Category Archives: MarketMechanics
September 2018
Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act Signed into Law
On October 5, President Trump signed into law the Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act (H.R 302/S. 808), which will reduce barriers to caring for student and professional athletes across state lines. According to a National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) press release, while this law advances safety practices for all sports medicine professionals, it will greatly… Continue reading
September 2018
CMT Experts Launch Nonprofit to Fund Only Treatments and Cures
Two experts in Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), who also have the condition, recently launched the CMT Research Foundation (CMTRF) as the only nonprofit organization focused solely on delivering treatments and cures for CMT. Patrick Livney, a former chairman of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association (CMTA), and Susan Ruediger, a former CMTA development director, have over 20 years of collective experience working with CMT researchers to deliver treatments. Continue reading
September 2018
AAOS Provides Tips to Avoid Injuries in Teen and Young Athletes
With the start of a new school year and participation in after-school sports, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has shared the following fall sport safety tips designed to reduce young athletes’ risk of injury: Continue reading
September 2018
P.W. Minor Shutters Operations
Orthopedic and diabetic shoe manufacturer P.W. Minor, LLC, Batavia, NY, shuttered its operations as of October 5 and laid off 81 employees. Assets were transferred to the company’s senior creditor, Batavia Shoes, LLC. The news follows a series of attempts in recent years to bolster the company and avoid such an event. P.W. Minor was established in 1867; it was the second oldest shoe manufacturer in the country. Continue reading
September 2018
UMiami Scientists to Develop Bioengineering Approach for Meniscus Tear Repairs
An interdisciplinary team of scientists from the University of Miami’s (UMiami’s) Miller School of Medicine and College of Engineering is poised to begin developing a novel, long-lasting treatment for meniscus tears. Meniscus tears, which are among the most common type of knee injuries, are currently treated via total or partial meniscectomy or suturing. In the long term, these treatments often result in meniscus degeneration, re-tear, and premature osteoarthritis of the knee. Continue reading
September 2018
L1844, L1846 Proposed for RAC Reviews
On August 7, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published two new proposed issues for review by Performant Recovery, the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) for durable medical equipment prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS); home health; and hospice claims nationwide. Continue reading
August 2018
The Future Is Knocking: Novel Sensors Could Enable Smarter Textiles
A next-generation smart textile has been developed by a team of University of Delaware (UD) engineers using light, flexible, breathable carbon nanotube composite coatings on a range of natural and synthetic fibers, such as Kevlar, wool, nylon, Spandex, and polyester. Fabric coated with this sensing technology could be… Continue reading
August 2018
IL Passes Law to Facilitate Access to PT Services
On August 16, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner (R) signed House Bill 4643, which allows consumers to pursue and begin physical therapy (PT) services without a doctor’s referral while still ensuring professional medical oversight safeguards. The law, effective immediately, permits physical therapists to… Continue reading
August 2018
PT Assessment, Referrals by ER Staff after a Fall May Reduce Revisits
In 2014, about 2.8 million older adults visited the emergency room (ER) for a fall-related injury. Some estimates show that 25% of older adults visiting the ER for a fall returned for at least one additional fall-related visit, and 15% of those older adults died within the following year. Continue reading
August 2018
CMT Patients Experience Improved Gait, Balance with AFO Usage
Use of orthoses can help improve the gait and balance of patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, but patients don’t always follow recommendations for their use, a review study has found. The study, “The Role of Orthotic Service in Modern Rehabilitation of Patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease,” was… Continue reading
August 2018
CDC: 1 in 4 U.S. Adults Have a Disability
One in 4 U.S. adults — 61 million people — have a disability that impacts major life activities, according to the “Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report” released by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) on August 16. Mobility is the most common disability type, affecting 1 in 7 adults under age 65 and about 2 in 5 adults age 65 and older. Continue reading
August 2018
LSUHealthNO Studies Innovative Approach to Improve Walking In Children with CP
Noelle Moreau, PhD, PT, an associate professor of physical therapy at Louisiana State University Health New Orleans (LSUHealthNO) School of Allied Health Professions, has received a $2.5 million grant to study the effectiveness of an innovative approach to improve the ability of children with cerebral palsy (CP) to walk. Continue reading
