Lower Extremity Review
Lower extremity biomechanics can significantly affect the risk of upper extremity injury in overhead throwing athletes, such as baseball and softball pitchers and catchers, and the functional stability of the lumbopelvic-hip complex is essential to preventing those injuries.
By Gretchen D. Oliver, PhD, FACSM, ATC, LAT, Hillary Plummer, MAT, ATC, and Lisa Henning
In patients who undergo a minor foot amputation following a diabetic foot ulcer, severe peripheral arterial disease is the primary risk factor for subsequent major amputation, which underscores the importance of early detection and intervention for PAD in this population.
By Vincent S. Nerone, DPM, Kevin D. Springer, DPM, Darren M. Woodruff, DPM, and Said A. Atway, DPM, AACFAS
The medical literature supports the use of massage for relief of osteoarthritis symptoms, but therapist-administered treatments can be cost-prohibitive. This study found that self-massage can also be effective, even when the initial supervised sessions are continued by patients at home.
By Dorothea Atkins, ThD, RN, and David Eichler, PhD
A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that clinical tests of core strength and stability can help predict risk of lower extremity injury in athletes, which in turn supports the need for a multisegmental approach to the development of injury prevention programs.
By Valerie Snider, MS, ATC, and Gary Wilkerson, EdD, ATC
New research suggests that vasti muscle activation in women varies throughout the menstrual cycle, adding to the growing body of literature pointing to a connection between sex hormones and knee injury risk. The exact nature of that relationship, however, remains unclear.
By Matthew S. Tenan, MA, ATC, and Lisa Griffin, PhD
Diagnostic challenges should not delay clinical intervention
Hypotonia, or abnormally low muscle tone, is by itself not a disorder but a symptom of an enormous array of issues—many of which can be difficult to diagnose accurately. Even in the absence of a specific underlying diagnosis, however, children with hypotonia can benefit from clinical intervention.
By Christina Hall Nettles
Quantifying the effects of hypotonia starts in the clinic
Effective management of children with hypotonia requires an understanding of how the condition affects gait. Clinicians typically rely on their professional experience when discussing the effects of hypotonia on gait in pediatric patients, partly because they trust that experience, but also because so little research has actually elucidated these effects.
By Cary Groner
New research underscores years of positive clinical results
When it comes to orthotic management of pediatric patients with hypotonia, the medical literature is only beginning to document the effectiveness that clinicians have been reporting anecdotally for years.
By Cary Groner
Each child in this case series was assessed every other week for 16 weeks to determine mastery of items 23, 26-28, 30-39, and 41 (ranging from “pull to stand” to “walk fast”) on the Peabody Developmental Motor Scale. Test instructions were modified as needed for children to understand them. Parents were included in each session and encouraged to play with the child in order to demonstrate the targeted skills. Graphs illustrate age of mastery for each item number for the hypotonic child compared to a “typical” child, with linear trend lines illustrating rate of change, and demonstrate the improved mastery of skills after prescription of supramalleolar orthoses (SMOs). The cases will be presented in September at the O&P World Congress in Orlando, FL.
By Megan Smith, CO
Otto Bock offers the Yogi Anterior Walker and Walk Star Posterior Walker pediatric mobility products. The light, functional Yogi features caster swivel locks and a friction brake for gait stability and extra-low hand grips for young children, while its two sizes,...
Primal Pictures introduces a new DVD-ROM, “3D Anatomy for MSK Ultrasound: Lower Limb,” a training or reference tool for practitioners who use ultrasound to diagnose and treat conditions of the hip, knee and foot. Detailed, interactive 3D anatomical images are linked...
Corganics offers Smooth Shave Gel, which can be used to shave patients’ lower extremities prior to medical procedures. The therapeutic formula includes essential oils, vitamins, antioxidants, and aloe vera. Appropriate for any skin type, including sensitive skin, the...
Active Feet offers Dr. Jack’s Extra Strength Skin Care Crème for use on dry and cracked skin, including feet, heels, and knees. The cream is both a keratolytic and an emollient, engineered with ingredients that are similar to the natural moisturizers and antioxidants...
My-Happy Feet offers Foot Alignment Socks, featuring dividers that separate the toes to improve alignment and help relieve foot pain. Designed to be worn while sleeping, the socks stretch the foot muscles, spread the metatarsals, and encourage circulation. Initially...
DJO Global has launched the OA Nano, the company’s lightest off-loading knee brace, for patients with mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis. Sold under the DonJoy brand, the 14.2-oz brace is manufactured using nanoMag, a metal as light as magnesium with the strength of...
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