Lower Extremity Review
Advances in ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are revolutionizing how podiatrists, physical therapists and O&P clinicians support lower-limb mobility and rehabilitation. In this 3-part series, we explore the latest evidence, cutting-edge materials, and innovative design strategies that are shaping the future of AFOs. This short series offers a look at how today’s breakthroughs are improving function, comfort and compliancy in the lower extremity world.
By Keith Loria
Despite what many people think, the science says otherwise. Recent data shows older adults can get stronger using almost any resistance training approach – as long as the fundamentals are in place. A 2025 network meta-analysis pulled together data from 102 studies involving 4,754 adults around age 70. It compared different resistance training modalities and found something surprising.
A research team led by Professor Dr. Dietmar Fischer, professor of pharmacology at the University of Cologne’s Faculty of Medicine, and director of the Center for Pharmacology at University Hospital Cologne, both in Germany, has identified a central mechanism that explains limited regeneration in diabetes. Building on this, the researchers have developed a promising therapeutic approach that can be used to increase…
A study from the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the Sensing Institute (I-SENSE) at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), Boca Raton, reveals that foot-mounted wearable sensors and a 3D depth camera can accurately measure how people walk–even in busy clinical environments–offering a powerful and more accessible alternative to traditional gait assessment tools.
Fulgent Genetics Inc., El Monte, California, a technology-based company with a laboratory services business and a therapeutic development business, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire selected assets of Bako Diagnostics, Alpharetta, Georgia, and to acquire StrataDx, Lexington, Massachusetts. The proposed acquisition will add new anatomic pathology services…
A team of researchers led by Jess Snedeker, PhD, a professor of orthopedic biomechanics at ETH Zurich and Balgrist University Hospital in Zurich, both in Switzerland, and by Katrien De Bock, PhD, professor of exercise and health at ETH Zurich, has reached a new milestone in their studies of tendinopathy. In the HIF1 protein, they have identified a central molecular driver of tendon problems of this kind. A part of HIF1 acts..
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently published updates in the Federal Register regarding Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes on the Master List that will require prior authorization effective April 13, 2026. The following are the codes on this list that pertain to lower-limb orthoses…
George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, researcher Quentin Sanders is part of a collaborative research team working to make high-performance prosthetic limbs more affordable, accessible, and better tailored to the needs of active children. Sanders, along with Jonathon Schofield, an associate professor at the University of California, Davis, and Garrett Melenka, an associate professor at York University, Toronto, Canada, received…
Tamarack Protection Socks utilize GlideWearTM Technology to create a slippery, low-friction zone that protects at-risk areas of the feet from shear forces, which are a major factor responsible for soft tissue damage such as diabetic foot ulcers, calluses, blisters, and other painful wounds. This patented, medical-grade, low-friction fabric technology allows the skin to gently glide back and forth with bone movement…
The Revitalign® brand recently released the Aspen Fireside. This plush, cozy boot is designed with genuine, water-resistant suede and features an ultra-soft sherpa lining, ensuring that feet remain warm and dry. The style incorporates the Full Contact Comfort® footbed, which delivers orthotic support and promotes proper body alignment with every step. The boot also features COMFORTPRO™ lightweight...
Surestep has announced the launch of the SMO3D, a next generation supramalleolar orthosis (SMO) designed to support children with hypotonia and other mobility challenges. Building on Surestep’s clinically trusted, compression-based approach, the SMO3D reimagines this foundation through advanced 3D-printing technology. Lightweight and flexible, the device provides targeted support…
ALLSWIFIT’s Active5K is a streamlined running shoe purpose-engineered for shorter, everyday distances. At the core is an advanced midsole system that delivers a measured balance of softness and responsiveness, producing a 67% high-rebound energy return that absorbs impact on landing, efficiently redirects energy into toe-off, reduces vibration at ground contact, and helps…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration 510(k)-cleared ARTAIRA® Arterial Compression Device is a non-invasive intermittent pneumatic compression device that increases blood flow and circulation to the lower limbs to treat patients with some symptoms of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the comfort of their own homes. The prescription-only device uses air compression and tubing to inflate and…
The QuadLock™ is a new knotless, bidirectional tension-adjustable fixation system for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. It is designed to securely fixate sutures and tapes, helping surgeons fine-tune graft tension and maintain stability across several graft configurations commonly used in ACL procedures, including quadriceps tendon, quadrupled semitendinosus/gracilis, and…
A new study in pre- and post-menopausal women (aged 40-60 years) found 2 weeks of inactivity (<1,500 steps per day) was enough to drop strength by about 9% (and muscle mass by 2%). But here comes the good news. Not only did 12 weeks of resistance training restore these deficits, it further improved strength and muscle mass ABOVE starting levels.
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