Lower Extremity Review
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have decreased ankle dorsiflexion due to gastrocnemius contracture, even in the absence of foot and ankle pain, according to research from Michigan that may have implications for early intervention to minimize pain and dysfunction in this patient population.
By Katie Bell
Patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing dialysis are at high risk for foot ulcerations and amputation, regardless of whether they also have diabetes, according to research from La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia, that underscores the need for foot screening in this population.
By Jordana Bieze Foster
One week of textured insole wear is associated with improved plantar sensation and stride length in patients with Parkinson disease (PD), according to research from São Paulo State University in Brazil.
By Jordana Bieze Foster
Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in patients in the northern US undergoing midfoot, hindfoot, and ankle arthrodesis, even in those without predisposing risk factors, according to a recent study from Vermont that may have implications for lower extremity surgery.
By Katie Bell
The development of bone marrow edema after transitioning from traditional running shoes to minimalist footwear is associated with small intrinsic foot muscle size, according to research from Brigham Young University in Provo, UT.
By Jordana Bieze Foster
A half shoe offloads the forefoot more effectively than a double-rocker full-outsole shoe with an offloading insole, but the half shoe also is more likely to alter gait, according to research from Bologna, Italy.
By Jordana Bieze Foster
Surgery may restore sensation at great toe – Although some research has described sensory nerve dysfunction as a potential complication of hallux valgus surgery, most patients undergoing the procedure have measureable preoperative deficits—and most of these…
By Emily Delzell
A detailed look at factors related to emotional distress in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy found that, among other issues, being socially isolated increases anxiety and can worsen individuals’ experience of pain and quality of life.
By Emily Delzell
Patients with multiple sclerosis and foot drop find that both ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) and functional electrical stimulation (FES) have pros and cons, but that, overall, the positives of both devices outweigh the negatives, according to research from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, UK.
By Jordana Bieze Foster
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