Lower Extremity Review
Skin trauma to the lower extremities—blisters, lacerations, incisions, and punctures—are common for those participating in athletic and recreational activities and are seen every day in clinical care settings. A foot ulcer, an open sore on the foot, is a more serious form of skin trauma or wound that occurs, often brought on in an environment compromised by diabetes or any…
By Keith Loria
When people hear the word “Botox,” their immediate associations might be with facial injection as an anti-wrinkle treatment or magazine gossip on the latest celebrity to suffer a “botch job” from one-too-many injections. Prior to the modern use of this acetylcholine-blocking neurotoxin, no one other than medical professionals who used it to treat their patients really knew what Botox is.
By Benn Jason Scott Boshell, MSc, BSc (Hons)
Tai chi, a traditional Chinese mind-body exercise, consists of body rotations, semi-squat positions, and slow, controlled movements. As one moves through the various stances, balance shifts between single- and double-leg support, thereby incorporating gait, balance, and lower-limb strength training all at once.
By Janice T. Radak
Shortly after age 50, the rate at which a person loses muscle mass begins to accelerate.1 Figure 1 is a graphical representation of the average number of quadriceps muscle fibers present in adults aged 18 to 82.2 Looking at the center of the graph, it is clear that the number of muscle fibers remains stable until around age 50.
By Tom Michaud, DC
Surgical management of recalcitrant plantar fasciitis has largely been limited to plantar fasciotomy. A potential alternative is effective, relatively safe, and reliable gastrocnemius recession, which addresses the effect of gastrocnemius muscle contracture on these patients.
By Joseph G. Wilson, DPM, T. Craig Wirt, DPM, PhD, Jonathan L. Hook, DPM, MHA
Patellofemoral pain is a common condition among adolescents, with nearly 7% of the today’s adolescent population affected.1 It’s a particular burden for girls—it affects as many as 10% of adolescent female athletes2, and the pain likely shuts them out of sports at a similar rate to…
By Nicole Wetsman
This randomized controlled study evaluated the efficacy of slip-simulating reactive balance training compared to conventional balance training in regard to falls prevention.
By Anne Krause, Kathrin Freyler, Albert Gollhofer, Thomas Stocker, Uli Brüderlin, Ralf Colin, Harald Töpfer, and Ramona Ritzmann
Osteoporosis reduces bone mass, weakening the overall microarchitectural structure of bone tissue and leaving individuals susceptible to fractures from falls, or in severe cases, hard sneezes. That postmenopausal women are at increased risk for osteoporosis and the fractures it causes, has been known for some time.
By Janice Radak
This narrative review, excerpted here, sought to determine the prevalence of incorrectly fitted footwear and to examine its association with foot pain and foot disorders across 18 studies involving 3,205 patients.
By Andrew K. Buldt and Hylton B. Menz
The so-called crossover foot is emerging as an attractive option in lower-extremity prosthetics, just as crossovers found their way into the automotive market: because they offer utility.
By Phil Stevens, MEd, CPO, FAAOP
Assistive ambulation devices for the ankle can bolster walking speed and safety and lessen the risk of injury to the joint. But which of 2 technologies is best for your patient?
By Hank Black
Diabetic foot ulcers pose life-threatening risks to patients with diabetes. Offloading of high pressure areas of the foot is key to successful treatment. We review various methods here.
By James McGuire, DPM, PT, LPed, FAPWHc, and Tyler Coye, BA
Functional rehabilitation training protocols typically consist of stability and postural control exercises aimed at recovering from the proprioceptive defect that occurs after an ankle injury and preventing recurrent sprains by improving stabilometric results.
By Audris Tien, DPM, Jarrod Shapiro, DPM, FACFAS, FACFAOM, Jonathan Labovitz, DPM, FACFAS, CHCQM
Equinus is the primary mechanical cause of acquired non-traumatic foot and ankle pathology—plantar fasciitis, AT, and MSS—in running sports. The three most common lower-extremity overuse injuries among those who participate in running-related sports such as basketball have all been linked to the…
By Patrick A. DeHeer, DPM, FACFAS, FASPS, FFPM RCPS (Glasg)
High relapse rate from preseason injuries presents significant challenge for athletes and sports teams. Hamstring strain injuries are among the most common in sports, often leading to recurring problems or future injury. Marcus Elliott, director of P3 Applied Sports Science and a former muscle-injury specialist for the National Football League’s New England Patriots, conducted…
By Keith Loria
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