Lower Extremity Review
A research team led by Dr. Sangheon Kim of the Center for Biomaterials Research at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) announced that they have developed a 3D stem cell therapy to treat critical limb ischemia (CLI) through a self-assembling platform technology using a new material microgel. By using collagen microgels, a new…
Samsung Electronics has developed EX1, an exercise assistance robot, with the goal to amplify physical function and strength in senior individuals. This advanced robotic aid offers tailored workouts with both assistive and resistive modes, aiming to prevent falls and bolster overall health in this demographic.
Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have designed a sort of workout mat for cells that can help scientists zero in, at the microscopic level, on exercise’s purely mechanical effects. The new design is not so different from a yoga mat: Both are rubbery, with a bit of stretch. In the case of the MIT mat, it’s made from hydrogel—a soft, gel-like material that is about the…
Researchers at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) have designed a wearable biosensor that offers a new way to measure human muscle activation to potentially prevent injuries and enhance athletic performance. The breakthrough design is built around a new type of triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), a device that converts mechanical or thermal energy into…
Swiss researchers have developed a special prosthesis that enables amputees to feel the ground better when walking. This is thanks to a new method that allows sensors in the sole of the prosthesis to communicate more naturally with the brain. “The prosthesis feels more like a part of the body,” Stanisa Raspopovic, PhD, from ETH Zurich told the Keystone-SDA news agency.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute (UTARI) have developed a new shoe insole technology that helps reduce the risk of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). “The goal of this innovative insole technology is to mitigate the risk of diabetic foot ulcers by addressing one of their most significant causes: skin and soft tissue breakdown due to repetitive stress on the…
The Hanger Institute for Clinical Research and Education recently published its 2023/24 Annual Report. Focused on the Institute’s mission of advancing clinical practice through leading-edge research in the orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) field, the report reflects the efforts made to improve clinical outcomes and provide evidence-based care.
Northwest Podiatric Laboratory (NWPL), Blaine, Washington, announced that it is celebrating 60 years of providing quality and service to its valued healthcare providers, and helping patients by crafting custom and over-the-counter foot orthotics. From its humble beginnings operating out of a basement in Lynden, Washington, NWPL has grown to become a trusted name in the industry.
Researchers at Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University (JHU) School of Medicine have developed a new, accessible approach to analyze a patient’s walking ability and stances more effectively. Following numerous tests, they determined that a simple video recorded on a a smartphone or tablet can be used to measure gait at a clinical, high-quality level.
Hanger, Inc., Austin, TX, has launched Hanger Ventures, a subsidiary that will invest in entrepreneurs and small businesses, helping to bring innovative orthotic and prosthetic (O&P) healthcare solutions to the market. Hanger Ventures is designed to focus on accelerating innovation, developing technology, and improving patient outcomes worldwide.
New smart pants, which feature transparent optical fibers directly integrated into the textile, could help offer a nonintrusive way to track a person’s movements and issue alerts if there are signs of distress. The technology incorporates intensity variation polymer optical fiber sensors directly into fabric that was then…
A long-term Parkinson’s disease (PD) patient who had severe mobility problems can now walk fluidly without falling thanks to a new experimental spinal implant that stimulates the user’s leg muscles. Marc, 63, has been living with advanced PD since 1996. Dopamine and then deep brain stimulation, which he underwent in 2004, helped treat his…
Treatment for plantar fasciitis (PF) includes pain management through anti-inflammatory drugs, stretching exercises, night-splint therapy, steroidal medications, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT). While ESWT has proven to be beneficial and effective in reducing heel pain, it is expensive and has adverse effects such as increased pain sensitivity…
That stubborn athlete’s foot infection an estimated 70% of people get at some point in their life could become much easier to get rid of thanks to nanoscale drills activated by visible light. Proven effective against antibiotic-resistant infectious bacteria and cancer cells, the molecular machines developed by Rice University chemist James Tour, PhD, and…
A team of researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and the Boston University Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences have used a soft, wearable robot to help a person living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) walk without freezing. The robotic garment, worn around the hips and thighs, gives a gentle push to…
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