Lower Extremity Review
Clinicians should advocate for the cost-effective, judicious use of foot orthoses for runners with plantar fasciitis, in accordance with the present body of knowledge.
By Patricia Pande, MClScPT, CSCS, CPed
Basketball is associated with a high number of lower extremity injuries, often related to footwear and the unique biomechanics and repetitious motion of the sport. This reflects the evolution of basketball from a refined sport to one of extreme physical contact and leverage. At elite levels of competition, the joint loading that comes with…
By Patricia Pande, MClScPT, CSCS, CPed
Evidence suggests that no one foot strike style can be expected to decrease injury risk in all runners, and that switching foot strike patterns can have unintended consequences. Using a shorter stride length, however, can be an effective alternative for some runners.
By Elizabeth Boyer, PhD, and Tim Derrick, PhD
Men with low bone mass are much less likely than their female counterparts to receive treatment. But research suggests that resistance exercise is a safe and effective way to improve bone mineral density in men and, in turn, reduce the risk of fracture and related complications
By Pamela S. Hinton, PhD
Research presented at the most recent International Ankle Symposium indicates that rehabilitation for chronic ankle instability is evolving from a one-size-fits-all approach to an increased focus on matching specific interventions to the patients who are most likely to benefit.
By Lori Roniger
In this original investigation, researchers analyzed the biomechanical effects of a foot orthosis in patients with flexible flat foot during walking and the extent to which those functional effects are consistent with proposed theories about the device’s mechanism of action.
By Bruce Elliott, PT, DPT, COMT, and Juan Garbalosa, PhD, PT
Studies presented at the Patellofemoral Pain Research Retreat in Manchester, UK, illustrate the progress researchers are making toward the ultimate goal of being able to tailor exercise protocols and other interventions to best address the needs of specific patient subgroups.
By Jordana Bieze Foster
High degrees of rotational traction associated with athletic footwear can increase the risk of noncontact lower extremity injury following an unexpected neuromuscular perturbation, possibly by increasing biomechanical joint loading at the ankle and knee.
By John W. Wannop, PhD; Ryan Madden, MSc; and Darren J. Stefanyshyn, PhD, PEng
Although the medical literature has not yet provided definitive evidence of effectiveness, a number of existing studies suggest that yoga interventions are associated with improved physical and mental health outcomes among adults with knee osteoarthritis.
By Monica R. Maly, PT, PhD
Hemostatic activation following a marathon is lower in athletes who run with compression socks than those who run with typical athletic socks, suggesting the garments may help reduce the risk of postexercise clot formation in athletes who travel to events.
By Amanda Zaleski, MS; and Beth Taylor, PhD
Researchers at the University of Delaware in Newark are using a new ultrasound-based technique to better understand the effects of rehabilitation on the Achilles tendon, which could help optimize rehab protocols to improve long-term function.
By Cary Groner
A meniscal injury gave one practitioner new insight into the patient experience and renewed his belief that healing isn’t just about what happens physically.
By Cary Groner
Although milder than the spasticity-induced cases of equinus, limited ankle dorsiflexion in the non-neurological population is increasingly recognized as a source of excessive strain throughout the foot and a factor in the pathogenesis of many foot conditions.
By Nicholas V. DiMassa and Jeffrey M. Whitaker DPM, FACFAS
Recent analyses cautiously recommend the short-term adjunctive use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for diabetic foot ulcer healing under certain conditions, but in the absence of high-quality clinical trials, experts continue to debate the controversial therapy’s benefits.
By Hank Black
Using muscle function symmetry as an indicator of patient progress after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction can provide insight about potential targets for intervention to improve movement quality, functional performance, and patient outcomes.
By Christopher Kuenze, PhD, ATC; and Adam Kelly, MS, ATC
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