The New Option OA is a pull-up, buttressed, “soft” brace for patients with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis. The buttressed sleeve aids in knee alignment, provides compression, and is easy to apply.
New Options OA Brace
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November
Lower Extremity Review
ACA may improve preventive O&P care
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), which went into effect on October 1 and has a strong emphasis on preventive care, may help O&P practitioners offer their patients devices that prevent serious sequelae, including drop foot, foot ulcers, and amputation, said William DeToro, LO, CO, CEO of Poland, OH-based Anatomical Concepts Inc (ACI).
DJO Global signs Olympic gold medalist
Vista, CA-based DJO Global announced on October 30 that Megan Rapinoe, Olympic gold medalist for the US Women’s Soccer Team and a National Women’s Soccer League player for the Seattle Reign FC, is partnering with them to help educate young athletes about the value of bracing in injury prevention and returning to play.
O&P site makes user-friendly updates
O&P Social relaunched its website, oandpsocial.com, in November. The newly designed site gives O&P clinicians and other allied health professionals easy-to-use navigation, an educational forum with Medicare updates and tips for a more effective practice, a list of national and international O&P events, and a forum for interaction among O&P professionals.
Steadman organizations name CEO
J. Richard Steadman, MD, managing partner and founder of The Steadman Clinic, and Marc Philippon, MD, managing partner of Steadman Philippon Research Institute (SPRI), announced on October 16 that Tom Mars, a former Walmart executive and SPRI board member, is new chief executive officer of both organizations, located in Vail, CO.
Combination therapy eases OA pain
Combining Irving, CA-based VQ OrthoCare’s BioniCare transcutaneous electrical joint stimulator with an unloading knee brace improves OA symptoms significantly more than electrical stimulation alone, according to a multicenter study published in October in The American Journal of Orthopedics.
Pedors launches 24/7 B2B portal
Hiram, GA-based Pedors launched pedors247.com, its new 24/7 business-to-business portal where practitioners can place, review, and track orders, invoice balances, and order history, at the 54th Pedorthic Footcare Association Symposium held in Boston October 31-November 2.
Ankle sprain trial supports Traumeel
A multicenter randomized controlled noninferiority trial published in October in The International Journal of Clinical Practice found a topical homeopathic gel and ointment made by Albuquerque, NM-based Heel Inc are as effective as the current standard of care for reducing pain and improving function in patients with acute ankle sprains.
Ottobock wins communications award
German prosthetics company Ottobock, headquartered in Dusseldorf, announced on October 29 that it had won the 2013 Econ Award for excellence in public relations for its London 2012 “Passion for Paralympics” campaign.
out on a limb: Parsing the pain
You know that saying about how a man with a hammer sees everything as a nail? That’s something those who specialize in biomechanics might want to remember when considering patients with chronic pain.
By Jordana Bieze Foster, Editor
Prepare for landing: Bladed cleats may put fifth met at risk
Bladed soccer cleats were associated with increased forefoot loading during a jump-landing task, which may lead to a higher risk of fifth metatarsal stress fractures, according to a study published in the September-October issue of the Journal of Athletic Training.
Leg mechanics, training conditions may predict Achilles pain in runners
Investigators at the University of Tuebingen in Germany have identified alterations in lower leg mechanics and higher impacts caused by “fast” training conditions (e.g., interval training sessions, competitions) as potential risk factors for Achilles tendon pain in runners.
Anterolateral knee ligament ‘discovery’ makes headlines, but is not really new
The media buzz over the apparent discovery of a new knee ligament announced in early November faded quickly as experts pointed out that the finding was not exactly new.
Energetics of landing: Effects of ankle instability
A diminished capability for energy dissipation at the knee after ground impact during landing in patients with chronic ankle instability may result in greater demands on the ankle joint. Modifying landing strategies could potentially reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury.
By Masafumi Terada, MS, ATC, and Phillip A. Gribble, PhD, ATC, FNATA
Conference coverage: 3rd PFP research retreat
The third International Patellofemoral Pain Research Retreat picked up where previous retreats had left off in examining proximal and distal factors related to PFP and subgroups of patients who might respond to targeted interventions. But this retreat broke some new ground as well.
By Jordana Bieze Foster
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