foot function

PURPOSE: Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly being used in clinical research. The Achilles tendon Total Rupture Score (ATRS) is a PROM designed to assess outcomes in patients with ruptures of the Achilles tendon. The aim of this study was to develop a Norwegian adaption of the ATRS and evaluate its validity and reliability. METHODS: The ATRS was translated into Norwegian in accordance with recommended guidelines. The study included 94 patients treated for Achilles tendon ruptures from January 2010 until February 2013, and the web-based questionnaires were administered twice...

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of endoscopic treatment in patients affected by mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy, by release of the paratenon combined with a resection of the plantaris tendon, regarding patient satisfaction, functional outcome, and pain scores. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated patients endoscopically treated for mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy between 2000 and 2013. Patient satisfaction, functional outcome, pain scores, and health-related quality of life were measured by the use of a numeric rating scale, the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score, the Victorian Institute of Sport assessment for the Achilles tendon, the numeric rating scale for pain during running and during sports, and the EuroQol 5D (EQ-5D-3L) standardized questionnaire...

BACKGROUND: We evaluated data from a clinical trial of first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ1) implant hemiarthroplasty and arthrodesis to determine the association between patient factors and clinical outcomes. METHODS: Patients ≥18 years with hallux rigidus grade 2, 3, or 4 were treated with synthetic cartilage implant MTPJ1 hemiarthroplasty or arthrodesis. Pain visual analog scale (VAS), Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) sports and activities of daily living (ADL) scores, and Short Form-36 Physical Function (SF-36 PF) subscore were obtained preoperatively, and at 2, 6, 12, 24, 52, and 104 weeks postoperatively...

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to use a super-thin, free superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator (SCIP) flap in the functional surgery for treating subungual melanoma and to evaluate its outcomes. METHODS: Forty-one patients with primary subungual melanoma of ≤ 2-mm thickness who were treated with functional surgery were prospectively enrolled. Following oncologic resection, a thin SCIP flap was harvested along the trans-superficial fat layer and transferred to the defect with further thinning by primary defatting...

The objective of this clinical trial was to compare the efficacy and safety of letibotulinum toxin A and onabotulinum toxin A for improving dynamic equinus foot deformity in children with cerebral palsy (CP). In total, 144 children with spastic CP who had dynamic equinus foot deformity were assigned randomly to the Botulax group (injection of letibotulinum toxin A) or the Botox group (injection of onabotulinum toxin A). The Physician's Rating Scale (PRS), ankle plantar flexor spasticity using the Modified Tardieu Scale, the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)-88, and the GMFM-66 were completed before injection and at 6, 12, and 24 weeks after injection...

The present study investigated the neural correlates associated with gait improvements triggered by an active prosthesis in patients with drop-foot following stroke during the chronic stage. Eleven patients took part in the study. MEG recordings in conjunction with somatosensory stimulation of the left and right hand as well as gait analyses were performed shortly before or after prosthesis implantation surgery and 3-4 months later. Plastic changes of the sensorimotor cortex of the ipsi- and contralesional hemisphere were revealed...

Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation has recently emerged as a treatment for persistent neuropathic pain, but the permanent implantation of stimulator leads and the pulse generator can be difficult and is sometimes associated with complications. We used a single-incision approach to tunnel and implant the leads and pulse generator for DRG stimulation treatment in a patient suffering from intractable foot pain. At long-term follow-up, the patient experienced a decrease in pain intensity and improvement in function, without any complications...

The architectural integrity of tissues requires complex interactions, both between cells and between cells and the extracellular matrix. Fundamental to cell and tissue homeostasis are the specific mechanical forces conveyed by the actomyosin cytoskeleton. Here we used super-resolution imaging methods to visualize the actin cytoskeleton in the kidney glomerulus, an organized collection of capillaries that filters the blood to make the primary urine. Our analysis of both mouse and human glomeruli reveals a network of myosin IIA-containing contractile actin cables within podocyte cell bodies and major processes at the outer aspects of the glomerular tuft...

Understanding the effects of an assistive device on dynamic balance is crucial, particularly for robotic leg prostheses. Analyses of dynamic balance commonly evaluate the range of whole-body angular momentum (H). However, the contributions of individual body segments to overall H throughout gait may yield futher insights, specifically for people with transtibial amputation using powered prostheses. We evaluated segment contributions to H using Statistical Parametric Mapping to assess the effects of prosthesis type (powered vs passive) and ramp angle on segmental coordination...

Below-knee level amputation significantly impacts the ability of an individual to ambulate. Transtibial amputees are typically prescribed energetically passive ankle-foot prostheses that behave as a spring or controlled damper, and therefore cannot fully replace the function of the missing limb. More recently, fully-powered devices have been proposed to more closely match the power generation ability of intact limbs. However, these fully-powered devices are significantly heavier than passive devices, thus increasing the stress on the socket-residual limb interface...

