August 2018

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Cover Story


Slip, Trip, Stumble, Fall: An Overview of Falls in the Elderly and How to Prevent Them
Slip, Trip, Stumble, Fall: An Overview of Falls in the Elderly and How to Prevent Them
When 88-year-old Doris fell getting out of the bathtub late on a Tuesday in the apartment she shared with her 90-year-old husband of 65 years, the ambulance took her to the hospital.  As suspected, she had broken her right hip, which was surgically corrected Wednesday morning… By Janice T. Radak

Guest Editorial


Falls Prevention among Older Adults: It Takes a Village
Falls Prevention among Older Adults: It Takes a Village
When most people think about September and the start of fall, they think of the beginning of the school year, getting back into routine after the summer, and cool crisp days. At the National Council of Aging (NCOA) when we think about fall, we think about and plan for National Falls Prevention Awareness Day, which ...

Feature Articles


Evidence Builds for Tai Chi as Falls Prevention Intervention
Evidence Builds for Tai Chi as Falls Prevention Intervention
Tai chi, a traditional Chinese mind-body exercise, consists of body rotations, semi-squat positions, and slow, controlled movements. As one moves through the various stances, balance shifts between single- and double-leg support, thereby incorporating gait, balance, and lower-limb strength training all at once. By Janice T. Radak
Preventing Age-Related Muscle Loss
Preventing Age-Related Muscle Loss
Shortly after age 50, the rate at which a person loses muscle mass begins to accelerate.1 Figure 1 is a graphical representation of the average number of quadriceps muscle fibers present in adults aged 18 to 82.2 Looking at the center of the graph, it is clear that the number of muscle fibers remains stable ...
Consider the Benefits of Gastrocnemius Recession for Recalcitrant Plantar Fasciitis
Consider the Benefits of Gastrocnemius Recession for Recalcitrant Plantar Fasciitis
Surgical management of recalcitrant plantar fasciitis has largely been limited to plantar fasciotomy. A potential alternative is effective, relatively safe, and reliable gastrocnemius recession, which addresses the effect of gastrocnemius muscle contracture on these patients. By Joseph G. Wilson, DPM, T. Craig Wirt, DPM, PhD, Jonathan L. Hook, DPM, MHA
Patellofemoral Pain in Adolescents Presents a Treatment Challenge
Patellofemoral Pain in Adolescents Presents a Treatment Challenge
Patellofemoral pain is a common condition among adolescents, with nearly 7% of the today’s adolescent population affected.1 It’s a particular burden for girls—it affects as many as 10% of adolescent female athletes2, and the pain likely shuts them out of sports at a similar rate to… By Nicole Wetsman
Neuromuscular and Kinematic Adaptation in  Response to Reactive Balance Training
Neuromuscular and Kinematic Adaptation in Response to Reactive Balance Training
This randomized controlled study evaluated the efficacy of slip-simulating reactive balance training compared to conventional balance training in regard to falls prevention. By Anne Krause, Kathrin Freyler, Albert Gollhofer, Thomas Stocker, Uli Brüderlin, Ralf Colin, Harald Töpfer, and Ramona Ritzmann

National Athletic Trainers Association Posters: Exploring Chronic Ankle Instability

