Lower Extremity Review
Proximal effects could put knees at risk
Bracing the ankle has kinetic effects at the more proximal joints that could increase the risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury, according to research from Iowa State University presented in August at the annual meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics in Long Beach, CA.
By Jordana Bieze Foster
Decreasing the stiffness of an energy storage and return prosthetic foot improves propulsion but does so at the cost of stability, according to research from the University of Texas at Austin presented in August at the ASB meeting.
Nonoperative treatment of retrocalcaneal heel pain with stretching and ankle foot orthoses has had an 83% success rate at the University of Tennessee, researchers from that institution reported in July at the annual meeting of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society in Keystone, CO.
Rotation may be key to pain relief
Research from the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City confirms that the kinetic effects of osteoarthritis knee bracing are in fact related to bracing’s effects on knee pain—but not in the way investigators had expected.
An ankle foot orthosis that orients the ankle in slight dorsiflexion may help improve knee flexion during gait and reduce the risk of heel ulcers in post-stroke patients, according to research from Marquette University in Milwaukee. Investigators performed gait...
A Mayo Clinic study confirms previously reported offloading effects of a rocker bottom shoe design in patients with diabetic neuropathy and suggests that a plastazote insole may increase that benefit. Researchers analyzed dynamic plantar pressures in 15 subjects with...
Study zeroes in on predictive factors
Researchers from Belgium are making progress toward identifying specific subsets of patients with patellofemoral pain who will benefit from brace treatment.
Pairing a walking boot with an athletic shoe effectively offsets the elevated contralateral peak plantar pressures that can result from the limb length discrepancy created by the boot, according to research from Midwestern University in Glendale, AZ. The investigators...
Optimization of reciprocating gait orthoses to maximize function should involve attention to hip flexion-extension ratios, which differ significantly between locked and free joint conditions, according to research from Taiwan presented in March at the annual meeting...
Fall simulations help AK amputees By Jordana Bieze Foster Thanks to an improved ability to simulate falls in the laboratory, researchers are identifying variables that contribute to falls in above-knee amputees and implementing training programs to improve response to...
A cast-boot ankle foot orthosis decreases plantar pressures under the forefoot more effectively than a total contact cast, but its relative effectiveness for ulcer healing is still a function of compliance, according to research from Washington University in St....
The choice of a thick or thin gel liner in transtibial amputees may ultimately come down to personal preference, according to research from Northwestern University in Chicago. Investigators compared two prosthetic gel liners, one 3 mm thick and one 9 mm thick, in 11...
Join
Stay in the loop with the latest news and updates! Subscribe now to receive exclusive content, special offers, and important announcements straight to your inbox. Don’t miss out – join our community today for all the latest updates delivered directly to you.