We forgot to mention this article by Davis and Yavuz on plantar shear forces: Plantar shear stress distribution in athletic individuals with frictional foot blisters. The article concludes that “biomechanical interaction on the plantar surface of a blister-prone person is different from that of individuals who are less prone to the problem.” The biomechanics of […]
Last night, Kare11 News featured a story about Steve Knowlton (44) of Prior Lake and his upcoming cross-country race from Seattle, Washington to Key Largo, Florida. Steve won’t be flying or catching the Greyhound, though. Beginning August 1st, 2010 he’ll begin running over 3,800 miles to raise awareness and funds in the fight against Crohns […]
Charles Kuffel, CPO, FAAOP and I recently had the honor and privilege of presenting a 3 lecture instructional course at the 13th ISPO World Congress and ORTHOPÄDIE + REHA-TECHNIK 2010 in Leipzig Germany. Our course was titled “Friction Management for Neuropathic Foot Problems”. 21,200 visitors from 108 countries visited the fair and the ISPO World […]
Kathleen Satterfield, DPM, recently wrote this article on patients with diabetes who wear sandals or, worse yet, flip flops: Flip-Flops Versus Sandals: Does It Make A Difference For Patients With Diabetes? She points out two dangers: first, the potential for trauma to the exposed foot; and, second, the lack of support for the foot provided […]
Six years after introducing the consumer version of our ShearBan® product for friction & shear relief, the staff at Tamarack truly enjoys the customer contact and loyalty we’ve witnessed with ENGO® Blister Prevention Patches. All the phone calls, emails and letters we receive are encouraging signs that a small company can make a big impact […]
Here’s yet another article addressing shearing forces as a neglected cause of diabetic foot ulcers: Can Smart Orthotics Have an Impact in Preventing Ulceration? The article observes that experts are increasingly recognizing the importance of shear in diabetic foot ulcer formation. This kind of attention to shear is so important. A key issue raised by […]
Dr. Metin Yavuz is one of the leading researchers on the biomechanical forces causing diabetic foot ulcers. He started his work at the Cleveland Clinic and has continued it at the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine. Dr. Yavuz contributed a superb article to the May, 2010 issue of Lower Extremity Review entitled: Plantar Shear: Casting […]
Doug Richie, Jr., DPM, FACFAS, FAAPSM, wrote an excellent article in the June, 2010 issue of Podiatry Today entitled: How to Manage Friction Blisters. The article provides an overview of friction blister pathomechanics, misconceptions about friction blisters, shoe fit, insoles, and socks, and blister treatment tips. The article also explains how shear forces contribute to […]
The February 2010 issue of Lower Extremity Review (www.lowerextremityreview.com) features a must-read article for physicians, O&P clinicians, physical therapists and other healthcare providers regarding the topic of patient compliance. The article, “Keys to Compliance in O&P: Practitioners Share their Success Stories“ by L.W. Barnes, mentions the myriad of problems caregivers face when attempting to obtain […]
The Louisiana O&P Association met in Lafayette, Louisiana, May 19 to 22, 2010. It was hot – Temperatures were in the mid-90s with high humidity, but it was still a lively meeting. (We northerners only melted a little around the edges.) Tamarack exhibited with Becker Orthopedic. The organizers of the meeting did a great job. […]