Category Archives: Clinical News
May 2019
Glaucoma = Gait Changes and Fall Risk
early 60 million people worldwide will be affected by primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in 2020. The condition, a leading cause of irreversible blindness, typically occurs in people > 40 years of age; risk increases with age. The condition is known to cause difficulty walking, particularly when lighting levels differ, such as on steps, or when crossing the street. Continue reading
May 2019
Inverse Association Between Coffee and Falls
European researchers have found an inverse association between habitual (ie, daily) coffee drinking and the risk of falls in the elderly—and that inverse association was particularly strong among those who drank caffeinated! The association also held (although not to the same extent) for a lower risk of injurious falls. Continue reading
May 2019
EXCERPT: Foot Orthoses Alter Lower-limb Biomechanics in Basketball Players—Flat Feet or Normal Arch
Flat-footed persons are believed to have poorer jump performance compared to those who have a normal arch. Foot orthoses are commonly used to support the deformed foot arch and improve normal foot function. However, it is unclear if use of foot orthoses affects jump performance in athletes.
By Malia Ho, Pui Wah Kong, Lowell Jia-Yee Chong, and Wing-Kai Lam Continue reading
May 2019
Infographic on Running Related Injuries
Biomechanical risk factors associated with running-related injuries: a systematic review. The incidence and prevalence of running-related injuries (RRI) is high. Biomechanical factors may play a role in the etiology of these injuries. This systematic review synthetizes biomechanical risk factors related to the development of RRI. Continue reading
April 2019
New Tool to Assess Clubfoot Treatment
Congenital talipes equinovarus, or clubfoot, is a common deformity in which the affected foot is fixed downward and inward. The birth prevalence of clubfoot in low- and middle-income countries is estimated to be 0.5 to 2.0 cases for every 1000 … Continue reading
April 2019
Peak Tibial Accelerations as Real-time Measure of Impact Loading
Studies seeking to determine the effects of gait retraining through biofeedback on peak tibial acceleration (PTA) assume that this biometric trait is a valid measure of impact loading that is reliable both within and between sessions. However, data was lacking for the validity and reliability of these measures at the speed of endurance runners.
By Pieter Van den Berghe Continue reading
April 2019
DFCon 2019 Abstract Submissions Due June 15.
The Diabetic Foot Global Conference (DFCon2019) will be held at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City in Los Angeles, California, USA, Oct. 17-19, 2019. All those engaged in the field of diabetic foot care, wound healing, limb salvage, and amputation… Continue reading
April 2019
When It Comes to Exercise, It’s Never Too Late…
Physical activity reduces the risk of many chronic illnesses and increases the odds of a longer, healthier life. But it hasn’t been clear whether the benefits of exercise differ based on when during their lives people are most active.
By Sharon Reynolds Continue reading
April 2019
Plantar Mechanical Stimulation Improves Sensation in DPN
Over 30 million Americans have diabetes and 1.5 million Americans are newly diagnosed with diabetes each year. Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a major diabetic complication and affects 30% to 50% of people with diabetes. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a leading cause of devastating outcomes such as foot ulcer and amputation.
By Bijan Najafi and Gu Eon Kang Continue reading
March 2019
Benefits of a Foot Orthosis During a Step-descent Task on Kinematics, Kinetics, and Activation of Muscle
Foot orthoses are considered to work by controlling internal rotation of the tibia and eversion of the calcaneus, and have been reported to be effective during weightbearing activities such as walking and running. As a result, they have been shown to be effective in managing a range of musculoskeletal conditions—not the least of which is patellofemoral pain.
