Effects of footwear on medial compartment knee osteoarthritis.

This pilot study investigated whether lateral-wedge insoles inserted into shock-absorbing walking shoes altered joint pain, stiffness, and physical function in patients with symptomatic medial compartment knee osteoarthritis (OA). Twenty-eight subjects wore full-length lateral-wedge insoles with an incline of 4 degrees in their walking shoes for 4 weeks. Pain, stiffness, and functional status were measured with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index at baseline and 4 weeks postintervention.

Location of plantar ulcerations in diabetic patients referred to a Department of Veterans Affairs podiatry clinic.

This study described the location of foot ulcerations via a retrospective chart review of diabetic patients in a Department of Veterans Affairs podiatry clinic and correlated location of ulceration with specific medical parameters. The heel was a site of ulceration in 11% of the patients. By multiple logistic regression, patients with diminished vascular function were more than five times more likely to have heel ulceration than patients with adequate vascular status.

Outcomes of a consult fall prevention screening clinic.

Objective: To report patient satisfaction and quality outcomes from a standardized, multicenter fall prevention screening clinic.

Design: Referrals were made to the fall prevention screening clinic, which was staffed by a physician, pharmacist, therapist, nurse, and the site coordinator. The fall prevention screening clinic staff utilized a team-meeting format with clearly delineated management options to determine the appropriate interventions based on various screening examinations.

Comparison of hip and knee muscle moments in subjects with and without knee pain.

Elderly subjects with and without knee pain walked at a comfortable pace during gait analysis. Comparison of peak hip and knee internal extensor generalized muscle moments (GMMs) during loading response was made between groups. Walking velocity, peak hip internal extensor GMM, and knee range of motion (ROM) were significantly less for the group with knee pain than for the group without pain.

Comparison of cycling kinetics during recumbent bicycling in subjects with and without diabetes.

We compared recumbent bicycle kinetics in diabetic peripheral neuropathy and nondiabetic men (nine per group). 3D kinematic and force pedal data in a linked-segment model were used. The generalized muscle moment (GMM) patterns were similar between the two groups except for (1) decreased maximum knee flexor moment, (2) increased minimum knee flexor GMM, and (3) maximum hip extensor GMM by the diabetic subjects.

Lower extremity general muscle moment patterns in healthy individuals during recumbent cycling.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare lower extremity generalized muscle moments across two workloads during recumbent bicycling in younger and older healthy adults.

Design: The study design was a comparative investigation of cycling patterns.

Background: Biomechanical data regarding muscle activation, kinematic, and kinetic patterns have been presented for upright cycling, but only a few studies have evaluated biomechanical patterns during the alternative configuration of recumbent cycling.