Lower Limb Exoskeleton robot that can facilitate stair walking is a big challenge, most systems could only provide level ground walking. In this study, a lightweight (0.5kg at ankle, 0.5kg at waist for control box) and autonomous exoskeleton Ankle Robot was proposed to provide power assistance for gait training of chronic stroke patients and it can facilitate three walking conditions in real-time: (1) level walking, (2) stair ascending, and (3) stair descending. Chronic stroke patients (n=3) with drop foot gait deficit and moderate motor impairment were recruited to evaluate the system under different walking conditions (Functional Ambulatory Category: FAC=4...

Background and purpose - Total ankle replacement (TAR) is gaining popularity for treatment of end-stage ankle arthritis. Large patient-centered outcome studies are, however, few. Here, we report data from the Swedish Ankle Registry. Patients and methods - We examined outcomes after primary TAR in patients from the Swedish Ankle Registry using PROMs (Patient Reported Outcome Measures; generic: EQ-5D and SF-36, region specific: SEFAS (Self-Reported Foot and Ankle Score), and a question on satisfaction). We included 241 patients registered with primary TAR between 2008 and 2016 and who completed PROMs preoperatively and postoperatively up to 24 months...

Stroke is one of the leading causes of disability and death globally. It occurs when a major artery is occluded in the brain and leads to death of cells within the injured tissue. (+)-Borneol, a simple bicyclic monoterpene extracted from traditional Chinese medicine, is widely used in various types of diseases. However, no study has proved the effects of (+)-borneol on functional recovery from permanent ischemic stroke and the mechanism is still unknown. Here, we report that in the rat model of permanent cerebral ischemia, we found that (+)-borneol (1...

A three-dimensional foot finite element model with actual geometry and non-linear behavior of tendons is presented. The model is intended for analysis of the lower limb tendon forces effect in the inner foot structure. The geometry of the model was obtained from computational tomographies and magnetic resonance images. Tendon tissue was characterized with the first order Ogden material model based on experimental data from human foot tendons. Kinetic data was employed to set the load conditions. After model validation, a force sensitivity study of the five major foot extrinsic tendons was conducted to evaluate the function of each tendon...

We evaluated the surgical outcomes of Haglund's triad using a central tendon-splitting approach, with Achilles tendon partial detachment and debridement, excision of the retrocalcaneal bursa, resection of Haglund's prominence, and reattachment of the Achilles tendon. The medical records of 22 patients (22 heels) who had undergone surgical correction of Haglund's triad from January 2010 to December 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. The visual analog scale pain score, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot scale score, and 36-item Short-Form Health Survey physical and mental component scores were prospectively collected preoperatively, 6 months postoperatively, and at the last visit...

BACKGROUND: Flexor tendon injuries are one of the most common hand injuries and remain clinically challenging for functional restoration. Canine and chicken have been the most commonly used animal models for flexor tendon-related research but possess several disadvantages. The purpose of this study was to explore a potential turkey model for flexor tendon research. METHODS: The third digit from human cadaveric hands, canine forepaws, turkey foot, and chicken foot were used for this study...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of active controlled motion (ACM) after unstable ankle fractures needing initial partial weight-bearing. DESIGN: Prospective randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Inpatient and outpatient clinic. SUBJECTS: A total of 50 patients with unstable ankle fractures and the need for partial weight-bearing for six weeks. INTERVENTIONS: Randomization in two groups: physiotherapy alone or physiotherapy with an additional ACM device...

Motor-imagery tasks are a popular input method for controlling brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), partially due to their similarities to naturally produced motor signals. The use of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in BCIs is still emerging and has shown potential as a supplement or replacement for electroencephalography. However, studies often use only two or three motor-imagery tasks, limiting the number of available commands. In this work, we present the results of the first four-class motor-imagery-based online fNIRS-BCI for robot control...

Background: Non-removable knee-high devices are the gold standard to treat diabetic foot ulcers located on the plantar forefoot, but they immobilize the ankle, which restricts daily life activities and has negative effects on joint functioning. Objective: To investigate the feasibility of sealing a therapeutic shoe to off-load and heal diabetic forefoot ulcers. Design: A case series of seven men with type 2 diabetes and a metatarsal head ulcer were prescribed therapeutic shoes and custom-made insoles. The shoe was sealed with a plastic band...

Diabetes neuropathy and vasculopathy are the two major complications of diabetes mellitus, leading to diabetic foot disease, of which the worst consequences are plantar ulcers and amputations. Motor impairments like joint stiffness and loss of balance are distinctive effects of diabetes and they have been extensively explored. However, while altered muscle function has been also assessed through experimentally measured surface electromyography, little is known about muscle forces. The objective of this study was to estimate muscle forces in subjects with diabetes and to use these data to identify differences with respect to a population of healthy subjects matched for age and BMI...