September 2018

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Cover Story
Offloading is key to preventing small concerns from becoming life-threatening, but adherence remains less than optimal. The not-so-secret truth: diabetes and its precursor, prediabetes, have reached epidemic status in the United States: More than 100 million Americans are living with the disease.
By Janice T. Radak
Guest Editorial
In March 2017, McGuire and Sebag wrote: “Early diagnosis and intervention for diabetic foot wounds is essential for the prevention of complications associated with these ulcers. We are all familiar with the term ‘the golden hour’ with respect to the first 60 minutes after the onset of a stroke or cardiac arrest.
By Harry L. Penny, ...
Feature Articles
As an expert, specialist, trained foot and ankle physician, you have worked hard for your place in the medical landscape, your degree and your confidence. You think you do your job well, but what if you are not getting through to your patients to the extent you thought you were? Over the years, I have ...
Podiatrists play a large role in education for the prevention of foot complications in people with diabetes. Subsequently, podiatrists also regularly teach self-management strategies for people with or without foot complications relating to their diabetes. Current diabetes guidelines recommend education provision; however…
By Julia Yuncken, Cyclie M. Williams, Rene Stolwyk, Terry P. Haines
With an aging population that is increasingly overweight, a growing number of patients present to providers with a chief complaint of “knee pain.” Successful treatment of these individuals depends on making the correct diagnosis. Conventional thinking is that knee pain in middle-aged or older patients is due to the degeneration of the articular cartilage and/or ...
On January 17, 2011, The New York Times published an article titled “Close Look at Orthotics Raises a Welter of Doubts.” Responding to the writing and research of Benno Nigg, it called into question much of the anecdotal information we provide to our patients when prescribing footwear and foot orthotics.
By William Smith, MSPT, C.Ped.
Skin trauma to the lower extremities—blisters, lacerations, incisions, and punctures—are common for those participating in athletic and recreational activities and are seen every day in clinical care settings. A foot ulcer, an open sore on the foot, is a more serious form of skin trauma or wound that occurs, often brought on in an environment ...
When people hear the word “Botox,” their immediate associations might be with facial injection as an anti-wrinkle treatment or magazine gossip on the latest celebrity to suffer a “botch job” from one-too-many injections. Prior to the modern use of this acetylcholine-blocking neurotoxin, no one other than medical professionals who used it to treat their patients really ...
From the American Podiatric Medical Association 2018 Annual Meeting
2018 Washington, DC – By Nicole Wetsman
A new, disposable negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) system effectively reduced the volume of varied wound types on four patients in an outpatient setting, reported Windy Cole, podiatrist at University Hospitals Ahuja Medical center, in a poster entitled, Management of Small, Lower Extremity Wounds in the Ambulatory Setting Using a Disposable, Mechanically Powered Negative Pressure ...
As patients seek more affordable care options, moving surgical procedures from the hospital-based operating room to less expensive, more convenient locations is one tactic being explored. But can such procedures be done safely in these outpatient settings? New research from Podiatrists in the Department of Surgery at the Southern Arizona Veteran Affairs Health Care System ...
Arteriovenous malformation can be managed non-surgically according to a poster presented by Rothman Institute podiatrists Faith Schick, PDM, and Nicholas Taweel, DPM. DPT. Their case report detailed how they resolved the patient’s symptoms and the case, highlighting the opportunities for non-operative treatment in this condition.
Adding a lateral bar beneath foot orthoses does not significantly alter activity in the pronator muscles in people with high-arched feet, according to preliminary data from a poster entitled, Effects of Two Types of Foot Orthoses on the Biomechanics of Participants with Cavus Feet During Walking.
Spraying insulin into an open wound improves the healing of diabetic foot ulcers in diabetic patients—both type 1 and type 2, reported a poster entitled, The Outcomes of Local Flushing of Insulin on Wound Healing in Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcers.
New Products
Since its inception in 1981, JMS Plastics Supply has been committed to partnering with its orthopedic customers for product satisfaction, including plastic materials, covering and cushioning materials, and equipment and supplies. New from JMS Plastics is a low-temperature thermoplastic for splinting, which JMS reports to be the only low-temperature plastic made in the U.S.
Cascade Dafo, a manufacturer of pediatric lower-extremity braces and creator of the original DAFO (Dynamic Ankle Foot Orthosis), has added the JumpStart Softback to its Fast Fit line of prefabricated braces. This AFO is designed to provide lightweight, comfortable control of mild to moderate toe walking and knee hyperextension.
The Noodle is Kinetic Research’s flagship ankle-foot orthosis. This patented technology creates a quick and simple solution for drop foot. What makes this ultra-lightweight AFO special is its next generation of carbon fiber properties that allow it to maintain dynamic motion and energy return.
The Neuropathic Walker is a more advanced and comfortable solution to the CROW Walker. The Neuropathic Walker is integrated with custom molded 3/16” solid polypropylene and 1/4” Aliplast lining with the same trim lines as a CROW Walker. We use high-quality leather that is molded over the solid polypropylene.
Introducing Össur Formfit Pro, a new 3D compression knit line by Össur, designed for people who suffer from various musculoskeletal conditions or ailments yet strive to remain active. Össur‘s Formfit Pro range includes Formfit Pro Knee for compression and patella support; Formfit Pro Knee OA, providing pain relief and…
Created by the founder of shoe brand Lisa Kay London, Sole Bliss uses 5 years of research and development to produce stylish footwear designed to accommodate women who have bunions. The British footwear is now available in the U.S. The patent-pending Juanet Technology provides an invisible stretch panel inside each shoe to support the bunion area, while…
Sigvaris introduces Secure, an affordable, innovative, ready-to-wear garment featuring graduated compression and containment properties, which is designed to manage advanced venous edema, lymphedema, post-surgical edema, and general edema. This garment maintains and delivers more graduated compression (compression profile) than…
Mobius, AMTI’s new line of performance treadmills, comes in two models: one fixed-tilt and one inclinable, capable of a 25% gradient. Both models have two independent 8800N-capacity force platforms, and a frame engineered to achieve the highest possible natural frequency, with the goal of providing industry-leading data quality.
OPTP and author Adriaan Louw PT, PhD, CSMT, have released the latest book in their patient education series: Your Nerves Are Having Hip Surgery is a neuroscience education book that helps prepare patients for their hip surgery; explains how nerves react before, during, and after the surgery so they can understand what to expect; and ...
New on the market from Medi-Dyne is the ProStretch NightSock. The product is designed to help alleviate heel pain associated with plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, calf muscle cramps, and runners’ cramps. By keeping the foot in a slightly flexed position, the ProStretch NightSock comfortably elongates the muscles and…
Industry Snapshot
Noteworthy products, association news, and market updates