Lower Extremity Review
Impaired balance and functional deficits are common in individuals with Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease (CMT). Many individuals with CMT use ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) to improve their balance and function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the fall frequency, perceived effect of AFOs on balance, and balance confidence of individuals with CMT who currently use AFOs.
Ankle sprains are among today’s most common injuries. They can range from mild with no loss of function to debilitating and even disabling. And while a significant number of patients will go on to develop chronic ankle instability (CAI), there remains no ideal management. Conservative therapy is the first line, with surgical interventions used as a last resort.
Patients undergoing below-knee amputation may experience considerable postoperative mortality risk, particularly in the presence of comorbid conditions. The aim of this study was to present a newly developed risk index and scoring system to predict 1 year mortality, morbidity, and functional independence in patients undergoing below-knee amputation.
Footwear is often recommended in the management of plantar heel pain (PHP), theoretically to reduce tissue stress during standing and walking. However, limited data exist to guide footwear design and recommendations. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of both shoe and shoe insert designs on in-shoe plantar pressures, vertical ground reaction force and underfoot comfort in individuals with PHP.
At least 10% of all patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) undergo treatment with injectable corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid (HA). Although both have been shown to help with symptomatic pain relief, their long-term effects on knee OA progression remain inconclusive. The overall aim of this study was to investigate the association between intra-articular knee injections, specifically with corticosteroids and…
The foot and ankle are frequently affected in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs), yet there is a lack of high-quality evidence to determine the effectiveness of treatments. Outcomes in research are often inconsistently measured, impeding evidence synthesis. Additionally, clinical decisions are based on research outcomes, but these are…
Pain—and how well pain treatments work—differs between the sexes. Females are more likely to experience chronic pain than males. Studies have also shown that opioid painkillers are less effective in females. Several systems inside the body contribute to the perception of pain and the response to pain treatments. One of the most important is called the endogenous opioid system. Opioid-based medications work by tapping into this system.
Both longitudinal and cross-sectional studies have demonstrated that muscle mass, strength and power are lost with ageing. Although longitudinal studies have shown changes in muscle morphology and function in sedentary, healthy active, and endurance-trained older people, less is known about such age-related changes in sprint athletes. It has been proposed that active older people may…
Xanthomatosis is an atypical pseudotumor of connective tissue characterized by the accumulation of lipid-laden histiocytes, often manifesting as encapsulated yellowish masses. It is commonly associated with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). This case report aims to present a rare instance of bilateral xanthomatosis affecting the Achilles tendons in a 42-year-old male, which…
Radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (r-ESWT) is accepted as one of the most effective treatment modalities for plantar fasciitis (PF). Also, kinesio taping (KT) application is effective for the treatment of PF. However, there is not enough evidence about the effectiveness of the combination of these 2 modalities in the treatment of PF.
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a set of 5 cardiometabolic risk factors including obesity and Type 2 diabetes, that typically worsen with age. One exercise-training program is effective at improving those factors in middle-aged individuals with MetS. This study determined the effectiveness of a periodized exercise training program for individuals with MetS after a follow-up period of 8 years.
Sarcopenic obesity (SO), a relatively new category of obesity and a high-risk geriatric syndrome in the elderly, is associated with numerous adverse health consequences such as frailty, falls, disability, and increased morbidity and mortality. This study, done by researchers in China using longitudinal data from the UK Biobank cohort (N=46,535), examined the…
In an interesting, but small, study out of China, researchers evaluated the efficacy of low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) in alleviating pain in patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PDPN). Fifty participants were randomized to either LIFU or placebo therapy for 7 days . Compared to placebo therapy, patients in the LIFU group (n = 25) demonstrated significantly lower…
This study highlights the significant role of circulating sex hormones in the aging process of female skeletal muscles. Prior research has primarily focused on distinct age groups, often comparing only young versus old, or pre-menopausal versus post-menopausal women, thereby neglecting the transitional phase from high to low oestrogen levels.
Idiopathic scoliosis (IS) caused by an unknown etiology is prevalent in primary and secondary school students. Early detection and prevention are challenging because of the limited knowledge about controllable risk factors and imbalances in body mechanics. These authors examined the potential causative factors of IS and its correlation with foot mechanics among 7–14 year-ol…
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