April 2019

Cover Story


Is There a Sprain–Brain Connection That Leads to Chronic Injury?
Is There a Sprain–Brain Connection That Leads to Chronic Injury?
Research shows that ankle health plays a role in the recruitment of the muscles around it. Millions of people sprain their ankles each year, from athletes to weekend warriors to vacationers stepping off the curb wrong. The injury is common, and for most people, treatable with ice, painkillers, and rest. By Nicole Wetsman


AN EXCERPT:

 

Guest Editorial


An Introduction to Physical Literacy
An Introduction to Physical Literacy
Physical literacy is defined as ‘the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life.’ The notion of ‘literacy’ within the concept of ‘physical literacy’ arises from the importance of our embodied interaction with the world. By E.J. Durden-Myers and N. R. Green

Feature Articles


Therapeutic Shoes Work for People with Diabetes. Why Doesn’t Every Patient Use Them?
Patients are unaware or reluctant, and some providers hesitate to engage in what can be a burdensome prescribing and procuring process—helping explain why uptake of this valuable preventative is disappointing. As allied healthcare professionals, we are, of course, acutely aware of the ever-growing diabetes epidemic in the United States. By Erick Janisse, CO, CPED
Can Stabilization Training Help Minimize Risk of Injury in Adolescent Female Athletes?
5.5 million children and adolescents are injured playing sports annually. Most of these injuries are preventable, the CDC says. More than 30 million children and adolescents participate in organized sports in the United States; according to the Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), that number is on the rise. By Warren J. Potash
It’s Not Limb Salvage…It’s Life Salvage
New research invigorates arguments about limb salvage vs. more proximal amputations. A recent paper from researchers in Australia has reignited the ongoing debate about the relative merits of partial-foot versus transtibial amputations, particularly in diabetes patients. By Cary Groner

Meeting Highlights

Exploring 3D printing in Prosthetics
Exploring 3D printing in Prosthetics
3D-printed Sockets Safe? There are approximately 2 million people living with an amputation in the United States, a number that is expected to increase to 3.6 million by 2050 according to recent studies. In the poster, “Clinical Trial Examining Safety and Feasibility of Definitive 3D-Printed… By Keith Loria

From the Literature


New Tool to Assess Clubfoot Treatment
New Tool to Assess Clubfoot Treatment
Congenital talipes equinovarus, or clubfoot, is a common deformity in which the affected foot is fixed downward and inward. The birth prevalence of clubfoot in low- and middle-income countries is estimated to be 0.5 to 2.0 cases for every 1000 live births. There is a global trend toward use of the minimally invasive Ponseti method for ...
Peak Tibial Accelerations as Real-time Measure of Impact Loading
Peak Tibial Accelerations as Real-time Measure of Impact Loading
Studies seeking to determine the effects of gait retraining through biofeedback on peak tibial acceleration (PTA) assume that this biometric trait is a valid measure of impact loading that is reliable both within and between sessions. However, data was lacking for the validity and reliability of these measures at the speed of endurance runners. By Pieter ...
DFCon 2019 Abstract Submissions Due June 15.
DFCon 2019 Abstract Submissions Due June 15.
The Diabetic Foot Global Conference (DFCon2019) will be held at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City in Los Angeles, California, USA, Oct. 17-19, 2019. All those engaged in the field of diabetic foot care, wound healing, limb salvage, and amputation…
When It Comes to Exercise, It’s Never Too Late…
When It Comes to Exercise, It’s Never Too Late…
Physical activity reduces the risk of many chronic illnesses and increases the odds of a longer, healthier life. But it hasn’t been clear whether the benefits of exercise differ based on when during their lives people are most active. By Sharon Reynolds
Plantar Mechanical Stimulation Improves Sensation in DPN
Plantar Mechanical Stimulation Improves Sensation in DPN
Over 30 million Americans have diabetes and 1.5 million Americans are newly diagnosed with diabetes each year. Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a major diabetic complication and affects 30% to 50% of people with diabetes. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a leading cause of devastating outcomes such as foot ulcer and amputation. By Bijan Najafi and Gu ...

Industry News & Updates


Featured Products


OPTP Professional Catalog, Volume 39
OPTP Professional Catalog, Volume 39
SoreSpot Silicone Tape
SoreSpot Silicone Tape
An AFO for Every Need
An AFO for Every Need
Core-Spun Compression Socks Available in New Patterns
Core-Spun Compression Socks Available in New Patterns
Open Heel Modifications for SMOs and AFOs
Open Heel Modifications for SMOs and AFOs
EVO Hybrid Lacer Ankle Stabilizer
EVO Hybrid Lacer Ankle Stabilizer
Step out on the Open Road
Step out on the Open Road
Fully Custom Insoles at Over-the-Counter Prices
Fully Custom Insoles at Over-the-Counter Prices
Secure Containment and Compression Stockings
Secure Containment and Compression Stockings
MIO Therapy Wearable Physical Therapy Technology
MIO Therapy Wearable Physical Therapy Technology