2018 NATA New Orleans, LA – By Keith Loria


Look at Reactive Balance After Sprain
Look at Reactive Balance After Sprain
To better understand how ankle sprains negatively affect balance, Kyung-Min Kim, Ph.D., ATC, assistant professor, University of Miami Department of Kinesiology and Sport Sciences, and South Korean colleagues looked at the effects of acute lateral ankle sprain (ALAS) on reactive balance. Their findings were presented in the poster, Reactive Balance Following Acute Lateral Ankle Sprain.5
CAI Is Unique to Each Ankle, Treatment Should Be Too
CAI Is Unique to Each Ankle, Treatment Should Be Too
“Balance training isn’t a cookie-cutter treatment that should be used for every patient with CAI,” said Christopher J. Burcal, PhD ATC, co-director of Omaha Sports Medicine Research Laboratory and assistant professor of athletic training at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s School of Health and Kinesiology. “A quick screening of balance and self-reported function can ...
Ankle ROM in CAI
Ankle ROM in CAI
As part of a larger investigation and evolution of rehabilitation paradigms for those with chronic ankle instability (CAI), Cameron J. Powden, PhD, LAT, ATC, assistant professor, Department of Applied Medicine and Rehabilitation at Indiana State University, led a research team with colleagues from the…
Resistance Bands, BAPS, or Combo—All Work Well in CAI Rehab
Resistance Bands, BAPS, or Combo—All Work Well in CAI Rehab
Three 10- to 20-minute sessions per week for 4 weeks of resistance bands, BAPS board, or a combination of the two, worked equally well as rehabilitative treatment for chronic ankle instability (CAI) in high school and adolescent athletes, according to the findings presented in the poster, A Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating the Effects of a ...
K-Tape Could Be Helpful in Treatment of Dancers
K-Tape Could Be Helpful in Treatment of Dancers
Nearly 70% of university level ballet and modern dancers report ankle sprains, and 75% have been identified as having chronic ankle instability (CAI). Yet, unlike collegiate football or basketball players, half do not receive medical care for these injuries. Why not? White ankle tape, braces, and boots do not help a dancer improve live performance.

New Products


Swede-O Inner Lok 8 Ankle Brace
Swede-O Inner Lok 8 Ankle Brace
The Swede-O Inner Lok 8 ankle brace features a patented internal figure-eight strapping system, which assures proper strap placement and simulates professional taping. The top strap covers the laces and locks the figure-eight straps in position and offers a quick-release feature that allows the user to easily remove the…
Sigvaris CompreFlex Reduce Enhancements and Accessories
Sigvaris CompreFlex Reduce Enhancements and Accessories
Sigvaris has launched new accessories and upgrades for its CompreFlex Reduce product portfolio. The CompreFlex Reduce system is designed to be a comfortable, easy-to-don-and-doff, inelastic wrap for patients with medically complex edema, including lymphedema. It is available in black and beige, and includes thigh…
Cascade Dafo Fast Fit Bug
Cascade Dafo Fast Fit Bug
Cascade Dafo, Inc., creator of the original DAFO (Dynamic Ankle Foot Orthosis), has added the Fast Fit Bug to its line of prefabricated shoe inserts. This low-profile shoe insert is designed to control mild to moderate pronation. Partnered with a supportive shoe, the Bug promotes a stable gait by raising the medial arch and…
Smartroller Guide to Optimal Movement, Second Edition
Smartroller Guide to Optimal Movement, Second Edition
Smartroller Guide to Optimal Movement, Second Addition, is available exclusively from OPTP. The guide can be purchased alone or as a package set with the Smartroller foam roller, a two-sided foam roller that helps promote balance, awareness, and core strength while recognizing tensegrity concepts.
JMS Plastics Fiberglass Casting Tape
JMS Plastics Fiberglass Casting Tape
JMS Plastics Supply, Inc., introduces J-Cast, a new orthopedic fiberglass casting tape that is simple to mold and comfortable to wear. J-Cast is designed to offer excellent ventilation and less irritation than similar existing products and is engineered to be easy to apply and to provide superior adhesion and outstanding…
kyBoot Swiss Air-Cushion Shoe
kyBoot Swiss Air-Cushion Shoe
The kyBoot Swiss-made air-cushion shoe is designed to create an unprecedented level of comfort during walking. The Walk-On-Air sole provides a floating-like experience due to its soft, springy, air-cushion properties, while allowing the user to feel every detail of the floor. The kyBoot reportedly relieves strain on joints and…
Fracture Boot
Fracture Boot
Elite Orthopaedics, Inc., offers the Pro Select Walker Series fracture boot, which is available in Air and Non-Air configurations. The Pro Select is ultra-lightweight, registering 10-15% lighter than comparable fracture boots, and features an ultra-low heel height that helps prevent external hip rotation while…
Performance Graphite Orthotic
Performance Graphite Orthotic
Foot Management’s latest technology allows engineered nylon to be blended with carbon graphite to produce Performance Graphite. This blend creates a lightweight shell that offers functional control with less bulk. High tensile strength and flexible modulus means Performance Graphite does not fatigue, creep, or…

Industry Snapshot

Noteworthy products, association news, and market updates