PhD, SCS, and Maj. Deydre S. Teyhen, PT, PhD, OCS
Pointe shoes, which elongate a dancer’s legs and accentuate the beauty of classical ballet technique, come with their own set of biomechanical principles—and their own set of risk factors for injury.
By Selina Shah, MD
Research suggests that balance exercises can help decrease injury risk and improve performance, particularly in female athletes. But balance training technique can significantly influence results.
By Gretchen D. Oliver, PhD, ATC, LAT
The photo shows a hospital scene that under different circumstances might be comical. A patient with a diabetic foot problem lies in a bed, surrounded by practitioners. But none of the practitioners are communicating with each other, and all but one have their backs to the patient.
Plus: • Platelet-rich plasma •Tendon lengthening • TCC utilization
Two studies presented in March suggest that bracing for knee osteoarthritis may be effective in two patient populations that are not well represented in the OA bracing literature: those with lateral tibiofemoral compartment OA and those with severe disease. Plus: • Effects of footwear • PRP vs hyaluronan
Soccer is already the world’s most popular sport, but new research could very well broaden its appeal even further. Multiple studies from Denmark suggest that playing soccer can improve bone mineral density and other musculoskeletal risk factors associated with falls and fractures.
Plus: • FieldTurf vs grass • Pitchers leg it out
• Orthotic fitters organization debuts, plans first symposium this summer
• STS creates casting sock for Richie
• Diabetic Foot Conference boasts record attendance, honors Joseph
• Redi-Thotics enters the matrix
Levy & Rappel introduces the Levy Dynamic. This dynamic ankle foot orthosis is manufactured with double Velcro straps, full custom uprights and a custom functional foot orthotic base. The custom footplate can be full length or trimmed to the metatarsal head or...
The Dynamic Walk Single Side Orthosis from Centri is a new ankle foot orthosis made of a lightweight moldable carbon fiber composite material. The open heel construction allows for optimal fit and comfort with various shoe types. The Dynamic Walk Single Side provides...
The Iliotibial Band Compression Wrap from Pro-Tec Athletics now has a new non-slip backing to minimize migration. The Iliotibial Band Wrap helps reduce pain on the outside of the knee, alleviating conditions of iliotibial band syndrome. Applied above the patella with...
Anatomical Concepts now offers a multifunctional, ambulatory Articulated AFO for patients in the earliest stages of rehabilitation. Benefits of prescribing the 650 APU (Adjustable Posterior Upright) Articulated AFO include heel strike at initial contact, stability in...
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