October 2010

Cover Story


Military Medicine: What it means for civilian practitioners
Military Medicine: What it means for civilian practitioners
The military – a wellness utopia of active and healthy young adults who must maintain fitness and weight standards to remain in good standing. Personnel medical histories are part of vast military databases that practitioners and ...

Editor Message


Out on a Limb: Cold cuts
Out on a Limb: Cold cuts
For centuries, the Greeks set the bar for the rest of the world to follow—in architecture, in literature, in medicine. Now they appear to be setting a new kind of example in health care. But we can only ...

Departments


Strengthening the case for carbon fiber AFOs
Strengthening the case for carbon fiber AFOs
Clinicians are already embracing carbon-fiber ankle foot orthoses, which provide a dynamic assist and may even help strengthen calf muscles in patients with foot drop. Now, slowly, research is exploring how these devices can best be used. by ...
Plantar pressure and gait in patients with diabetes
Plantar pressure and gait in patients with diabetes
Researchers have explored numerous offloading strategies to decrease plantar pressures in patients with diabetes, but few have studied whether making a deliberate change to a patient’s walking pattern might have a similar effect on pressure distribution. by Mansoo Ko, PhD
Splinting and stretching for plantar fasciitis pain
Splinting and stretching for plantar fasciitis pain
Evidence suggests that calf muscle stretching, whether manually or with the aid of a brace or splint, can help alleviate plantar fasciitis pain. What’s less clear is which protocol is most effective. By Neena K Sharma, PT, PhD, CMPT, and Gurpreet ...
Stair negotiation alters stability in older adults
Stair negotiation alters stability in older adults
Nowhere are the effects of aging on gait mechanics and neuromuscular control more apparent than on the stairs, an all- too-common site of fall-related injuries in older adults. Prevention starts with understanding the unique demands of stair ascent and descent. By ...
OA bracing may bolster prehabilitation protocols
OA bracing may bolster prehabilitation protocols
Preoperative exercise has been shown to improve total knee arthroplasty outcomes, but may not be feasible in patients with severe pain. Bracing and other offloading methods may be able to help. By John Kenney, CO, and Robert Hamblen, MD

News


In the Moment: Footcare

Insoles stand test of time
Insoles stand test of time
Six months may be too soon to replace – Diabetic insoles may not need to be replaced as frequently as previously thought, according to research from the U.K. presented in September at the second International Foot and Ankle ...
MRI reveals intrinsic muscle atrophy in patients with plantar fasciitis pain
Plantar intrinsic foot muscles associated with plantar fasciitis have significantly smaller cross sectional area than those in healthy feet, according to research from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA.
History of clubfoot treatment affects kids’ activity only slightly by age of 10
Children treated for clubfoot as infants grow up to be active 10-year-olds who can keep pace with their peers during almost all activities, according to research from the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas.

In the Moment: Sports medicine

EMG characterizes FAI
EMG characterizes FAI
Altered activation isn’t just at the ankle – Two studies presented at the second International Foot and Ankle Biomechanics conference add to the evidence that treatment of chronic ankle instability should focus on improving feed-forward neuromuscular control ...
Rearfoot motion in runners responds to pronator-supinator strengthening
Strength training focused on the pronation and supination affects rearfoot motion in runners to a greater extent than traditional plantar- and dorsiflexion training, according to research from the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany.
Study identifies gender differences in biomechanics of kicking in soccer
Gender differences in leg alignment and muscle activation during a soccer kick may in turn help explain gender differences in knee injury risk, according to research from the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.

Market Mechanics


Products


Leg Loop Leg Lift
Leg Loop Leg Lift
Designed for people with limited or no use of their lower extremities, Maddak’s new Leg Loop Leg Lift helps patients to safely reposition the leg and foot while reducing the chance of dropping the affected limb, which could cause bruising ...
Sof Sole Airr Insole
Sof Sole Airr Insole
Sof Sole announces the new Airr performance insole, engineered with special air pocket cushioning technology to create a better running experience for both amateur and professional athletes. The design applies the concept of air bag technology to the foot, with ...
NutriNerve Supplement
NutriNerve Supplement
NutriNerve offers its new NutriNerve Supplement Therapy for patients suffering from neuropathy. Ingredients include alpha lipoic acid (ALA), gamma linolenic acid (GLA), and benfotiamine, each of which has been shown to improve neuropathic symptoms. ALA has been reported to improve ...
PF3X Prescription Foot Orthosis
PF3X Prescription Foot Orthosis
Kano Labs has introduced the PF3X prescription foot orthosis. The PF3X is built utilizing soldered layer technology wherein a Blackmod thermoresin is used to produce a one piece integrated shell with variable degrees of flex throughout the orthotic. The PF3X ...
Cold Compression Ankle Boot
Cold Compression Ankle Boot
PI Professional Therapy Products offers the CP2 Ankle Boot Cold Compression. The ankle boot is designed to provide both cold therapy and compression to decrease swelling and promote healing. The product is constructed with zipper closure, eliminating the need for ...
Zamst A2-DX Ankle Brace
Zamst A2-DX Ankle Brace
One of the company’s most advanced products, the Zamst A2-DX ankle brace features more than 22 parts and 18 different materials. The A2-DX’s unique rigid guards restrict inversion and eversion, while the X-straps provide enhanced anterior and medial stability, a ...
FitFlop Mukluks
FitFlop Mukluks
FitFlop offers classic short and tall Mukluks equipped with an ergonomically shaped, muscle-toning Microwobbleboard midsole and a breathable, deluxe sheepskin upper. FitFlop footwear is biomechanically engineered to help tone and tighten leg muscles during walking, based on the Microwobbleboard technology ...
Shock Absorption Sandals
Shock Absorption Sandals
Spenco Medical Corporation announces the general availability of the PolySorb Total Support Sandal for both men and women. For the first time, the contours of the Spenco Total Support insole have been developed into a supportive, stylish, slip-on sandal. Spenco ...
Pro-Tec Foam Rollers
Pro-Tec Foam Rollers
Pro-Tec Athletics offers Pro-Tec Foam Rollers, designed for use in stretching, promoting flexibility, and myofascial release. The high density foam roller stretches muscles and tendons, breaks down soft tissue adhesion, and soothes tight fascia while increasing blood flow and circulation ...
Strutz Arch Supports
Strutz Arch Supports
Described by the company as “the human shock absorber”, Strutz is a line of arch supports that is designed to reduce stress and pressure on active joints, relieve plantar fasciitis pain, and lift fallen arches. The Strutz line includes the ...