Category Archives: Pediatric Clinical News

Whole body vibration boosts speed, stride length in toe-walkers

Most improvements are transient – The findings of a recent Australian study add to early evidence in support of whole body vibration (WBV) as a potentially simple, noninvasive treatment for children with idiopathic toe walking (ITW), with mechanisms still to be worked out.

By Larry Hand

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Posted in August, 2016, Pediatric Clinical News | Leave a comment

Lower body conditioning may cut upper body injury risk in softball

Safety of underhand pitch is over-rated – Better pre- and off-season lower-body conditioning may help prevent some serious overuse injuries to the upper extremities of young female fast-pitch softball players, according to the lead author of a recent prospective study of player-reported injuries.

By Hank Black

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Posted in May, 2016, Pediatric Clinical News | Leave a comment

Excess weight affects foot loading, peak pressure even in young kids    

Weight loss may improve function – Overweight and obese children present with higher overall foot loading and a disproportional impact on the midfoot and longitudinal arch, with those as young as 1 or 2 years of age affected, according to research from Germany that may have implications for abnormal foot loading prevention in children.

By Katie Bell

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Posted in May, 2016, Pediatric Clinical News | Leave a comment

Walking study in CP highlights need for tailored orthotic prescription

Effects of AFOs on distance, speed vary – A recent study demonstrates the importance of personalizing prescriptions for ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) in children with cerebral palsy, rather than applying group data to individuals.

By Larry Hand

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Posted in May, 2016, Pediatric Clinical News | Leave a comment

Multiple jumpers increase risk for ‘trampoline ankle’

Large forces can cause severe fractures: Multiple trampoline jumpers are a primary cause of “trampoline ankle,” according to a recent Canadian study, which also noted that, when two individuals are bouncing out of sync, they generate kinetic energy forces that produce a high-impact effect that can cause serious growth-plate injuries in children.

By P.K. Daniel

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Posted in 2016, Pediatric Clinical News, February | Leave a comment

Improving foot posture, balance in CMT may aid ankle stability

Early care advised for FAI prevention: Functional ankle instability (FAI) is a common problem in children and adolescents with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), according to Australian research that advises further study of interventions that target balance and normalize foot structure to evaluate whether they can help improve ankle stability in this population.

By Katie Bell

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Posted in February, 2016, Pediatric Clinical News | Leave a comment

Dynamic warm-up with balance, plyo work leads to safer landings

Helps protect ACL in both genders: A one-time neuromuscular training intervention designed to prevent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is more effective than a traditional warm-up for improving landing technique in youth athletes, according to a study that could help convince coaches and athletes to embrace such training programs.

By Chris Klingenberg 

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Posted in February, 2016, Pediatric Clinical News | Leave a comment

O&P teams treat limb loss, deformity in developing world

Donating parts, funds aids efforts – Each year, Dino Scanio, CO, LO, and his five-member team of pediatric O&P specialists arrive in Guatemala City to perform a challenging task. In just four days in their most recent clinic in August, for example, they fit nearly 50 young patients with custom devices and…

By Brigid Galloway

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Posted in November, 2015, Pediatric Clinical News | Leave a comment

Biomechanical stress, overuse raise young dancers’ injury risk

Prevention requires team approach – The inclusion of physicians, including specialists in pediatric orthopedic surgery and sports or dance medicine, in a team with teachers, physical therapists, parents, and others could help identify and prevent injuries in growing young dancers, according to…

By Hank Black

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Posted in Pediatric Clinical News, November, 2015 | Leave a comment

Foot disability in Down syndrome linked to hallux valgus, narrow shoes

Regular foot checks may curb problems – A recent study published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research found that hallux valgus and too-narrow footwear contribute to foot-specific disability in children with Down syndrome. Interestingly, the study found foot posture wasn’t associated with foot-specific disability in the same children.

By Erin Boutwell

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Posted in November, 2015, Pediatric Clinical News | Leave a comment