Motivators and barriers for studying podiatry in Australia and New Zealand: A mixed methods study.

Background: Podiatry enrolments at Australian and New Zealand universities have decreased by 17.3% since 2015, which threatens the profession's sustainability and the health and wellbeing of Australian and New Zealand people and communities. Reasons for this decline remain unclear due to insufficient evidence on factors influencing career choices.

Is the addition of running retraining to best standard care beneficial in runners with medial tibial stress syndrome? Protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Running retraining is commonly used in the management of medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The primary aim of this study is to determine if the addition of running retraining to best standard care is beneficial in the management of runners with MTSS.

Methods: This study is an assessor-blinded and participant-blinded, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial.

Factors that influence field hockey footwear selection: An online survey.

Background: Little is known about factors that influence footwear selection by field hockey players.

Methods: An online survey was used to collect data on participant demographics and physical characteristics, factors influencing footwear selection, perceptions regarding footwear design features on injury and performance, and experiences regarding usability. Nominal and ordinal data were described as absolute frequencies and relative frequencies.

Burnout in podiatrists associated with individual characteristics, workplace and job satisfaction: A national survey.

Background: Burnout is highly prevalent among health practitioners. It negatively impacts job performance, patient care, career retention and psychological well-being. This study aimed to identify factors associated with burnout among Australian podiatrists.

Nursing and allied health workforce in Australian public rheumatology departments is inadequate: a cross-sectional observational study.

Rheumatological conditions are complex and impact many facets of daily life. Management of people with rheumatological conditions can be optimised through multidisciplinary care. However, the current access to nursing and allied health professionals in Australia is unknown.

Effect of three different running gait cues on vertical tibial acceleration.

Background: Repetitive impacts during running are associated with some running injuries. Tibial acceleration is a proxy for tibial loading, and interventions that can decrease it are likely to be of interest to the running community.

Research Question: What effect do running gait cues have on peak vertical tibial acceleration at a comfortable and moderate running pace, and how will these cues be executed?

Methods: Twenty-seven participants ran on a treadmill according to the following cues in random order: run softly and lightly, run with shorter steps, and increase preferred step rate by 7.

Methodological and statistical approaches for the assessment of foot shape using three-dimensional foot scanning: a scoping review.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to: (i) review and provide a narrative synthesis of three-dimensional (3D) foot surface scanning methodological and statistical analysis protocols, and (ii) develop a set of recommendations for standardising the reporting of 3D foot scanning approaches.

Methods: A systematic search of the SCOPUS, ProQuest, and Web of Science databases were conducted to identify papers reporting 3D foot scanning protocols and analysis techniques. To be included, studies were required to be published in English, have more than ten participants, and involve the use of static 3D surface scans of the foot.

What is the Effect of Changing Running Step Rate on Injury, Performance and Biomechanics? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Running-related injuries are prevalent among distance runners. Changing step rate is a commonly used running retraining strategy in the management and prevention of running-related injuries.

Objective: The aims of this review were to synthesise the evidence relating to the effects of changing running step rate on injury, performance and biomechanics.

Psychological factors associated with foot and ankle pain: a mixed methods systematic review.

Background: Foot and ankle pain is common, and generally viewed through a biomedical lens rather than applying a biopsychosocial model. The objectives of this review were to evaluate: (1) the psychosocial characteristics of participants with foot/ankle pain compared to participants without foot/ankle pain; (2) the association between psychosocial factors with pain and function in people with foot/ankle pain; and (3) understand the psychosocial factors associated with the lived experience of foot/ankle pain.

Methods: A mixed methods systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines and guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for mixed methods systematic reviews.

Footwear comfort: a systematic search and narrative synthesis of the literature.

Objective: To provide a narrative synthesis of the research literature pertaining to footwear comfort, including definitions, measurement scales, footwear design features, and physiological and psychological factors.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted which yielded 101 manuscripts. The most relevant manuscripts were selected based on the predetermined subheadings of the review (definitions, measurement scales, footwear design features, and physiological and psychological factors).

Objective measurement of adherence to wearing foot orthoses using an embedded temperature sensor.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the validity of a temperature sensor for the measurement of adherence to wearing foot orthoses. Ten participants were provided with foot orthoses containing an embedded temperature sensor and wore the orthoses for a randomly-determined duration over a five-day period. Sensor-detected wear time was compared to a reference standard (objectively measured wear time using a smart-phone application).

Effect of different orthotic materials on plantar pressures: a systematic review.

Background: The effect of different orthotic materials on plantar pressures has not been systematically investigated. This study aimed to review and summarise the findings from studies that have evaluated the effect of orthotic materials on plantar pressures.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of experimental studies that evaluated the effect of foot orthotic materials or shoe insole materials on plantar pressures using in-shoe testing during walking.

Effects of metatarsal domes on plantar pressures in older people with a history of forefoot pain.

