There’s no question that exercise is good for kids. But the trauma asso­ciated with some youth sports can dramatically increase the risk that those kids will develop knee or ankle oste­oarthritis by the time they reach adult­hood. The key next step is to determine what can be done about it. By Yvonne M. Golightly, PT, PhD, ...

Nothing scares parents more than knowing their child is in danger and being powerless to do anything about it. For parents whose children play sports associated with injury risks, every practice and every game might as well be Halloween. Jordana Bieze Foster, Editor

Superficial thrombophlebitis (STP) is a common and controversial condition largely overshadowed by its big brother, deep vein thrombosis (DVT).1 Frequent reports of concomitant STP and DVT, with or without pulmonary embolus, align the two pathophysiologies closely. By Marlin W. Schul, MD, MBA, RVT

This two-part series explores the role of rotational forces in athletic injuries and the extent to which bracing can help control those forces and, in turn, prevent those injuries. This first installment ex­amines ankle sprains, PTTD, patello­femoral pain, and osteoarthritis. By Cary Groner

Published studies on pes cavus are in short supply, making evidence-based orthotic management a challenge. This author proposes a theory of pes cavus etiology based on muscle imbalances and reactions, which may support the concept of early orthotic intervention. By Paul R. Scherer, DPM

Two years after their inaugural event, experts on patellofemoral pain syndrome congregated in Belgium to once again dissect and analyze the latest research on the mechanisms underlying PFP and the effectiveness of such interventions as bracing, foot orthoses, and exercise. By Cary Groner

The evidence documenting the role of nutrition in improving wound healing and neuropathy symptoms hasn’t been widely publicized, particularly among lower extremity healthcare practitioners. But getting that information to your diabetic patients could help save their feet. By Larry Hand

Brace-wedge combo maximizes results – Wedged foot orthoses and knee braces have both been shown to relieve knee osteoarthritis symptoms, but research from the University of Western Ontario suggests that the two modalities may be most effective when used in ...

Practitioner concerns that knee bracing leads to muscle atrophy in patients with patellofemoral osteoarthritis (OA) appear to be unfounded, and the opposite may be true, according to research from the University of Manchester in the U.K. In 59 individuals with symptomatic ...

Knee osteoarthritis patients may not want to throw out their high-heeled shoes just yet. Research from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit suggests that elevated heels are actually associated with pain relief in some patients with knee OA. The findings are surprising ...

Study locates optimal position, angle – When researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology were trying to determine the ideal position for a dorsal strap to prevent pistoning within an ankle foot orthosis, they approached the problem from multiple angles—literally. ...

A study from Northern Illinois University (NIU) mirrors the conflicting evidence regarding foot orthoses and balance, finding that prefabricated orthoses significantly improved some but not all postural control measures in healthy volunteers. Hamid Bateni, PhD, an assistant professor of physical therapy ...

Patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease respond to the same custom ankle foot orthosis (AFO) in very different ways, according to research from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas presented in September at the annual AOPA meeting. Investigators assessed eight CMT patients ...

Braces reduce risk in football players – Research e-published last month by investigators at the University of Wis­consin-Madison suggests prophylac­tic lace-up braces are a cost-effective method of reducing the incidence of ankle sprains in high school football players without increasing ...

The forward twisting fall is the dominant mechanism of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury among male and female carving skiers, according to Austrian investigators writing in October’s International Journal of Sports Medicine. Investigators from University Innsbruck retrospectively collected demographic data from ...

The risk of having an underlying hip deformity, known as cam impingement, is substantially higher among children and adolescents who engage in high intensity sports than in their nonathlete peers, and may increase their risk of future hip osteoarthritis, according ...

Spenco Medical has launched several new products in its Total Support Sandal line. The new additions include three different styles—the Yumi, the Kholo, and the Fusion—all designed to provide relief for a variety of foot-related issues, including plantar fasciitis, shin ...

New from Kano Labs is the Sigma Podiatric Examination Chair. The examination chair is engineered to provide both ergonomic and mobility solutions in one unit. The Sigma exam chair has three low-voltage electromechanical engines, surface mounting technology, digital control electronics, ...

Össur’s redesigned Proprio Foot with EVO (energy vector optimization) features intelligent ankle flexion so patients don’t need to think about each step to avoid tripping and falling. The lifelike ankle movement allows the Proprio Foot to adjust for normal sitting ...

Euro International has launched a new holistic wound care shoe, the Pluto. The Pluto is specifically designed to provide forefoot relief and helps protect wearers from injury, infection, and temperature fluctuations while reducing and redistributing pressure. It’s intended for patients ...

The new Jerry Miller I.D. Shoes collection, Simply Jerry, includes four styles of custom-molded shoes designed for active patients. The line, which falls outside Therapeutic Shoe Bill eligibility requirements, is appropriate for patients with third-party payer insurance who have with ...

Cascade Dafo has added a new product to its Fast Fit line of prefabricated shoe inserts, which are engineered to control moderate pronation of the pediatric foot. The low-profile Chipmunk combines the internal alignment provided by molded contours with the ...

Med Spec has updated its line with the new, lower profile Phantom Dorsal Night Splint. Its reduced medial and lateral aspects enhance patient compliance and reduce contact with the opposing leg during sleep. The adjustable toe strap lifts the hallux ...

Superfeet’s new FLP Orthotic Sandal combines a functional orthotic with true sandal look. Its deep heel cup supports the heel’s natural fat pad to optimize shock absorption and its high-density hybrid EVA foam top layer increases shock absorption and energy ...

Redi-Thotics introduces its over-the-counter (OTC) pediatric orthotic line, the Awesome Kids Orthotic. The orthotic is the first in an upcoming line of OTC kids orthotics that offer low profile rearfoot control for children whose insurance doesn’t cover custom orthotics. A ...

PediFix has collaborated with GelSmart to offer the new Gel Dual-Action Toe Spacer/Bunion Guard. The combination toe spacer and bunion guard cushions and protects the hallux prominence and separates the first and second digits to reduce painful interdigital irritation. The ...