By Sarah Curran, PhD, FCPodMed Continue reading
March 2019
Concurrent Changes in Eccentric Hamstring Strength and Knee-joint Kinematics
Hamstring strain incidence in soccer increases during the latter stages of match-play, consistent with experimental studies that report reduced eccentric hamstring strength during soccer-specific fatigue. The biarticular function of the hamstring is such that fatigue-induced changes in strength are also likely to have an impact on…
By Matt Greig, MPhil, PhD Continue reading
March 2019
Delayed Charcot Diagnosis Increases Costs, Hospital Days, Amputations
Early recognition and treatment of Charcot neuroarthropathy has been long considered paramount to optimizing clinical outcomes and delivering high-quality care. Without this rapid response to control the devastating effects of Charcot, patients are left with significant deformities; increased risk of ulcers, infection, and…
By Jonathan M. Labovitz, DPM, FACFAS, CHCQM Continue reading
March 2019
AFOs for Stroke: Early Use Does Not Limit Long-Term Benefit
Stroke often impairs walking, particularly by altering foot clearance during the swing phase. Activity of the tibialis anterior (TA) plays an important role in foot clearance; clinicians often prescribe an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) for post-stroke patients to help with foot clearance. Continue reading
February 2019
Anterior Femoral Ligament Thickening Seen 3 Years Post-ACL Surgery
Osteoarthritis (OA) affects nearly 50% of patients who undergo anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) within 2 decades after surgery. The mechanism of OA development has been elusive; many experts theorize that disruption of knee–joint tissue homeostasis is key. Now, researchers, using ultrasonography (US), have found an increase in the thickness of the anterior femoral cartilage and cross-sectional area 3 years postoperatively. Continue reading
February 2019
Compression in Lymphedema
In a narrative review of old and innovative concepts concerning pressure and stiffness in lymphedema therapy, the authors of a study just published in Phlebology found that the current literature does not appear to be in sync with the array of options available today. Continue reading
February 2019
Diabetes Updates: Amputations Increasing; Insomnia as Risk Factor
Amputations on the Rise – After decades of decline, diabetes-related lower-extremity amputations appear to be on the rise in the United States, according to new data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample of the US Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project and the National Health Interview Survey of the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Continue reading
February 2019
Bringing Medical Cannabis Into Skilled Nursing Facilities
When New York state legalized medical cannabis, geriatrician Zachary Palace, MD, CMD, realized that many of the conditions that qualified for the drug were those that he saw regularly in the elderly—like chronic or neuropathic pain, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.
By Nicole Wetsman Continue reading
February 2019
The Power of a ‘Sit to Stand’: An Infographic
Infographic by Chris Tuckett, Physiotherapist BSc MCSP. Tuckett is based in The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, based in Harlow, Essex, UK. Based on: Harvey JA, Chastin SFM, Skelton DA. Breaking sedentary behaviour has the potential to increase/maintain function in frail older adults. J Frailty Sarcopenia Falls. 2018;3(1):26-34. doi: 10.22540/JFSF-03-026.
February 2019
FDA Adds Boxed Warning to Uloric
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has concluded there is an increased risk of death with Uloric (febuxostat) compared to another gout medicine, allopurinol. This conclusion is based on its review of results from a safety clinical trial that found an increased risk of heart-related death and death from all causes with Uloric. Continue reading
February 2019
Book Review: Pedorthic Footwear: Assessment and Treatment
Pedorthic Footwear: Assessment and Treatment, a 578-page resource with 550 illustrations, is the result of an ambitious and unique collaboration of international authors and is edited by Klaas Postema, Karl-Heinz Schott, Dennis Janisse, and Gerardus M. Rommers. In total, 54 authors (physiatrists, pedorthists, movement scientists, and physiotherapists) from 7 countries contributed. Continue reading
January 2019
Foot Problems Affect 2/3 of Homeless Population
With homelessness on the rise, a recent systematic review sought to characterize the foot problems of homeless persons, based on the available literature. The review included 17 articles with study populations from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy. Continue reading
January 2019
Barcelona Researchers Describe New Anatomic Structure In Ankle
Human anatomy guidelines group the ankle ligaments by two ligament complexes: the lateral collateral ligament and the medial or deltoid collateral ligament. Now, a University of Barcelona (UB) research team has defined a new anatomic structure in the ankle, the lateral fibulotalocalcaneal ligament complex (LFTCL). Continue reading
January 2019
Gait Training Can Slow Age-Related Changes in Energy-Cost of Walking
The aging-induced increase in energy cost of walking can be slowed in older adults leading to improved mobility, according to new research published in the journal Innovation in Aging.
By Chris Klingenberg Continue reading
January 2019
Arch Height Does Not Affect Foot or General Health QOL
Foot-arch height does not affect specific foot and general health-related quality of life (QOL), according to a recent study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Continue reading
January 2019
3D-Printed Knee Brace To Aid Rehab, Elderly
Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology recently detailed the successful benchtop testing and pilot human movement studies of a 3D-printed knee brace. The brace, which has an embedded magnetic angle sensor and whose torsional stiffness can be adjusted by applying varying sizes of… Continue reading