Background: Forefoot pads such as metatarsal domes are commonly used in clinical practice for the treatment of pressure-related forefoot pain, however evidence for their effects is inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the effects on plantar pressures of metatarsal domes in different positions relative to the metatarsal heads.

Methods: Participants in this study included 36 community-dwelling adults aged 65 or older with a history of forefoot pain.

What are the Benefits and Risks Associated with Changing Foot Strike Pattern During Running? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Injury, Running Economy, and Biomechanics.

Background: Running participation continues to increase. The ideal strike pattern during running is a controversial topic. Many coaches and therapists promote non-rearfoot strike (NRFS) running with a belief that it can treat and prevent injury, and improve running economy.

Corticosteroid injection for plantar heel pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Corticosteroid injection is frequently used for plantar heel pain (plantar fasciitis), although there is limited high-quality evidence to support this treatment. Therefore, this study reviewed randomised trials to estimate the effectiveness of corticosteroid injection for plantar heel pain.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials that compared corticosteroid injection to any comparator.

Effects of a contoured foot orthosis and flat insole on plantar pressure and tibial acceleration while walking in defence boots.

This study investigated the effects of a contoured, prefabricated foot orthosis and a flat insole on plantar pressure and tibial acceleration while walking in defence boots. Twenty-eight adults walked along an 8-metre walkway in a: (i) defence boot (control condition), (ii) defence boot with a flat insole, and (iii) defence boot with a contoured foot orthosis. Plantar pressure data were collected using the pedar-X in-shoe system and tibial accelerations were measured with an accelerometer.

An anatomically-based masking protocol for the assessment of in-shoe plantar pressure measurement of the forefoot.

Background: The area beneath the metatarsal heads is a common location of foot pain, which is often associated with high plantar pressures. Current plantar pressure assessment protocols focus mainly on the gross area of the forefoot with minimal attention paid to specific areas such as the metatarsal heads. The aim of this study was to develop and assess a new anatomically-based masking protocol that is clinically relevant to measure forefoot plantar pressure during shod conditions based on the anatomical positions of the metatarsal heads.

Risk factors for lower limb injuries during initial naval training: a prospective study.

Introduction: This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with the development of common lower limb injuries during initial defence training in naval recruits who were enrolled in a randomised trial.

Methods: Three-hundred and six naval recruits were randomly allocated flat insoles (n=153) or foot orthoses (n=153) while undertaking 11 weeks of initial training. Participant characteristics (including anthropometrics, general health, physical activity, fitness and foot characteristics) were collected at the baseline assessment and injuries were documented prospectively.

Effectiveness of foot orthoses for the prevention of lower limb overuse injuries in naval recruits: a randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of prefabricated foot orthoses for the prevention of lower limb overuse injuries in naval recruits.

Methods: This study was a participant-blinded and assessor-blinded, parallel-group randomised controlled trial. Three-hundred and six participants aged 17-50 years who undertook 11 weeks of initial defence training at the Royal Australian Navy Recruit School (Cerberus, Australia) were randomised to a control group (flat insoles, n=153) or an intervention group (contoured, prefabricated foot orthoses, n=153).

Corticospinal responses following strength training: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Strength training results in changes in skeletal muscle; however, changes in the central nervous system also occur. Over the last 15 years, non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, have been used to study the neural adaptations to strength training. This review explored the hypothesis that the neural adaptations to strength training may be due to changes in corticospinal excitability and inhibition and, such changes, contribute to the gain in strength following strength training.

The association between pain catastrophising and kinesiophobia with pain and function in people with plantar heel pain.

Background: Psychological variables, including catastrophic thoughts and kinesiophobia, are common in people with chronic musculoskeletal pain and are associated with pain and function. However, the role of each factor has not been evaluated in people with plantar heel pain (plantar fasciitis).

Methods: Thirty-six participants diagnosed with plantar heel pain were recruited.

Custom-made foot orthoses: an analysis of prescription characteristics from an Australian commercial orthotic laboratory.

Background: Foot orthoses are widely used in the prevention and treatment of foot disorders. The aim of this study was to describe characteristics of custom-made foot orthosis prescriptions from a Australian podiatric orthotic laboratory.

Methods: One thousand consecutive foot orthosis prescription forms were obtained from a commercial prescription foot orthosis laboratory located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Footwork Podiatric Laboratory).

Flexor Tenotomy Improves Healing and Prevention of Diabetes-Related Toe Ulcers: A Systematic Review.

Toe deformities are common in people with diabetes and are often associated with toe ulcers. Operative procedures have been used to reduce toe deformities, because these were proposed to be beneficial in the management of toe ulcers. The present systematic review investigated the effect of flexor tenotomy to address toe deformity for healing and preventing diabetes-related toe ulcers.

Increasing preferred step rate during running reduces plantar pressures.

Increasing preferred step rate during running is a commonly used strategy in the management of running-related injuries. This study investigated the effect of different step rates on plantar pressures during running. Thirty-two healthy runners ran at a comfortable speed on a treadmill at five step rates (preferred, ±5%, and ±10%).