Lower Extremity Review
For many years, knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) therapy to improve functional mobility and activities of daily living (ADL) was considered to be effective for patients with stroke. However, evidence regarding the efficacy of KAFO use post-stroke is unclear, due to a lack of published high-quality studies.
We typically lose proprioception as we age, which can negatively affect balance. But why do we lose proprioception simply because we age? Proprioception was originally defined as “the perception of joint and body movement as well as position of the body, or body segments, in space.” At present, proprioception can be…
By Adrian Faccioni, MS
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
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…
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
In this presentation, we will look at some of the great paradigms of injury prevention that have underpinned the running shoe industry for more than 40 years: motion control and cushioning. Do these paradigms stand up to scientific scrutiny, and if not, where else should we be looking?
By Simon Bartold
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
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
Sprint kinematics have been linked to hamstring injury and performance. This study aimed to examine if a specific 6-week multimodal intervention, combining lumbopelvic control and unning technique exercises, induced changes in pelvis and lower-limb kinematics at maximal speed and improved sprint performance.
Prosthetic manufacturer and patient care provider Ottobock, Duderstadt, Germany, has recently agreed to acquire Pace Rehabilitation, one of the United Kingdom’s (UK’s) independent providers of prosthetic and rehabilitation services for people who have sustained a serious limb injury.
Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and elsewhere demonstrated an in-home device that can monitor a patient’s movement and gait speed, which can be used to evaluate Parkinson’s severity, the progression of the disease, and the patient’s response to medication.
A team from the University of Notre Dame’s Robotics, Optimization and Assistive Mobility (ROAM) lab has tested 3 different control mechanisms designed to advance the human-machine interface of a powered prosthetic ankle. While current lower limb prostheses can be given a motor assist, the team is advancing the
Using a novel fabrication process, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have produced smart textiles that snugly conform to the body so they can sense the wearer’s posture and recognize its wearer’s activities, like walking, running, and jumping. By incorporating a special type of plastic yarn and…
The Terrein Ascent hiking shoe combines natural freedom of motion with effective joint protection via a mini piston, called an “adapter,” which guards against twisting forces acting on the ankle. The protection system engages 3 times faster than human anatomy can, blocking further motion, and allowing the wearer…
The SKY Stabilizer™ provides featherlight and streamlined support to athletes with healthy ankles and who want to keep them that way. The device is engineered to aid in promoting a more stable positioning range, thereby reducing potential for serious injury that could lead to chronic ankle instability.
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