Lower Extremity Review
Findings of an association between hip mobility and patellofemoral pain suggest practitioners may be putting the cart before the horse by implementing strength programs in individuals with PFP without first measuring and addressing deficits in hip extension.
By Sean Roach, PhD, DPT, ATC
Despite the ongoing development of new treatments, onychomycosis is still an extremely recalcitrant disease with high rates of relapse and reinfection, and the associated physical and cosmetic implications can negatively affect patients’ quality of life and self esteem.
By Greg Gargiulo
Preliminary research suggests the use of a kinetic return ankle foot orthosis is associated with small but significant short-term increases in calf circumference, which in turn suggests this type of device might reduce or protect against the risk of disuse muscle atrophy.
By Robert H. Meier, CO, BOCO; David C. Ruthsatz, CO, CPA; and Daniel Cipriani, PT, PhD
There is considerable debate in medical circles as to whether healthcare practitioners should embrace social media, but online aficionados say they welcome the opportunity to exchange information, educate, connect, and potentially attract more patients.
By P.K. Daniel
Increasing body mass index is associated with significantly increased peak plantar pressures regardless of the type of offloading device used. However, it is possible to decrease plantar pressures in some regions of the foot with the use of offloading devices.
By Andrew J. Meyr, DPM, FACFAS; Kelly Pirozzi, DPM, AACFAS; and Matthew R. Wagoner, DPM
The increasing utilization of total knee arthroplasty has led to increased efforts to identify variables that can be modified to help improve postoperative functional outcomes. These risk factors include patient weight, smoking, diabetes, infection, and joint range of motion.
By John Ryan Quinn, MD, and Ran Schwarzkopf, MD, MSc
A growing body of research is demonstrating that the focus of actions or movements is critical to how well athletes and patients respond to feedback from instructors or clinicians, and one of the central issues is the distinction between internal focus and external focus.
By Cary Groner
Some practitioners find plantar fasciitis patients respond to corticosteroid injection when other treatments have failed, but concerns about complications make others cautious. With evidence-based guidelines in short supply, the decision often comes down to clinical experience.
By Larry Hand
Interface use has long been the subject of study and clinical emphasis in prosthetics, but too little attention has been given to the role of interfaces—padded socks in particular—in protecting the skin and soft tissues from forces experienced during ankle foot orthosis use.
By Harry “J.R.” Brandt Jr, CO, LO, BOCO
Excess body weight is considered by many experts to be the primary modifiable etiological factor in knee osteoarthritis (OA) development. However, the relationship among body mass index (BMI), the anatomical manifestations of knee OA, and knee pain is not clear-cut.
By Elizabeth Weiss, PhD
Research supports the use of compression stockings for managing peripheral edema, venous insufficiency, and venous leg ulcers. But, outside the laboratory, issues related to patient compliance and achieving a proper stocking fit remain significant clinical challenges.
By Greg Gargiulo
It happened about two years ago while I was playing a friendly game of basketball with my teenage sons and friends. I was 49 years old and never felt like slowing down. Like most guys, while playing ball, we would imitate our favorite players.
By Joseph Hayward
Tuning of ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) and AFO-footwear combinations can significantly improve gait in patients with neuromuscular impairments. Even so, some pa- tients still prefer their untuned devices, which has led researchers and clinicians to reexamine their approach to intervention.
By Cary Groner
Despite excellent subjective outcomes following Achilles tendon repair, significant plantar flexion and dorsiflexion strength deficits often persist. However, modern trends in postoperative rehabilitation represent a progression toward a more functional strength recovery.
By David A. Porter, MD, PhD, Kirk Cleland, MD, and Angela M. Rund, MEd, ATC
Many studies have shown an effect of foot orthoses on biomechanical function in patients with flexible flatfoot, but few studies have focused on patient-centered outcomes. There is a need to investigate the effect of foot orthoses on pain and fatigue in these individuals over time.
By Sarah A. Curran, PhD
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