Rosenblatt works with a study participant in the Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases awarded Rosalind Franklin University (RFU) of Medicine and Science scientists Noah Rosenblatt, PhD, and Ryan Crews, PhD, a 3-year, $848,596 grant to evaluate the impact of removable cast walker (RCW) designs on diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) healing. RCWs are commonly prescribed to treat DFUs, but low adherence to the treatment predicts poor DFU healing, which could ultimately lead to an amputation.
“Our long-term goal is to optimize offloading adherence and subsequent DFU healing outcomes by considering not only how much the device offloads the DFU, but also how much the device’s design impacts the patient experience,” said Rosenblatt.
Rosenblatt was also awarded a 2-year, $349,999 grant from the Department of Defense’s Orthotic and Prosthetic Outcome Research Program for a study of the physical and mental health of service members and veterans who use prostheses.
“As warfighters injured during recent conflicts continue to age, they will be faced with new physical and mental challenges that impact mobility, including increased fall risk,” he said. “We must support advances in rehabilitation across their lifespan.”
Rosenblatt’s team hopes to provide preliminary evidence that the socket trim line in people with transfemoral amputations can impact fall risk, and to ultimately promote enduring improvements in the physical and mental health of prosthetic users by reducing the prevalence and the burden of falls.
