Category Archives: Archives
August 2011
Low-profile Insole
Spenco Medical introduces the PolySorb ProForm, an insole that provides cushion and support for tight-fitting shoes. The ProForm, an ultra-thin insert, is designed to provide comfort in shoe styles that typically do not have room for an insole. Its four-way … Continue reading
August 2011
MedEfficiency TCC-EZ Boot
MedEfficiency has released an improved TCC-EZ Boot for diabetic foot ulcer healing. The updated TCC-EZ Boot, designed for use with the TCC-EZ Total Contact Cast System, features a Velcro closure, side paddles that grip the TCC-EZ cast, and a new sole … Continue reading
August 2011
Insightful Products Step-Smart Brace
Insightful Products’ new Step-Smart brace for foot drop pushes the foot into gentle dorsiflexion during swing phase and then decelerates the foot during heel strike. The brace is designed to provide correct timing of shock absorption and the appropriate level … Continue reading
August 2011
Össur Re-Flex Rotate Foot
Össur’s Re-Flex Rotate with energy vector optimization is a durable high performance foot that provides both vertical and rotational shock absorption as well as smoother rollover for increased stability in stance. The combination is appropriate for very active or moderately … Continue reading
August 2011
Euro International Therapeutic Shoes
Euro International introduces a new therapeutic shoe line, and now offers an assortment of surgical and foot-relief shoes, including the Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, Merkur, Uranus, and Neptune models. The new line features high-quality craftsmanship and material selection to accommodate … Continue reading
August 2011
Pedifix GelSmart Toe Spacer
PediFix introduces the GelSmart gel toe spacer, which is equipped with a gel loop to fix the device in place. The toe spacer with stretchable gel loop, made from a comfortable, durable gel material, separates the hallux and second toe … Continue reading
August 2011
Foot Foundation Balance System
The Foot Foundation’s new Sports Balance System measures and controls pronation with archless, custom-angled, full-foot foundations that can be used in almost any shoe, including athletic shoes. The SBS measurements correspond with one of 12 custom angled foundations that are designed to quickly and … Continue reading
August 2011
Momentous adaptations: Offloading the knee through gait modification
Changing the way people walk can significantly decrease knee external adduction moments, which in turn appears to relieve pain and possibly slow the progression of osteoarthritis. The challenge, however, is finding a gait modification that feels and appears natural to patients.
By Lydia Caldwell, BS, and Joaquin Barrios, PT, DPT, PhD
August 2011
Out on a limb: A thin disguise
It’s hard to remember sometimes that being thin was once undesirable, a sign of poverty, poor nutrition, and low social status. These days, Hollywood-style thinness is associated with wealth—the kind of wealth that might buy the services of a personal dietitian, personal chef, and personal trainer.
By Jordana Bieze Foster, Editor
August 2011
The role of rocker soles in reducing ulcer risk
Study findings suggest that rocker soles effectively reduce peak plantar pressures in patients at risk for diabetic foot ulceration, particularly when paired with custom orthoses. Whether or not rocker soles can play a role in healing active neuropathic ulcers, however, remains unclear.
By Emily Delzell
August 2011
Effects of balance training in individuals with CAI
Research supports the use of balance training to improve physiological and clinical outcome measures in patients with chronic ankle instability. Now researchers and clinicians must use that knowledge to optimize the incorporation of balance training into CAI rehabilitation protocols.
By JoEllen M. Sefton, PhD, ATC, CMT, and Kenneth E. Games, MEd, ATC
August 2011
Pros, cons of pressure in foot orthosis design
There’s little question that dynamic pressure data have benefit for designing foot orthoses, particularly for diabetic patients, but recent focus on the technology’s limitations has clinicians wondering about cost justification. And what about those ubiquitous drugstore kiosks?
By Cary Groner
August 2011
Gait analysis influences care of children with CP
Instrumented gait analysis can help characterize abnormal gait patterns in patients with cerebral palsy, which improves clinical decision making. Early interventions based on gait analysis can help minimize the long-term adverse effects of poor biomechanics.
By Frank M. Chang, MD, Jason T. Rhodes, MD, MS, Katherine M. Davies, BA, and James J. Carollo, PhD, PE
August 2011
Next step for FES focuses on plantar flexor muscles
Functional electrical stimulation of the ankle dorsiflexor muscles effectively reduces foot drop in stroke patients, but also is associated with limitations. Now researchers are looking to address those limitations by adding plantar flexor stimulation to the mix.
By Emily Delzell
August 2011
PFP: Vasti revisited
Other factors may warrant focus
Research presented in August at the annual meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics in Long Beach, CA, adds support to the increasingly popular idea that patellofemoral pain syndrome arises from different mechanisms—and therefore should be managed differently—in different subgroups of patients.
By Jordana Bieze Foster
August 2011
Athletes of both genders risk asymmetry in landing kinetics after surgery on ACL
Female athletes may have a greater risk of a primary anterior cruciate ligament injury than their male counterparts, but following ACL reconstruction both genders are equally prone to asymmetrical landing kinetics that could lead to a second injury, according to research from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
August 2011
Handicapping hallux valgus
Predictive variables include race, age
Research presented in July at the annual meeting of the American Podiatric Medical Association in Boston adds to knowledge of risk factors for and prevalence of hallux valgus. Older age, African American race, high heel use, and genetic factors all conferred an increased risk of HV.
By Emily Delzell
August 2011
Mild compression socks reduce edema, maintain flow in patients with diabetes
Mild compression socks can reduce lower extremity edema in patients with diabetes without compromising vascularity, according to research presented in July at the annual APMA meeting in Boston.
August 2011
Upshots of ankle bracing
Proximal effects could put knees at risk
Bracing the ankle has kinetic effects at the more proximal joints that could increase the risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury, according to research from Iowa State University presented in August at the annual meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics in Long Beach, CA.
By Jordana Bieze Foster
August 2011
Gait data suggest ESAR prosthetic feet sacrifice stability to improve propulsion
Decreasing the stiffness of an energy storage and return prosthetic foot improves propulsion but does so at the cost of stability, according to research from the University of Texas at Austin presented in August at the ASB meeting.
August 2011
Ankle foot orthoses assist conservative treatment of retrocalcaneal heel pain
Nonoperative treatment of retrocalcaneal heel pain with stretching and ankle foot orthoses has had an 83% success rate at the University of Tennessee, researchers from that institution reported in July at the annual meeting of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society in Keystone, CO.
August 2011
Study supports Heelift to lower risk of pressure ulcers after hip fracture
The Heelift Suspension Boot from Evanston, IL-based DM Systems can significantly reduce the risk of pressure ulcers in patients recovering from hip fracture, according to a study from Northern Ireland published in the July issue of the Journal of Wound … Continue reading
August 2011
Masterfit University courses hone snowsports boot fitting expertise
Lower extremity practitioners who are involved or interested in snowsports boot fitting can learn the relevant skills while earning continuing education credits through Briarcliff Manor, NY-based Masterfit University. Designed and taught by certified pedorthists with more than 225 years of … Continue reading
