Category Archives: Special Section
May 2012
Research links lower extremity symptoms of overuse to kinematics, training habits
Lower extremity kinematics and training habits affect risk of overuse injury in runners, according to research from the University of Tubingen in Germany.
May 2012
Footwear customized with pressure data fails to reduce diabetic reulceration rates
But ulcer severity may be decreased – In a Dutch randomized controlled trial of 171 high-risk diabetic patients, using plantar pressure measurements to confirm offloading below 200 kPa did not result in lower rates of ulcer recurrence over 18 months compared to standard custom shoes.
May 2012
Sham debridement matches scalpel for relief of painful plantar calluses
Scalpel debridement of plantar calluses in elderly patients does not reduce plantar pressures and is no more effective than sham treatment for relieving pain, according to an Australian study.
May 2012
Gait changes associated with footwear may explain foot complaints in children
Studies assess school shoes, flip-flops – Researchers from the University of Sydney in Australia have identified gait changes associated with pediatric footwear that may help explain foot complaints that have been reported in children.
May 2012
Hand tremor as predictor of calf cramp in CMT patients perplexes researchers
Researchers from the University of Sydney remain perplexed by the emergence of hand tremor as a predictor of calf cramp in children with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease but theorize that the relationship may involve fatigue.
May 2012
Factors other than static curve influence rollover shape with rocker-bottom shoes
Data confirm kinetic, EMG changes – The static curve of a rocker-bottom shoe does not correlate strongly with its rollover shape during gait, suggesting that other factors such as material stiffness may also contribute, according to research from the University of Salford in the UK.
May 2012
Benefits of variable-stiffness footwear may go beyond reducing knee OA risk
Variable-stiffness shoes may have performance benefits for athletes in addition to addressing kinetic risk factors for knee osteoarthritis, according to research from the National University of Singapore.
KID STUFF: Pediatric clinical news update
In this special section, LER updates you on the latest research and clinical news to help optimize management of your littlest lower extremity patients. Topics include pediatric flexible flatfoot, cerebral palsy, ACL injury, clubfoot, Charcot-Marie- Tooth disease, gait patterns in autism, and footwear for early walkers.
July 2011
New papers revisit, rekindle flexible flatfoot controversy
“Other considerations” spark debate
In January 2010, when LER first covered the controversy, Australian podiatrist and researcher Angela Evans, PhD, had recently published a paper in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association suggesting that children whose feet were flatter than expected, but asymptomatic, should be monitored rather than automatically treated with orthoses.
By Cary Groner
July 2011
CP experts assess evidence for use of orthotic devices
Despite progress, research gaps remain
The January publication in NeuroRehabilitation of the recommendations from a consensus conference held in 2008 paints a less-than-perfect picture of the evidence underlying orthotic management of cerebral palsy (CP).
By Larry Hand
July 2011
ACL injury prevention training focuses on younger athletes
Age-specific protocols are key to success
Training programs aimed at preventing anterior cruciate ligament injuries have been used for many years, but injury rates remain high. Injury prevention experts suggest such programs may be more effective if implemented before children reach the ages associated with highest injury risk and if the programs utilize age-specific protocols.
By Emily Delzell
July 2011
Not all practitioners embrace soft soles for novice walkers
Barefoot-like isn’t necessarily best
Barefoot is a biomechanics buzzword these days, but not all practitioners believe soft-soled shoes are best for very young children, even if such shoes do approximate the barefoot walking experience.
By Shalmali Pal
July 2011
Charcot-Marie-Tooth patients respond to AFO management
But recognizing device limits is key
Muscle weakness and instability associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in children can be addressed with ankle foot orthoses, research suggests, but practitioners should be aware of the limitations of AFOs in this patient population as well as the ever-present challenge of compliance.
By Shalmali Pal
July 2011
French study favors Ponseti over compatriots’ technique
Casting simplifies clubfoot management
In a comparative study published in the April/May issue of the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics, French researchers found that Ponseti casting compared favorably to French physiotherapy for initial treatment of idiopathic clubfoot.
By Emily Delzell
July 2011
Early research characterizes gait associated with autism
Results could have clinical implications
Little research has been published about gait patterns in children with autism, but that could be changing. One recently published study, although small, appears to lay the foundation for more focused research and could have clinical implications as well.
By Larry Hand
CONFERENCE COVERAGE: Custom Orthotic Insoles Technology Forum
Increasing numbers of clinicians and lab owners who have made the leap to digital orthotic technology are seeing meaningful returns on those investments in terms of increased convenience, flexibility, and—importantly—profitability. At the inaugural Custom Orthotic Insoles Technology Forum, held in April at the University of Bath in the U.K., a number of satisfied digital technology converts shared their success stories and underscored the key issues that prospective adopters should consider before taking the plunge themselves.
June 2011
Custom Orthotic Insoles Technology Forum
Perhaps the most predominant theme echoed by speakers at the conference was the need to understand and carefully weigh the pros and cons of investing in digital technology, as well as the pros and cons of different individual systems, to facilitate decision-making for individual situations.
June 2011
The future of orthotic technology
Machining orthoses with desktop cryogenics, or using an open-source “3D printer” that not only replicates orthoses but can also replicate itself, may seem unattainably futuristic. But these technologies are on the verge of being ready for prime time, and attendees at the Custom Orthotic Insoles Technology Forum got a sneak peak.
DEFENSIVE GAME PLANNING: Global insights on sports injury prevention
Multinational all-star teams of sports medicine experts convened in Monaco in April for the World Conference on Prevention of Illness & Injury in Sport, now under the direction of the International Olympic Committee. LER’s exclusive coverage of this event details clinical and scientific progress toward prevention of lower extremity injuries in basketball, soccer, volleyball, running, and ice hockey.
May 2011
Lace-up ankle braces reduce risk of sprain in basketball players regardless of history
Findings contrast with prior studies Lace-up ankle braces can significantly reduce the risk of ankle sprain in high school basketball players, even those with no history of injury, according to findings from Wisconsin that challenge current evidence-based thinking about prophylactic … Continue reading
May 2011
Postural stability decreases with taping but not bracing in Gaelic football study
Athletes concerned about dynamic postural stability, such as those with a history of ankle sprain, may be better off with ankle bracing than taping, according to an Irish study presented in Monaco in April. In a study of 15 male … Continue reading
May 2011
Data support use of multimodal approach for decreasing incidence of groin injuries
Specific mechanisms remain unclear Multimodal warm-up exercise programs appear to have benefits for reducing the incidence of groin injuries in athletes, but researchers are working to identify which specific training components have the greatest effect. Almost an afterthought at the … Continue reading
May 2011
Screening has benefit, but Philippon calls for more action to save hips in hockey
His research group has identified three physical exam findings that can effectively screen for risk of femoral acetabular impingement in adolescent hockey players, but the world’s most famous hip surgeon thinks more drastic preventive measures may be warranted much earlier … Continue reading
May 2011
Volleyball findings link training volume to symptoms of patellar tendinopathy
Jumping ability not implicated Hard work can make up for a lack of natural talent in sports, but research from Norway suggests that may not be true when it comes to the risk of patellar tendinopathy (jumper’s knee) in young … Continue reading
May 2011
Soccer, basketball athletes demonstrate differences in plantar pressure patterns
Dynamic plantar pressure distributions vary between soccer and basketball players in ways that may have implications for preventing injuries related to repetitive loading, according to research from Spain presented in Monaco in April. Investigators from Catholic University San Antonio in … Continue reading
