ankle and foot

Introduction: The demipointe dance position puts the ankle at high risk of overuse injury and posteromedial ankle pain due to increased ankle valgus forces. Previous work has shown that creating lower limb external rotation intrinsic to demipointe with hip external rotation reduces foot pronation that causes ankle valgus stress. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to examine long axis rotation kinematics of the hip, knee, and ankle as well as the ankle joint contact forces in demipointe to better understand the biomechanical impact(s) of the specific cue to increase hip external rotation in this position...

We successfully prepared mercury sulphide nanoparticle hydrogels by physical encapsulation method. The successfully prepared mercuric sulphide nanoparticle hydrogel was a zinc folate hydrogel, which showed an obvious porous structure with interconnected and uniformly distributed pores and a pore size range of about 20 μm. The maximum drug loading of the hydrogels was 3%, and the in vitro cumulative release degree was in accordance with the first-order kinetic equation Mt = 149.529 (1 - e-0...

BACKGROUND: In patients with diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN), differences in postural control due to losing the lower limb somatosensory information were reported. However, it is still unclear by which mechanisms the dynamic postural instability is caused. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate postural control differences and neuromuscular adaptations resulting from foot somatosensory loss due to DPN. METHODS: In this controlled cross-sectional study, fourteen DPN patients and fourteen healthy controls performed the Functional Reach Test (FRT) as a dynamic task...

The term 'diabetic foot disease' (DFD) often signifies the presence of foot ulceration and infection, but one must also be wary of the rarer occurrence of Charcot foot disease. The worldwide prevalence of DFD is 6.3% (95%CI: 5.4-7.3%). Foot complications present a major challenge to both patients and healthcare systems, with increased rates of hospitalisation and an almost trebled 5-year mortality. The Charcot foot often occurs in patients with long-standing diabetes, presenting as an inflamed or swollen foot or ankle, following unrecognised minor trauma...

BACKGROUND: This study examined the efficacy of an interdisciplinary limb preservation service (LPS) in improving surgical outcomes for diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) patients compared to traditional care. METHODS: Data from January 1, 2017 to September 30, 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. An interdisciplinary LPS clinic began on August 1, 2018, coexisting with a preexisting single specialty service. Primary outcomes were major/minor amputation rates and ratios and hospital length of stay...

Background : In vascular medicine, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) are often considered synonymous with respect to the need for revascularization. In PAD patients, clinical symptoms reflect the degree of atherosclerotic disease, since peripheral innervation, including pain sensation, is not usually compromised. In DFS patients, however, symptoms of relevant foot ischemia are often absent and progression of ischemia goes unnoticed owing to diabetic polyneuropathy, the loss of nociception being the main trigger for foot ulcers...

Most lower limb rehabilitation robots are limited to specific training postures to adapt to stroke patients in multiple stages of recovery. In addition, there is a lack of attention to the switching functions of the training side, including left, right, and bilateral, which enables patients with hemiplegia to rehabilitate with a single device. This article presents an exoskeleton robot named the multistage hemiplegic lower-limb rehabilitation robot, which has been designed to do rehabilitation in multiple training postures and training sides...

The global aging population faces significant health challenges, including an increasing vulnerability to disability due to natural aging processes. Wearable lower limb exoskeletons (LLEs) have emerged as a promising solution to enhance physical function in older individuals. This systematic review synthesizes the use of LLEs in alignment with the WHO's healthy aging vision, examining their impact on intrinsic capacities and functional abilities. We conducted a comprehensive literature search in six databases, yielding 36 relevant articles covering older adults (65+) with various health conditions, including sarcopenia, stroke, Parkinson's Disease, osteoarthritis, and more...

This study aimed to investigate the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) with gastrocnemius (GCM) strength exercise on foot morphology in patients with stroke. Herein, 31 patients with chronic stroke meeting the study criteria were enrolled and divided into two groups; 16 patients were randomized to the gastrocnemius neuromuscular electrical stimulation (GCMNMES) group, and 15 patients to the conventional neuromuscular electrical stimulation (CNMES) group. The GCMNMES group conducted GCM-strengthening exercise with NMES...

