Lower Extremity Review
Diabetes mellitus (DM) can lead to long-term complications including limb amputations. Annually in the US about 73,000 nontraumatic lower limb amputations are performed and > 60% occur among persons with DM. Veterans have a high number of risk factors and are especially vulnerable. One in 4 veterans has DM, compared to 1 in 6 in the general population.
By Lynn Soban, PhD, MPH, RN
Science and quantification are long overdue in the orthotic work that we do on a daily basis. The process of capturing the anatomical arch, creating a positive model, and managing arch fill has been solely a decision of those trained in the art.
By Ian Engelman
Research is showing that it’s not “just an ankle sprain,” but rather the first step on a perilous journey to physical instability and lower quality of life. The clinical presentation of chronic ankle instability (CAI) has been defined as the perceived or subjective instability with feelings of giving way, pain, and recurrent sprains.
A long-overlooked part of the human foot is key to how the foot works, how it evolved, and how we walk and run, according to a Yale-led team of researchers. The discovery upends nearly a century of conventional thinking about the human foot and could open new avenues to explore in evolutionary biology as well as guide new designs for robotic and prosthetic feet, said the study team.
By William Weir
In a study that debuted at the National Athletic Trainers Association virtual meeting and was subsequently published later, a multidisciplinary team of clinicians sought to analyze the effects of visual gait biofeedback along with impairment-based rehabilitation on gait biomechanics in a group of patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI).
This 2-part series examines the current state of peripheral artery disease. Part 1, which appeared in the August issue, focused on disease burden, risk factors, and clinical presentation. This article reviews diagnostic tools and current management recommendations.
By Aisha Cobbs, PhD
Lightweight, durable, and stable, the Ottobock custom carbon ankle foot orthosis (CCAFO) provides dynamic support during even the most demanding activities. The CCAFO is fully customized to your patient’s height, weight, and activity level, with a molded-to-you inner boot and adjustable foot and calf straps.
Six research institutions are launching the first-ever multicenter network to study diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), which are the leading cause of lower-limb amputations in the United States. The Diabetic Foot Consortium (DFC) aims to lay the foundation for a clinical trial network to test how to improve diabetic wound healing…
Urban Poling’s evidence-based ACTIVATOR poles were designed by an occupational therapist and gerontologist specifically for rehabilitation and long-term conditions. This patented design enhances strengthening, stability, and off-loading with your clients’ safety in mind.
Strolln by Coyote is a therapeutic mobility shoe that was designed with patented retractable rollers to provide easier toe clearance for patients with foot drop. It is priced appropriately for patients to start using it immediately in therapy.
A new cooling insole developed by University of Texas Southwestern (UT Southwestern) scientists reduced the foot temperature of patients with diabetic neuropathy by several degrees, diminishing a significant risk factor for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs).
KneeKG by Emovi is a novel, regulatory-cleared, in-clinic assessment tool used to conduct a knee kinesiography, which evaluates knee functional deficiencies linked to patients’ symptoms or future orthopedic disease progression.
Össur’s streamlined version of its Empower program provides comprehensive workflow and practice-management solutions for providers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies and O&P practices. It is now available via an app that is compatible with both Apple- and Android-based smartphones.
Sport Profiler insoles from Digitsole are the first connected insoles for running that allow athletes to improve their performance by adopting a healthy gait. They are designed to analyze and interpret stride technique via multiple biomechanical parameters, prevent the risk of injury, and monitor and improve performance.
The “enhanced paper grip test,” validated by researchers from the Centre for Biomechanics and Rehabilitation Technologies (CBRT) at Staffordshire University, England, involves pulling a small card from underneath the participant’s foot while asking them to grip with their big toe (hallux).
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