Search Results
Background:
In a previous pilot study of “cruisers” (nonindependent ambulation), “early walkers” (independent ambulation for 0–5 months), and “experienced walkers” (independent ambulation for 6–12 months), developmental age significantly affected the children’s stability when walking and performing functional activities. We sought to examine how shoe structural characteristics affect plantar pressure distribution in early walkers.
Methods:
Torsional flexibility was evaluated in four shoe designs (UltraFlex, MedFlex, LowFlex, and Stiff based on decreasing relative flexibility) with a structural testing machine. Plantar pressures were recorded in 25 early walkers while barefoot and shod at self-selected walking speeds. Peak pressure was calculated over ten masked regions for the barefoot and shod conditions.
Results:
Torsional flexibility, the angular rotation divided by the applied moment about the long axis of the shoe, was different across the four shoe designs. As expected, UltraFlex was the most flexible and Stiff was the least flexible. As applied moment increased, torsional flexibility decreased in all footwear. When evaluating early walkers during gait, peak pressure was significantly different across shoe conditions for all of the masked regions. The stiffest shoe had the lowest peak pressures and the most flexible shoe had the highest.
Conclusions:
It is likely that increased shoe flexibility promoted greater plantar loading. Plantar pressures while wearing the most flexible shoe are similar to those while barefoot. This mechanical feedback may enhance proprioception, which is a desirable attribute for children learning to walk. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 103(4): 297–305, 2013)
Idiopathic Toe-Walking
Have We Progressed in our Knowledge of the Causality and Treatment of this Gait Type?
Background
Idiopathic toe-walking (ITW) is a condition commonly seen by podiatric physicians. Because a toe-walking gait style is also caused by or associated with many other medical conditions, podiatric physicians should pay particular attention to ensuring an accurate diagnosis. There are many reported treatment options available for ITW. Therefore, a literature review was conducted to determine what treatment options are supported by the evidence as having the best long-term effect on ITW gait.
Methods
After extraction of relevant articles, 21 manuscripts reporting treatment options for ITW gait were appraised against the levels of evidence.
Results
From these articles, there was no single treatment option reported as having a long-term effect on the gait of children with ITW. There was support in the literature for surgical interventions, serial casting, and the use of botulinum toxin type A. There was limited evidence that footwear or orthoses changed the gait pattern.
Conclusions
This review updates the knowledge of podiatric physicians, enhances how children who present with this gait style can be managed, and highlights areas for future research.
Background: The Feet for Walking clubfoot project from Australia formally introduced the Ponseti technique in Vietnam in 2004 and is based at the Da Nang Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Centre in central Vietnam.
Methods: We provide an initial overview of the management of infant clubfoot deformity using the nonsurgical Ponseti method.
Results: Early indicators of the outcome of implementing this clubfoot project are largely positive but also require ongoing review. Further analyses of the use of the Ponseti method (or obstacles preventing the same) following training of personnel is underway.
Conclusions: Recent research has improved and refined the technique that must now be both appreciated and incorporated by clinicians. This technique is used across the world in both developed and developing countries and is universally regarded as the best management method for clubfoot deformities. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 99(4): 306–316, 2009)
Drug-based treatment of superficial fungal infections, such as onychomycosis, is not the only defense. Sanitization of footwear such as shoes, socks/stockings, and other textiles is integral to the prevention of recurrence and reduction of spread for superficial fungal mycoses. The goal of this review was to examine the available methods of sanitization for footwear and textiles against superficial fungal infections. A systematic literature search of various sanitization devices and methods that could be applied to footwear and textiles using PubMed, Scopus, and MEDLINE was performed. Fifty-four studies were found relevant to the different methodologies, devices, and techniques of sanitization as they pertain to superficial fungal infections of the feet. These included topics of basic sanitization, antifungal and antimicrobial materials, sanitization chemicals and powder, laundering, ultraviolet, ozone, nonthermal plasma, microwave radiation, essential oils, and natural plant extracts. In the management of onychomycosis, it is necessary to think beyond treatment of the nail, as infections enter through the skin. Those prone to onychomycosis should examine their environment, including surfaces, shoes, and socks, and ensure that proper sanitization is implemented.
Background: Sever’s disease is typical of many musculoskeletal conditions where observational annotations have slowly been accepted as fact with the passing of years. Acceptance of these nontested observations means that health professionals seeking information on this condition access very low-level evidence, mainly being respectable opinion or poorly conducted retrospective case series.
Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature was undertaken gathering available articles and book references relating to Sever’s disease. This information was then reviewed to present what is actually known about this condition.
Results: Respectable opinion and poorly conducted retrospective case series make up the majority of evidence on this condition.
Conclusion: The level of evidence for most of what we purport to know about Sever’s disease is at such a level that prospective, well-designed studies are a necessity to allow any confidence in describing this condition and its treatment. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 98(3): 212–223, 2008)
Podiatric physicians care for a wide spectrum of patients with neurologic illness. Often, patients with neurologic disease present to their podiatric physician with unrelated complaints that can be easily separated from their underlying neurologic condition. However, some neurologic conditions predictably lead to podiatric disease and, as such, are best treated in the context of the broader disease process. Neuropathies, spastic disorders, and cerebral palsy are examples of common neurologic disorders that can be associated with substantial podiatric manifestations; therefore, it is important for podiatric physicians to be familiar with these conditions. This article reviews the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and management of the common neurologic disorders affecting the foot. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 94(2): 104-117, 2004)