Lower Extremity Review
Preliminary research suggests platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a safe and effective means of treating hamstring injuries that do not respond to early conservative measures…
By Frank B. Wydra, MD; Ryan R. Fader, MD; Omer Mei-Dan, MD; and Eric C. McCarty, MD
The frontal and sagittal plane gait biomechanics associated with progression to total joint replacement in patients with knee osteoarthritis, particularly variables related to sustained loading, may be promising…
By Cheryl Hubley-Kozey, PhD, and Gillian Hatfield, PT, PhD
Study findings suggest that increased loading rates and tibial acceleration are associated with an increased risk of sustaining a tibial stress fracture. Interventions directed at reducing these impact…
By CPT Jamie B. Morris, DPT, OCS, CSCS, and LTC Donald L. Goss, PT, PhD, OCS, ATC
Given that older women are at increased risk for osteoporosis, an increased incidence of fifth metatarsal fractures with increasing age in women suggests that such injuries could serve as an early point of entry into osteoporosis treatment and fracture prevention.
By David Beck, MD, Justin Kane, MD, and David Pedowitz, MD
Research utilizing contrast-enhanced ultrasound suggests that, although cryotherapy effectively decreases the pain associated with exercise-related muscle damage, those symptomatic effects are not associated with decreased blood flow in the affected skeletal muscle.
By Noelle M. Selkow, PhD, ATC, and Susan A. Saliba, PhD, MPT, ATC
With evidence-based protocols in hand, practitioners can feel more comfortable clinically integrating surface electromyography (sEMG) assessment, creating more sophisticated sEMG treatment protocols, and demonstrating the effectiveness of interventions.
By Rachelle Bordlee, sDPT, and Christopher Kevin Wong, PT, PhD
Patellofemoral pain interventions have increasingly focused on running technique and training approaches—such as utilization of a forefoot strike pattern, a shortened step length, and manipulations to training pace—to reduce patellofemoral joint loading parameters.
By Collin D. Bowersock, BS, and John D. Willson, PT, PhD
In recent years, studies have elucidated aspects of the biomechanical effects of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction that may ultimately lead to improvements in treatment. But it isn’t always clear which factors contribute to PTTD and which
develop in response.
By Cary Groner
Many US football players have lower than adequate serum vitamin D levels, but questions remain about the potential benefits of proactive treatment with supplementation to address vitamin D deficiency and reduce the risk of fracture in this
patient population.
By Mark A. Duca, MD; Christina M. Mathyssek, PhD; Jeffrey W. Bost, PA-C; and Joseph C. Maroon, MD
Different factors influence outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in younger and older pediatric patients, but regardless of age, a delay to surgery is correlated with more severe additional injuries and the need for additional surgical procedures.
By Justin T. Newman, MD
The mixed findings of several cross-sectional studies seem to suggest that no specific biomechanical variables are unequivocally associated with iliotibial band syndrome in either men or women, which underscores the importance of assessing each patient individually
By Eric Foch, PhD
Offloading was a hot topic at the recent meeting of the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot in the Netherlands. Diabetic foot experts in attendance discussed new research on offloading strategies and updated the organization’s practice recommendations.
By Cary Groner
Traditionally, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction outcomes have been assessed preoperatively and several months postoperatively, but new research suggests the early postoperative stages of recovery may also significantly affect self-reported outcomes.
By Caitlin J. Miller, PT, DPT, and Jesse C. Christensen, PT, DPT, SCS
Adapted tango, a version of traditional Argentine tango modified to address motor impairments, has been shown to improve balance, mobility, and cognition in older adults and patients with Parkinson disease, with better compliance than conventional rehabilitation.
By Madeleine E. Hackney, PhD
Research generally upholds total ankle arthroplasty as a viable alternative to the traditional first-line surgical treatment, ankle arthrodesis, for correctly selected patients with end-stage ankle arthritis. But complication rates associated with ankle arthroplasty remain an area of concern.
By Hank Black
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