Lower Extremity Review
Having performed thousands of bike fits, I now believe that the bicycle’s crank arm length is the most important factor when performing a bike fit. Every other anatomical dimension and joint angle is based upon the length of the crank arms; therefore, this is the first factor to address when performing a bike fit.
By Rick Schultz
Ask any woman who’s been through it, and they’ll easily confirm: Pregnancy is a life-changing event with numerous hormonal, physiological, morphological, functional, and biomechanical adaptations. Here we summarize and excerpt a round-up of recent research findings that show the impact of pregnancy on tendons in the lower extremity, on foot loading and plantar pressures in gait, and on morphological and postural changes in the foot, as well as the benefits of compression stockings during this unique period.
Footwear can affect balance and the risk of slips, trips, and falls. Various studies have reported that slippers are associated with increased risk of falls when compared to other footwear. The objective of this study was to characterize slipper-related injuries of the lower extremity treated at United States (US) hospital emergency departments (EDs).
By Mathias B. Forrester, BS
Untreated lymphedema can play a significant role in chronic wounds. Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD), performed by a Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT) is standard of care for the management of lymphedema of all types, not just advanced disease.
By James McGuire, DPM; Avnee Jiten Patel, BS; and Ron Michael Adduru, BSN
Active children may play through the micro-traumas creating this potentially damaging condition. Keep OCD in mind when children report pain in the ankle, particularly when BMI is high. Juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the talus is a rare condition in the pediatric population…
By Mark J. Mendeszoon, DPM, FACFAS; and Hayley E. Iosue, DPM, AACFAS
In their own words, 2 stroke survivors who use different AFOs, discuss the mismatched perception of how the ankle foot orthosis represents long-term disability but is a resource for independent safe mobility. Three-fourths of all strokes occur in adults older than 65 and as age increases…
By Jennifaye V. Brown, PT, PhD, NCS, Steven Best, PT, DPT, CSCS, and Julie Suhr, PhD
Given its lack of efficaciousness in decreasing bioburden, normal sterile saline may not be the best solution for this important task. Chronic hard-to-heal wounds pose a significant burden on both patients and the health care system. Chronic wounds, whether pressure, arterial, venous, or wounds from multiple causes…
By James McGuire DPM, LPT, LPed, FAPWHc; Madeline Hobbs, BA, and Yunkyung Jessica Ho, BA
With benefits similar to traditional training practices but with less work, BFR exercise is gaining ground in rehabilitation settings as well as athletic training rooms. The intentional manipulation of blood flow during exercise, commonly referred to as blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise, has piqued the interest of scientists and practitioners alike over the past two decades.
By Chris Pignanelli, PhD(c)
During 2020, emergency department (ED) visits in the United States (US) not related to COVID-19 declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for certain populations and certain types of illness or injury. This study described product-related lower extremity injuries managed at EDs during 2020 and compared it to previous years.
By Mathias B. Forrester, BS
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