Lower Extremity Review
Despite advances in wound dressings and best practices, hard-to-heal wounds still remain. Increases in the number of chronic wounds have led to greater antibiotic usage, more hospitalizations, and increased amputations.1 It is therefore necessary to understand the continuum of wound contamination and effectively address…
By Windy Cole, DPM, CWSP, FAPWH
These authors summarize the critical take-home points from sleep-related research in 2 key areas: strategies for everyday and those relevant for student athletes—both delivered as easy-to understand infographics.
By Jeremy R. Hawkins, PhD, LAT, ATC; Michael Reeder, DO; and Alli Powell, DAT, LAT, ATC
With cycling’s growing popularity—as a recreational hobby, an athletic pursuit, and a commuting alternative—making sure the bike fits the rider is key to preventing future injuries. With the pandemic, the past year has seen people of all ages and fitness levels seeking outdoor activities and alternatives to driving and public transport, resulting in a renewed popularity of cycling for health…
By Happy Freedman
Use of an antimicrobial moisture management dressing paired with a gellable fiber technology under a two-layer compression system in the treatment of heavily exudating VLUs improves clinical outcomes and cost savings. Chronic venous insufficiency is the 7th most…
By Windy Cole, DPM, CWSP
These authors hypothesize that calf raises would elicit superior activation of soleus, lateral, and medial gastrocnemius muscles in comparison to leg press.
By Paulo Gentil, Daniel Souza, Murillo Santana, Rafael Ribeiro Alves, Mário Hebling Campos, Ronei Pinto, and Martim Bottaro
Ankle sprain is one of the most common ankle injuries. Every day in the U.S., 25,000 people sprain their ankle. And more than 1 million people visit emergency rooms each year because of ankle injuries. The most common ankle injuries are sprains and fractures, which involve ligaments, tendons, and bones in the ankle.
By Nathan Lloyd, MSc
The popularity of lower extremity compression garments (CGs) amongst athletes continues to increase. Initially CGs were mainly prescribed to patients with chronic venous disorder. Using graduated lower extremity CGs with a degrading pressure from distal to proximal parts of this extremity increases venous flow velocity…
By Thierry P. C. Franke, Frank J. G. Backx, and Bionka M. A. Huisstede
Diabetic foot ulcers and the resultant skin defects caused by delayed wound healing are a common and costly challenge for healthcare providers. Recent advances in tissue engineering have given rise to new promising treatment options to help with wound repair and tissue augmentation. Newly available adipose tissue grafts can help clinicians solve troublesome issues…
By Windy Cole, DPM, CWSP
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major problem worldwide, especially among elderly. Diabetic patients are prone to develop neuropathy at their feet and ankles. The incidence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) among newly diagnosed diabetic patients is approximately 30%.
By Koen Andre Horstink, Lucas Henricus Vincentius van derWoude, and Juha Markus Hijmans
Many foot and ankle specialists focus on the musculoskeletal conditions of patients. Skin and nail conditions of the feet, however, are some of the most common complaints that patients have. This 3-part series describes the most common conditions patients present with to my office and provide some effective treatment options.
By Paul J. Betschart, DPM
3D printing has been waiting to disrupt the orthotics market for years. Only time will tell if the pandemic’s pause afforded clinicians the opportunity to understand the benefits this technology can bring to their practice and their patients. Recent decades have seen a proliferation of technological advances that promise to transform traditional methods of fabricating in-shoe foot orthoses.
By Cary Groner
I joined Langer Biomechanics toward the end of 1979. I believe the orthotic industry was about halfway through the first of 3 distinct periods in its evolution: the development phase. The science, education, and product development work of that era created a level of utilization by clinicians that forever altered the previous use of “arch supports” and replaced…
By Jason Kraus
We see the signs of COVID-19 loosening all around us. Protocols are relaxing, stores are opening, social events are happening, and people are traveling again. At a personal level, we are experiencing a series of post-COVID firsts. Some are small, such as a first trip to the store without a mask, first in-person meeting, or first sporting event.
By Gerald Stark, PhD, MSEM, CPO/L
Lower Extremity Review reminds us of Bob Dylan’s famous line, “the times they are a-changin’,” as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. But one has to wonder a bit why it took the pandemic to induce 1 very large change we all experienced: the shift from centralized to decentralized workspaces, at least for those of us in academia.
By Paul DeVita, PhD
In 2019, I worked in an office/clinic setting seeing multiple patients per day. On a normal day, I would shake their hand, touch as clinically necessary, fit and adjust prostheses. I would talk with colleagues in the breakroom while reaching for adjoining coffee mugs and exchange pleasantries with the patients of colleagues I passed near shoulder-to-shoulder in the hall.
By Robert Lin, CPO
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