Ankle instability

Researchers develop technology to treat Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT)

The research team led by Professor Minseok Kim from the Department of New Biology at DGIST (President Yang Kuk) has developed a technology that can treat Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, an incurable hereditary disease, with … READ MORE

World-first guidelines for children with common inherited nerve disorder 

Paediatric neurologists and allied health clinicians have developed world-first clinical practice guidelines for children with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), the most common childhood inherited nerve disorder. This international … READ MORE

Disease severity, walking needs may guide patients’ orthosis choice

Clinical indices measuring disease severity and the need for walking assistance may help patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease in deciding on the type of orthosis required to provide added support for weakened muscles, a … READ MORE

Personalized CMT braces

Personalized CMT braces make Julie stronger! Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, or CMT, is a disorder that affects the sensory and motor nerves in the arms, hands, feet, and legs. Find out about how orthopedic specialists were able to … READ MORE

Knock knees, bowlegs, pigeon toes? Usually nothing to worry about!

Babies have to fold into a tight little ball as they develop in their mom’s womb, right? When they come out, and stretch and move those little arms and legs, we realize what a miracle it was that they ever fit inside! Their bodies … READ MORE

University of Barcelona researchers describe a new anatomic structure in the ankle

This ligament complex would explain chronic pain after an ankle sprain. The superior fascicle of the anterior talofibular ligament (1) is an intra-articular non-isometric structure, that is, it relaxes when the foot is on dorsal … READ MORE

First glimpse of body’s steering wheel joint sparks hope

For the first time, scientists have found a way to reveal the mechanics of the human body’s ‘steering wheel’ – the subtalar joint. Figure 1.5. Illustration of the inversion/eversion and plantar flexion/dorsiflexion movements. … READ MORE

New studies refute claims of fall prevention with AFO bracing

In 2011, a new custom ankle foot orthotic (AFO) brace, herein referred to as the Moore Balance Brace, was introduced to the podiatric community. From the outset, the Moore Balance Brace was marketed and promoted to prevent falls in … READ MORE

I’m learning to accept the benefits of my mobility aids

I recently read an article in the Virginia Journal of Education that made me think about my feelings toward my mobility aids. The author, Kelly Hickok, is a wheelchair user, and she described how mobility aids give her a sense of … READ MORE

Use of ankle-foot orthotics linked to improved gait, balance in CMT patients

Use of orthoses such as braces or other special devices can help improve the gait and balance of patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, but patients don’t always follow recommendations for their use, a review study has found. … READ MORE

A thank you to my old AFOs

In grade school, I used to launch my ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) from my foot and into the air by twisting my toes as I kicked as high and as hard as I could. I would watch my AFOs spin in the sky before they fell to the ground. The … READ MORE

Orthotic management: A symptom-based, dynamic approach

Orthotic devices, tailored to each patient and adjusted for disease progression, can improve mobility by addressing gait impairments and maintaining stability. Jeff Seitzer. Joshua Albanese Lower Extremity Review photo By Cary … READ MORE

Custom foot orthotics for relief of lower back pain

Shoe inserts or foot orthotics are sometimes used to treat lower back pain in people who have some type of foot dysfunction or imbalance. The prevailing medical theory is that foot or ankle problems can cause lower back misalignment, … READ MORE

Do I need foot orthotics? What kind?

Many people come to my office complaining of foot pain from conditions such as bunions, hammertoes, a pinched nerve (neuroma), or heel pain (plantar fasciitis). I perform a thorough evaluation and examination, and together we review … READ MORE

Calgary doctor, entrepreneur scores finalist spot in international innovation competition

Dr. Breanne Everett makes smart shoes that can prevent injuries to diabetics’ feet. Dr. Breanne Everett shares her pitch for Orpyx at the Pitch@Palace boot camp at Facebook London on Friday. Pitch@Palace Facebook Sarah … READ MORE

What to know about supination of the foot

Supination and pronation are parts of a stride. Supination occurs when weight is placed on the outside of the foot while walking or running. When the opposite happens, and a person shifts their weight from the heel to the forefoot, it … READ MORE

Parents shouldn’t over worry about early issues with children’s knees and feet

Most early anomalies in a child’s gait will work themselves out, says Dr. Peter Nieman. Childhood development can be a time of both excitement and stress. On the one hand, it is exciting for parents to document their baby’s … READ MORE

Out on a limb: Low tech, high value

The use of advanced technologies to provide feedback to patients during rehabilitation is all the rage in lower extremity healthcare. But, as exciting as these new modalities can be, it’s important to remember that low-tech feedback … READ MORE

Runners’ knees get a lift: Elevating heel cuts patellofemoral load

Wearing heel lifts in conventional running shoes can help reduce patellofemoral joint loading and may offer an alternative to gait retraining in runners with patellofemoral pain (PFP), according to research conducted at the … READ MORE

What is overpronation?

When the arch of the foot collapses excessively downward or inward, this is known as overpronation. Sometimes, people call this condition flat feet. Overpronation is when the arches of the foot roll inward or downward when walking, … READ MORE

The US beauty queen making her invisible illness visible

“It’s not easy to stand on stage in a bikini in pageants. I have a 25-inch scar that runs down my spine. And people can see it… like, really see it.” Victoria poses in a backless ball gown revealing her surgery … READ MORE

A runner’s guide to the perfect shoe

In 2010, the running-shoe world was in turmoil. The rapid rise of barefoot and minimalist running had sparked a critical re-evaluation of all the fancy technology packed into the most popular shoes – rollbars, heel lifts, cushioning … READ MORE

High heels: Elevating the discussion

The biomechanical implications of high-heeled shoes are well known, and now dramatic weight-bearing images and new study findings are taking practitioner and patient awareness to the next level. But many women are still sacrificing … READ MORE

Foot and ankle issues may increase risk of knee OA

In individuals at risk for knee osteoarthritis (OA), the presence of foot and ankle symptoms is associated with increased odds of developing symptomatic and radiographic knee OA four years later, according to research from the … READ MORE

Older adults who exercise regularly can reduce risk of severe mobility problems

Nearly one in four adults aged 65 and older has trouble walking or climbing stairs—and 3.4 million older adults have trouble taking care of their personal needs, such as dressing or bathing. As we age, these difficulties can impact … READ MORE

Chair yoga helps older adults manage osteoarthritis pain

Chair yoga may produce sustained improvements in pain interference among older adults with lower extremity osteoarthritis, according to a study published December 23 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Doctor’s … READ MORE

VERA: Virtual physical therapy in the comfort of your own home

VERA is an all-in-one device that utilizes a tele-rehab platform to help patients perform prescribed in-home exercise programs while monitoring their compliance and reporting results back to their physical therapists. The goal is to … READ MORE

Minimal shoes may reduce running injuries

Runners who wear running shoes with no cushioning and land on the ball of their foot rather than the heel put significantly less demand on their bodies, new research suggests. Barefoot Running Shoes vs Minimalist Running Shoes: 5 Key … READ MORE

Out on a limb: Think outside the knee

We hear a lot about various co-morbidities associated with knee osteoarthritis (OA), and how addressing those additional conditions can help improve knee pain and function. But a growing body of research suggests one set of … READ MORE

Chronic ankle instability, gait and muscle activity

Clinicians should be aware of distal and proximal neuromuscular strategies when attempting to improve gait mechanics in patients with chronic ankle instability. New research suggests lower extremity clinicians should consider … READ MORE

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