Category Archives: Clinical News
April 2018
Post-operative complications after Achilles tendon rupture repair
Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) is one of the most common injuries resulting from sports and exercise activities. Its resulting functional deficits can last more than 2 years from the original injury. While traditionally it has been an injury seen more among men, prevalence among women has been increasing, most likely due to increased participation in recreational sports. Continue reading
April 2018
Low-cost trans-femoral prosthesis uses plantar insole sensors
Indian researchers have designed a trans-femoral prothesis with plantar insole sensors that they found allow users to achieve near able-bodied gait kinematics. The passive prosthesis uses a magneto-rheological (MR) damping system with electronic control based on plantar insole feedback Continue reading
April 2018
Supportive footwear for children with CMT
The effect of footwear on gait and balance of children and adolescents with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease is of interest to parents and clinicians. Children with CMT, which causes progressive damage to peripheral nerves, particularly the feet and ankles, often have gait difficulties due to muscle weakness, including problems with balance, resulting in falls. Continue reading
April 2018
Study assesses role of corticosteroid therapy in Achilles tendinopathy
Achilles tendinopathy is the most common overuse injury in sport, and it is common in non-athletes as well. High volume image guided injection and structured rehabilitation (HVIGI+SR) has been shown in repeated studies to provide significant improvement in… Continue reading
March 2018
Study finds little difference between DMO and PMO for hallux valgus
Guiding patients to make the most appropriate choice among options to correct hallux valgus has long been a challenge: Distal metatarsal osteotomy (DMO) is liked for its shorter incision, low level of invasiveness, lower complication rate, and its ability to improve pain and functionality across a wider range of deformities. Continue reading
March 2018
Center of pressure in normal, pes planus, and pes cavus feet
To better understand the association of non-normal foot postures with an increased risk of injury to the lower extremity, Australian researchers evaluated center of pressure (COP) in adults with pes planus, pes cavus, or normal feet. Continue reading
March 2018
Midfoot mobility and patellofemoral pain
Seeking to better understand foot mobility in adults with patellofemoral pain (PFP, or so-called runner’s knee), Australian researchers studied almost 200 adults aged 18 to 50 years. Both weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing measures were used to calculate… Continue reading
March 2018
Foot pain, ill-fitted footwear increase risk of falls in elderly
Foot pain and poor-fitting footwear are among the well-known risk factors for falls among the elderly. Two new studies from Spain sought to quantify the significance of these issues in the elderly by looking at lesser toe deformities (LTD) in a general population, and footwear fit among those with Alzheimer’s disease. Continue reading
March 2018
Reliability of FPI-6 in older adults warrants caution
Because it uses 6 items to quantify and classify foot pressure, the Foot Pressure Index-6 (FPI-6) is considered a more complete measure than many others. The FPI-6 has been validated for use with adults aged 18 to 57, where it can play a role in identifying risk factors for sports and training injuries. Continue reading
March 2018
Neuromuscular training in high-risk female adolescent athletes
Noting that an up to 10-fold increased risk of injury has been demonstrated in female athletes compared with male athletes, particularly for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) sprains, patellofemoral pain, and ankle injuries, researchers sought to evaluate the effects of… Continue reading
March 2018
How might power training improve gait in older adults?
Building on previous data that tentatively supports the possibility that power training could induce changes in neuromuscular activation during level walking in older adults, researchers tested the effects of a 10-week… Continue reading
March 2018
Effects of running-specific prostheses at varying speeds
Most previous studies on running mechanics in amputees have used prostheses originally designed for walking, and those that have looked at running mechanics using prostheses designed for running have focused on sprinting. Continue reading
February 2018
Exercising arms improves post-stroke walking
Canadian researchers have demonstrated that that arm exercises—specifically, cycling the arms—improves post-stroke gait. The authors said this is the first study to test the effect of arm training on post-stroke leg function, even years after the event. The results appear in the Journal of Neurophysiology. Continue reading
February 2018
TJA patients discharged home alone do well
Patients who live alone had a safe and manageable recovery when discharged directly home after total joint arthroplasty (TJA), according to a prospective study published in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. Continue reading
February 2018
Researchers target prevention of posttraumatic osteoarthritis
Reducing oxidative stress in mitochondria shortly after joint injury may prevent posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA), according to a study published in Science Translational Journal. This discovery is compelling because young, active patients are more likely than older patients to experience these injuries, yet are not… Continue reading
February 2018
Core weakness may lead to low back pain in runners
Deep core-muscle weakness in runners leads to compensation strategies that increase pressure and loading on the spine, which may increase the risk of low back pain, a new analysis demonstrates. Continue reading
February 2018
Group urges training exercises to prevent ACL injury
Athletic trainers and healthcare professionals have a fresh set of recommendations to help prevent noncontact and indirect contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in athletes and physically active people. The position statement, “Prevention of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury,” from the… Continue reading
January 2018
Yoga reduces falls in older adults
Participating in a yoga course decreased the number of falls reported by older adults in a rural community in Wisconsin, according to new research published in December.
By Nicole Wetsman Continue reading
January 2018
ACL treatment in children varies widely; 90% return to sport after ACLR
Over the past 15 years, the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in children and adolescents has increased. And although this population requires special considerations, in part due to their continued musculoskeletal growth, medical management of this condition varies widely.
By Nicole Wetsman Continue reading
January 2018
Most volleyball-related ankle injuries occur during blocking
New evidence suggests that most volleyball-related ankle injuries are the result of a rapid inversion during blocking—often due to landing on an opponent or a teammate while attacking—rather than the injury occurring during plantar flexion, as once thought, according to a study published in the January 2018 issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
By Nicole Wetsman Continue reading
January 2018
HIP STRENGTHENING: Optimizes PFP treatment
A study published in the January 2018 issue of the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy presents new insights and evidence-based suggestions into the addition of hip strengthening to knee strengthening for people with patellofemoral pain (PFP).
By Nicole Wetsman Continue reading
November 2017
Hot tip to predict ulcer risk: Repeat temperature test for best results
The concept of foot temperature monitoring to identify areas of increased risk of ulceration in patients with diabetes is promising, but new research from the Netherlands suggests clinical use of the technology will require more than a single temperature assessment.
By Keith Loria Continue reading
November 2017
Gait findings support focus on proximal muscle function in people with diabetes
Lower extremity muscle force during gait differs significantly among patients with diabetic neuropathy, patients with diabetes but no neuropathy, and controls, according to research from Brazil that underscores the importance of maintaining proximal muscle function in patients with diabetes.
By Jordana Bieze Foster Continue reading
November 2017
Variability in glycemic control can help estimate time needed to heal foot ulcers
Glycemic variability—fluctuations in HbA1c level from one visit to another—is significantly associated with foot ulcer healing time in patients with diabetes, according to research from the UK.
By Jordana Bieze Foster Continue reading
November 2017
Runners’ knees get a lift: Elevating heel cuts patellofemoral load
Wearing heel lifts in conventional running shoes can help reduce patellofemoral joint loading and may offer an alternative to gait retraining in runners with patellofemoral pain (PFP), according to research conducted at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
By Jill R. Dorson Continue reading
