The achievement of independent walking is a major focus of rehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Even when mobility could be achieved more easily through the use of assistive technologies such as wheelchairs, independent walking is typically pursued as a major rehabilitation goal and other forms of mobility are often discouraged. By Barbara E. Gibson, ...

The sports world can’t stop talking about Robert Griffin III and his injured knee. But nobody’s talking about his brain. And they should be, because it’s very possible the two are related. Jordana Bieze Foster, Editor

Evidence suggests that when an athlete stops or tapers his or her training, the resulting effects on endurance, strength, balance, and lower extremity biomechanics may increase the risk of injury. Understanding these effects can help prac­ti­tioners minimize injury risks. By Boyi Dai, PhD, and Jason C. Gillette, PhD

This two-part series examines trends in materials development and fabrication. This first installment focuses on how material strength, stiffness, and other variables affect the structural properties and design of orthotic and prosthetic devices. By Cary Groner

Children’s shoes often are designed to look like adult shoes but lack the same structural components. Perhaps not surprisingly, research has dem­on­strated that running kinematics and kinetics differ significantly between seemingly similar child and adult shoes. By Janet S. Dufek, PhD, Dana Forrest, MS, and John A. Mercer, PhD

Interventions to improve postural control in patients with functional ankle instability include strength training, balance training, taping, bracing, and foot orthoses, but further research is needed to determine which therapeutic approaches work best in which patients. By Janet Simon, MS, ATC, Emily Hall, MS, ATC, and Carrie Docherty, PhD, ATC

Whole body vibration may help improve strength and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis and may even slow disease progression. But contradictory findings, a lack of consensus on optimal parameters, and safety issues have even WBV advocates proceeding with caution. By Cary Groner

Prevention and treatment of foot ulcers in patients with diabetes requires an understanding of the various factors that contribute to increased risk, including anatomical deformity, poor vascular function, and di­min­ished capacity for healing at a microscopic level. By Allyson Berglund, DPM, Matthew Juriga, DPM, Aristidis Veves, MD, DSc, and Thanh Dinh, DPM

Delcam’s new scanner, the iQube mini, is designed to benefit orthotic laboratories, clients, and practitioners by providing a more portable device than the current iQube model. The new model weighs less than 13 pounds, and its dimensions would be acceptable ...

The Vertimax competitive edge training system is designed to improve speed, vertical jump height, and overall athleticism. Used by professional and collegiate athletes and designed to increase performance across all sports and ages, Vertimax simultaneously applies load to both legs ...

New from Ability Dynamics is the Rush foot. The foot is made of a new composite fiber material, Flexeon, which is three times more flexible than carbon-fiber materials used in conventional prosthetic feet. The foot is designed for amputees with ...

Children’s orthopedic footwear company Keeping Pace has launched a newly designed, hi-top athletic shoe with a flexible outsole. The KPHTP shoe has a double-depth, triple-width design specifically for accommodating ankle foot orthoses. The new athletic hi-top shoe features a 90° ...

Pro-Tec Athletics offers the new Y Roller, a massage tool made with elastomer, a high density, durable foam. Designed to provide deep tissue massage and myofascial release, the Y Roller helps reduce muscle fatigue and tightness, promote flexibility, and enhance ...

Star Nutrition announces the latest addition to its popular Incrediwear line: the TEC-3 calf sleeve. Engineered using an Italian 3D weaving machine and featuring carbonized charcoal anion technology, the 360-thread count TEC-3 material is designed to increase circulation to the ...

The Eccentron from BTE harnesses eccentric resistance therapy, wherein muscles lengthen under force, for improved results. In geriatrics, the Eccentron provides 30%-40% more weight resistance than concentrics for improved strength, stability, and balance and a reduced risk of falling. In ...

The new EZ Stride Dorsi-Assist is for practitioners who want to “think outside the shoe.” The EZ Stride Dorsi-Assist, available in prefabricated or custom models, is an alternative to traditional in-shoe ankle foot orthoses for patients who cannot tolerate an ...