July 2014

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The rise and fall of minimalist footwear
The rise and fall of minimalist footwear
Once thought by some to be the next big thing in running, minimalist footwear has been scrutinized in recent years by researchers and class-action plaintiffs who claim the shoes do not provide the same benefits as barefoot running… By Cary Groner

Publisher Message


Publisher’s memo: Rewards of listening
Publisher’s memo: Rewards of listening
I have been in the lower extremity publishing space for 25 years, and one thing I have realized is that listening is the key to learning. Richard Dubin, Publisher

Editor Message


Out on a limb: Five-year milestones
Out on a limb: Five-year milestones
In the five years since the launch of Lower Extremity Review, some things about lower extremity healthcare haven’t changed much. Diabetes is still an epidemic. Stem cells are still the next big… Jordana Bieze Foster, Editor

Special Section


CONFERENCE COVERAGE: Orthotics Technology Forum 2014

conf-cover

Lower extremity clinicians, orthotic lab owners and managers, and technology experts convened in Chicago in June to discuss the technical and clinical implications of new advances in orthotic design and manufacturing technology.

Sponsored by an educational grant from…

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Thank You to Our Advertisers


A special thanks to the advertisers
A special thanks to the advertisers
As we celebrate our 5th anniversary here at LER Magazine, we want to say “thank you” to the advertisers who were a part of this special anniversary issue, and to all of the advertisers who have made these 5 years possible!

A Special Thanks to Our Manuscript Authors


Thanks to our manuscript authors!
magazine is only as good as the words that fill its pages, and LER is no exception. As we celebrate our fifth anniversary, we’d like to sincerely thank the many researchers and practitioners who have contributed manuscripts…

Departments


Functional movement tests and injury risk in athletes
Functional movement tests and injury risk in athletes
Efficient, low-cost, field-ready functional movement tests may be useful in preparticipation physicals to identify and provide preventive treatment for individuals with an elevated risk of injury, as well as aiding return-to-sport… By Kathryn Schwartzkopf-Phifer, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, and Kyle Kiesel, PT, PhD, ATC
Studies explore statin use for lower limb indications
Studies explore statin use for lower limb indications
A growing body of research suggests that statins may help improve not just cardiovascular outcomes but also those associated with lower extremity conditions such as peripheral arterial disease and knee… By Larry Hand
Revisiting the status quo for AFO strap placement
Revisiting the status quo for AFO strap placement
Conventional wisdom says dorsal straps for ankle foot orthoses should be positioned at a certain angle to resist heel rise. Now preliminary research from Georgia Tech is calling that practice into question… By P.K. Daniel
Foot ulceration in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Foot ulceration in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Research has identified ankle-brachial index, loss of sensation, and deformity as predictors of foot ulceration in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and also suggests that ulceration influences… By Jill Firth, PhD, BSc (Hons), and Heidi J Siddle, PhD, MSc, BSc (Hons)

News


In the Moment: Sports Medicine

By Jordana Bieze Foster

Screening gets specific: Functional testing studies sharpen focus
Screening gets specific: Functional testing studies sharpen focus
As evidence accumulates in support of functional movement testing for predicting injury risk, researchers are taking a closer look at how functional screening can be applied to specific athlete populations. By Jordana Bieze Foster
Athletes with hip flexor tightness have reduced gluteus maximus activation
Hip flexor tightness is associated with reduced gluteus maximus activation during an overhead squat, according to findings from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) that are consistent with… By Jordana Bieze Foster
Hip exercises boost postural control in individuals with ankle instability
Four weeks of hip external rotator and abductor strengthening significantly improves postural control in patients with functional ankle instability (FAI) and may be useful for preventing recurrent instability… By Jordana Bieze Foster

In the Moment: Diabetes

By P.K. Daniel

An ill windlass: Neuropathy is associated with impairment
An ill windlass: Neuropathy is associated with impairment
Windlass mechanism impairment is evident in patients with diabetic neuropathy and could contribute to increased plantar pressures and ulceration risk, according to research from the … By P.K. Daniel
Many who consider their feet normal have abnormalities, loss of sensation
Self-reported information about foot health from patients with type 2 diabetes, particularly those with peripheral neuropathy, is not reliable, according to research from the University of Western Australia in Perth. By P.K. Daniel
Depression-like symptoms improve after diabetes distress interventions
Patients with diabetes often struggle with depression-like feelings, but research suggests those symptoms may not need to be treated as a comorbid psychiatric condition. By P.K. Daniel

Market Mechanics

By Emily Delzell


Products


Comfortable Klogs
Comfortable Klogs
Klogs for men and women are designed to mimic the comfort of walking barefoot. A range of individuals—including teachers, chefs, medical providers, outdoor enthusiasts, and senior citizens—can benefit from…
Innowalk Mobility Device
Innowalk Mobility Device
Thanks to a new partnership agreement between Ottobock and Norway-based company Made for Movement, Ottobock has exclusive distribution rights in North America for the Innowalk, a motorized…
pHast Legs for DOMS
pHast Legs for DOMS
Rocktape’s new pHast Legs is a new product designed to keep an athlete’s pH levels in balance, reducing the incidence and severity of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and recovery time. During exercise…
Leg Health iPad App
Leg Health iPad App
Sigvaris introduces a new iPad app for practitioners who advise patients about their leg health. The app helps explain the circulatory system and leg health conditions to patients in an illustrative way that is…
Niagara Custom AFOs
Niagara Custom AFOs
Niagara Brace announces a new line of custom thermoplastic ankle foot orthoses (AFOs). These braces are made from a cast or computer scan using 3D imaging and CAD-CAM technology, with a standard…
Neolon with Silpure
Neolon with Silpure
JMS Plastics Supply introduces its Neolon top cover, which incorporates Silpure into neoprene. Neolon with Silpure provides antimicrobial protection against bacteria, mold, mildew, and fungus using…
Ped Lite Penny Loafer
Ped Lite Penny Loafer
Ped Lite is proud to introduce the Scott, an adjustable penny loafer specifically designed for patients with diabetes. With a roomy 6/16″ of extra depth, the Scott loafer is designed to be both stylish and affordable…
SmartTemp Liner
SmartTemp Liner
WillowWood’s Alpha SmartTemp Liner brings temperature control to prosthetic liners with Outlast, a heat management technology that was developed for NASA. The product is designed to absorb heat…