1,721,001 research outputs found
Leading member of the profession: Emma Cowley
No full textEmma worked as an NHS podiatrist in general practice before gaining a Senior 1 role specialising in musculoskeletal podiatry. During this time, she undertook a Masters degree in Clinical Podiatric Biomechanics. Having enjoyed mentoring students on placement, she decided a career in education was her next step. Emma gained postgraduate qualifications in learning and teaching and corticosteroid injection therapy, and extended scope skills in manual therapy and gait analysis, and is currently writing up her PhD thesis on Applied Biomechanics. Emma has been awarded fellowships from the Higher Education Academy, the College of Podiatry and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (both in podiatric medicine) and Chartered Scientist status from the Science Counci
Injection therapy survey: 2 year data using PASCOM-10 audit tool
No full textResearch supporting the use and efficacy for intra-articular corticosteroid injections for foot and ankle pain is limited [1-4]. Access to Methylprednisolone (Depo-Medrone) is available to 41% podiatrists with prescription-only-medicines administration annotation. Based on College of Podiatry approved courses, we estimate there are approximately 1000 podiatrists trained in musculoskeletal injection therapy
The SOAPIER model in podiatric musculoskeletal assessment and management - a three part series: Part 1
No full textThis article is the first of a three-part series addressing the approach applied in podiatric musculoskeletal assessment. The first part focuses on the background of the ‘SOAP’ method and considers an expanded version with the acronym ‘SOAPIER’. It also addresses the assessment of clinical and biopsychosocial flags as part of the assessment process. In the second part of the series, the focus moves on to use of the ‘SIN factor’ (Severity, Irritability and Nature) and estimating the components of pain to inform the objective assessment. The final part completes the cycle with consideration of the role of the objective assessment, analysis as part of the determination of outcome measures and in goal setting, implementation of therapies to address the mechanisms of injury, evaluation of outcomes and the consideration of reassessment
The effects of prolonged running on the biomechanics and function of the foot and ankle
Full text linkRunning injuries have been linked to morphology and lower limb function, an changes in foot and ankle biomechanics and function within a run may contribute to the predisposition to injury. This thesis investigates the effects of prolonged running on the foot and ankle, and potential mechanisms underlying changes in foot posture.Methods: A series of studies were undertaken from field to laboratory, measuring foot posture changes after prolonged running of different durations. Further measures of ankle invertor strength and medial ankle stiffness were taken in the laboratory studies as well as kinematic and plantar pressure data captured every ten minutes to enable repeated measures analysis of pedal movement to be conducted. Reliability across the foot posture, strength and stiffness measures was also determined.The latter studies involved the development and mechanical testing of a novel foot orthosis component which was compared to a standard open cell orthotic foam. A double blind randomised controlled trial then compared how the novel and standard foam components affected foot posture, ankle invertor strength and medial and plantar soft tissue stiffness after a 30-minute run.Results: A mean drop in NH and increase in FPI-6 following the half marathon, hour long and 30-minute treadmill runs was seen, with changes decreasing as running duration reduced. Ankle invertor strength and medial ankle stiffness reduced but did not correlate to the change in foot posture. Changes in foot and ankle kinematics were seen within 30 minutes of running.Mechanical testing of the novel orthotic component and standard foam revealed characteristic differences in response to loading, and changes in foot posture measures after 30 minutes of running in the randomised controlled trial were almost identical across both conditions. Further comparison of invertor strength and medial foot and ankle stiffness revealed no significant differences, but a large difference between exertion measures was seen.Conclusion: There was an overall effect of duration of running on changes in foot posture in this thesis, and the foot posture change was moderated by two different foot orthosis conditions although the mechanism remains unclear
First contact podiatrists could reduce GP and community podiatry workload: a case-based example of secondary Raynaud's phenomenon presentation in primary care
No full textThe experiences of podiatrists prescribing custom foot orthoses and patients using custom foot orthoses for foot pain management in the United Kingdom: A focus group study
No full textIntroduction: Foot pain can be a significant burden for patients. Custom foot orthoses (CFOs) have been a mainstay in podiatry treatment for foot pain management and improving foot function. However, little is known about podiatrists' experience of prescribing CFOs or patient experience of using foot orthoses (FOs), including CFOs, for foot pain. Methods: A focus group (FG) discussion with three FOs users (Female = 2 and Male = 1) was conducted in November 2022 within a private podiatry practice. This group represented non-experts from the general local population of individuals with existing or previous foot pain who have personally experienced using either over-the-counter FOs or CFOs. An online FG discussion with five musculoskeletal (MSK) specialist podiatrists (Female = 2 and Male = 3) was also conducted in December 2022. This group represented podiatrists with specialist knowledge in foot biomechanics and clinical experience in CFO provision. The FG discussions were recorded and lasted 49 and 57 min respectively. Transcribed data was manually coded, and a thematic analysis was undertaken to identify patterns within the collected data. Results: The participants in the patient FG detailed mixed experiences of the prescription process and CFOs received, with reports of limited involvement/input in their prescription, the need for frequent adjustments and high costs. The impact on footwear choices, replicability and transferability of CFOs into different types of shoes and technologies to aid design were also highlighted. In the podiatrist FG, lack of confidence in design and manufacture processes, prescription form language, relationship and communication building with manufacturers, variability in the CFOs issued and the need for better student education in CFO provision emerged as key themes. Conclusion: Patients and podiatrists shared similar views on CFO provision, namely poor communication with manufacturers leading to dissatisfaction with the CFOs prescribed causing negative impacts on patient experiences. Podiatrists called for greater education at registration level to increase new graduate podiatrist knowledge in CFO design and manufacture and better collaboration with manufacturing companies.</p
The effects of prolonged running on foot posture: a repeated measures study of half marathon runners using the foot posture index and navicular height
Full text linkBackground
Different foot postures are associated with alterations in foot function, kinetics and the subsequent occurrence of injury. Little is known about changes in foot posture following prolonged weightbearing exercise. This study aimed to identify changes in foot posture after running a half marathon.
Methods
Foot posture was measured using the Foot Posture Index (FPI-6) and navicular height in thirty volunteer participants before and after running a half marathon. FPI-6 scores were converted to Rasch logit values and means compared for these and navicular height using an ANOVA.
Results
There was a 5 mm drop in navicular height in both feet when measured after the half marathon (P < 0.05). The FPI-6 showed a side x time interaction with an increase in score indicating a more ‘pronated’ position in the left foot of + 2 [Rasch value + 1.7] but no change in the right foot (+ 0.4 [+ 0.76]) following the half marathon.
Conclusion
The apparent differences between the FPI-6 and navicular height on the right foot may be because the FPI-6 takes soft tissue contour changes into consideration whilst the navicular height focuses on skeletal changes. The changes in foot posture towards a more pronated position may have implications for foot function, and therefore risk of injury; shoe fit and comfort and also the effect of therapeutic orthoses worn during prolonged running
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