In lower extremity healthcare, as in politics, it hasn’t been easy for women to succeed in traditionally male-dominated roles. The gender demographics have shifted toward parity over time—in some specialties more than others—but challenges still remain. By Emily Delzell

Obese individuals often spend their entire lives telling themselves how much better their lives would be if only they were thin. But losing massive amounts of weight following bariatric surgery doesn’t automatically make a person a better candidate for total knee arthroplasty (TKA)—any more than it automatically makes a person happy—if underlying issues have been ...

Pronation is a triplanar movement and is the combination of rearfoot eversion, midfoot abduction, and talocrural dorsiflexion.1 Pronation in normal gait allows flexible, adaptive changes to varying types of terrain; it dissipates ground reaction forces; and encourages lower extremity internal rotation. By Frank Layman, PT, DPT, EdD, MT; and April Wilson, PTA, BS, CI, CKTP, IASTM

Weight loss following bariatric surgery can have biomechanical and symptomatic benefits for obese patients with knee osteo­arthritis (OA). But it’s less certain whether that weight loss can also reduce the risk of obesity-related complications following total knee arthroplasty. By Shalmali Pal

The mechanisms underlying the so-called crossover effect—when a unilateral intervention results in bilateral changes—are still unclear, but clinical applications related to lower extremity strengthening, fatigue, and stretching are already being explored by rehabilitation specialists. By Cary Groner

A growing body of evidence suggests that foot orthoses may be a helpful addition to other therapies for improving balance and potentially reducing the risk of falls. The findings have been mixed, however, and clinical enthusiasm for this type of insole intervention also varies. By Hank Black

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is associated with centralized feed-forward neuro­muscular alterations that affect the hip as well as the ankle, according to research from Boston University that may have implications for rehabilitation programs in that patient population. By Katie Bell

Foam rolling of the quadriceps muscle is associated with decreased biceps femoris activation, an effect that may be related to pain perception, according to research from the Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John’s, Canada. By Jordana Bieze Foster

Externally focused instruction results in greater jump height than internal focus or no instruction, regardless of whether the jumper’s eyes are open or closed, according to research from the Czech Republic. By Jordana Bieze Foster

Cypress Adaptive has launched the Vista Ankle, a universal, single-axis prosthetic ankle designed for mechanical elevated vacuum suspension. The achiev­able level of vacuum is determined by the compression of the plantar flexion bumper that occurs…

Pro-Tec Athletics offers a new topical product for pain relief. Pro-Tec’s Pain Relief, available in spray or roll-on formulas, is all natural. Both versions are designed to provide fast-acting, deep-penetrating relief of pain associated with muscle tightness and…

Orthozone introduces Thermo­skin Circulation Thermal Slippers. These thermal slippers feature three therapeutic layers to help increase circulation and decrease foot pain. The outer layer provides light compression and a comfortable fit for those who…

Z-Coil Footwear Company offers footwear that is engineered to relieve foot pain. Like shock-absorbers for the body, the Z-Coil’s patented conical-coil steel heels are designed to absorb up to 50% of the heel-strike impact associated with walking or running…

Waldlaufer introduces the Darryl lace-up oxford and Harlo slip-on shoes for women, both built on the company’s new Haruka Dynamic construction. This lighter weight line, part of the Dynamic Walking Collection, is designed for patients suffering…

The Protection On Demand (POD) Ankle Brace helps to provide protection from ankle injury for all athletes, from youth to elite levels. The adjustable POD brace is designed to offer freedom of movement and stability without breaking down…

Coral Cal Mag, a calcium and magnesium supplement boosted with more than 70 other essential trace minerals, is designed to promote strong, healthy bones along with a well-functioning nervous system and a healthy heart. The supplement provides calcium and…

Guna, an Italian company, has released two new products for temporary pain relief. Guna-Flam is an anti-inflammatory, low-dose homeopathic medicine intended for minor aches and pains due to acute and chronic inflammation, trauma, or…

The Sydney is the newest addition to the Petals Collection of footwear from Apex, for women who enjoy style but need superior foot support and footwear adjustability. The soft, light Sydney is a casual boat-style shoe, crafted from supple leathers, that…

Now entering the US market is 4Jointz, a natural over-the-counter pain relief cream developed in Australia. 4Jointz is formulated for those suffering from osteoarthritis (OA), sports injuries, and everyday wear and tear.