BACKGROUND: Foot deformities (e.g. planovalgus and cavovarus) are very common in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP), with the midfoot often being involved. Dynamic foot function can be assessed with 3D gait analysis including a multi-segment foot model. Incorporating a midfoot segment in such a model, allows quantification of separate Chopart and Lisfranc joint kinematics. Yet, midfoot kinematics have not previously been reported in CP. RESEARCH QUESTIONS: What is the difference in multi-segment kinematics including midfoot joints between common foot deformities in CP and typically-developing feet? METHODS: 103 feet of 57 children with spastic CP and related conditions were retrospectively included and compared with 15 typically-developing children...

PURPOSE: This study aims to systematically review the efficacy and safety of total ankle replacement (TAR) and ankle fusion (AF) as treatment options for end-stage ankle arthritis. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted on data from multiple databases, including PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Construction and Building Materials, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus for RCTs and prospective cohort studies comparing TAR and AF in patients with end-stage ankle arthritis from inception up to June, 2023...

BACKGROUND: Athletes engaged in sports dance frequently encounter the potential for ankle injuries and instability, factors that may contribute to diminished training efficacy, compromised athletic performance, prolonged recuperation, and heightened susceptibility to recurring injuries. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of an exercise intervention (comprising blood flow restriction training combined with low-load ankle muscle strength training and balance training) as well as instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) on the foot and ankle function, strength, and range of motion in sports dance athletes exhibiting ankle instability (CAI)...

This study estimated the contribution of the midfoot joint complex (MJC) kinematics to the pelvis anterior-posterior positions during the stance phase of walking and investigated whether the MJC is functionally coordinated with the lower limb joints to maintain similar pelvic positions across steps. Hip, knee, ankle, and MJC sagittal angles were measured in 11 nondisabled participants during walking. The joints' contributions to pelvic positions were computed through equations derived from a link-segment model...

INTRODUCTION: Reactive stepping capacity to recover from a loss of balance declines with aging, which increases the risk of falling. To gain insight into the underlying mechanisms, we investigated whether muscle coordination patterns of reactive stepping differed between healthy young and older individuals. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study between 15 healthy young and 14 healthy older adults. They recovered from 200 multidirectional platform translations that evoked reactive stepping responses...

BACKGROUND: Peripheral neuropathy is one of the most common complications of type 2 diabetes, which can lead to impaired balance and walking. Innovative footwear devices designed to stimulate foot sensory receptors, such as vibrating insoles, could offer a new route to improve motor impairments in people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). RESEARCH QUESTION: Does wearing vibrating insoles for the first time alter measures of balance, walking, and ankle-foot muscle activity, in people with DPN? METHODS: A randomised cross-over study was conducted with 18 ambulant men and women with a diagnosis of DPN...

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BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to quantify the articular surfaces of the naviculocuneiform (NC) joint to help clinicians better understand common pathologies observed such as navicular stress fractures and arthrodesis nonunions. METHODS: Twenty cadaver NC joints were dissected and the articular cartilage of the navicular, medial, middle, and lateral cuneiforms were quantified by calibrated digital imaging software. Statistical analysis included calculating the mean cartilage surface area dimensions of the distal navicular and proximal cuneiform bones...

Aim The present study aims to look at the long-term clinical and radiological outcomes of surgically treated talus fractures. We have compared the outcomes and complications between simple and complex talar fracture patterns. Additionally, patients' ability to return to activity following surgical treatment of these fractures was also analysed. Materials and methods Retrospective analysis of surgically treated talus fractures at the PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research from 2012 to 2015. The fractures were classified as neck and body fractures...

BACKGROUND: Hallux valgus (HV) is a common foot deformity that manifests with increasing age, especially in women. The associated foot pain causes impaired gait and decreases quality of life. Moderate and severe HV is a deformity that is characterized by the involvement of lesser rays and requires complex surgical treatment. In this study, we attempted to develop a procedure for this condition. AIM: To analyse the treatment results of patients who underwent simultaneous surgical correction of all parts of a static forefoot deformity...

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical data of patients with end-stage ankle and hindfoot arthropathy who underwent tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) arthrodesis by the same surgeon, explore the short- and mid-term clinical results, complications and functional improvement, and discuss the clinical prognosis and precautions of TTC arthrodesis. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 40 patients who underwent TTC arthrodesis by the same surgeon from March 2011 to December 2020...