August 2018
Clinic Openings
Ageility Physical Therapy Solutions opened four new clinics throughout the state of Washington during August. The clinics are located in Shelton, Bremerton, Burlington, and Mount Vernon and mark Ageility’s first operations in the Pacific Northwest. Continue reading
July 2018
LER’s Bottoni Wins AOSSM Research Award
Orthopedic surgeon and LER Editorial Advisory Board Member Craig R. Bottoni, MD, and colleagues John D. Johnson, DO, CPT, Liang Zhou, MD, Sarah G. Raybin, BA, MAJ, James J. Shaha, MD, COL (ret), Kenneth K. Lindell, MD, MAJ, and David D. Thoma, DO, were…
Craig R. Bottoni, MD Continue reading
July 2018
USC Podiatric Surgeon, Neurosurgeon Collaborate on Smart Insole
David Armstrong, DPM, MD, PhD, a professor of surgery at the University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, and Charles Liu, MD, PhD, a professor of clinical neurological surgery and director of USC’s Neurorestoration Center, have collaborated on the development of a smart insole. The technology has implications for the reduction of amputations resulting from diabetic foot ulcers. Continue reading
July 2018
Visual Illusion of Altered Knee Size Reduces Pain in OA Sufferers
In a study published July 17 in the journal Peer J, researchers at the University of South Australia (UniSA) Body in Mind Research Group have found that people suffering from knee osteoarthritis (OA) reported up to a 40% reduction in pain when presented with an… Continue reading
July 2018
Barefoot Exercising May Improve Balancing, Jumping Skills in Children
“Walking barefoot is widely thought to be more natural, and the use of footwear has long been discussed as an influencing factor on foot health and movement pattern development,” said Astrid Zech, PhD, from the Institute of Sport Science, Friedrich Schille University of Jena, Germany. Toward this end, she and two research teams assessed… Continue reading
July 2018
Heel Defender Orthotic Insoles Selected for Clinical Trial
Defender Operations, South Miami, Florida announced its Heel Defender Orthotic Insoles have been selected for use in a clinical trial of a new treatment for Achilles tendonitis. The treatment entails the injection of a bioactive tissue matrix allograft to promote healing of chronic Achilles tendonitis. A Level 1 randomized, multicenter, blinded, controlled, clinical trial is currently… Continue reading
July 2018
First Mobility-Impaired Runner Completes 100th Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Race
Beth Deloria became the first mobility-impaired runner to complete 100 races in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Series, and the 11th athlete overall to hit the 100-mark, when she completed the series’ Raleigh, North Carolina, event in April. Deloria, who has foot drop, uses an Allard ToeOFF AFO. She is also the founder of Allard’s TeamUP, the first national… Continue reading
July 2018
NATA Announces New VP, Secretary/Treasurer, Board Members
The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) announced that Marisa Brunett, MS, ATC, LAT, has been elected vice president, and Chris Hall, MA, ATC, LAT, was appointed secretary/treasurer. Brunett replaces President Tory Lindley, MA, ATC, whose presidential term began June 28. Continue reading
June 2018
The Future Is Knocking: Tufts Engineers Develop Smart Bandage
A team of engineers led by Tufts University has developed a bandage to actively monitor the condition of chronic wounds, such as diabetic ulcers, and deliver drug treatments to improve the chances of healing. With the idea of assisting the natural healing process, the researchers designed the bandages with heating elements and thermoresponsive drug carriers that can deliver tailored treatments in response to embedded pH and temperature sensors that track infection and inflammation. Continue reading
June 2018
In Memoriam: Lawrence G. Lefler, DPM
Lawrence G. Lefler, DPM, passed away June 23. He was 92 years old. Lefler was a veteran of the United States Army Air Corps and was an air traffic controller until being discharged in 1946. He then attended the University of Nebraska, eventually being admitted to what is now the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, which he graduated from in 1952. Continue reading
June 2018
Ottobock Names New CFO
Ottobock, Duderstadt, Germany, announced Philipp Schulte-Noelle will join the management team of the international medical technology manufacturer under CEO Oliver Scheel Dr. rer. nat. Dipl. Chem, starting August 15. He comes to Ottobock from Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA, Bad Homburg, Germany, where he began in 2013 as corporate business development/M&A; most recently he was CFO and labor director of… Continue reading
June 2018
ACFAS Calls for Manuscript, Poster Submissions
The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) has issued a call for manuscript and poster submissions to be presented at its 77th Annual Scientific Conference Program, which will be held February 14-19 in New Orleans. Continue reading
June 2018
NAAOP Comments on MEDPAC Orthotics Report
In June, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC) filed a report with Congress, regarding Medicare and the healthcare delivery system, in which there is a section on orthotics and that includes a recommendation to implement competitive bidding for off-the-shelf (OTS) orthotics. Continue reading
