Foot & Ankle Pubmed Results

Background/Objectives: Reconstruction of defects in the ankle, foot and heel is complex because of the limited availability of local tissue and multiple comorbidities like diabetes mellitus and peripheral vascular disease. Even though free and pedicled flaps are widely used, their comparative effectiveness remains incompletely defined. Methods: This study presents a narrative analysis of 21 studies. From each study, we extracted data related to flap type, characteristics of the patient,...

Foot and ankle assistive devices are a type of external apparatus that improves functional impairment or structural abnormalities of the lower limbs through biomechanics. They act on ankle and musculoskeletal system of foot through customized or standardized structural designs, aiming to alleviate patients' pain, improve gait stability, and delay progression of disease. At present, there are a wide variety of foot and ankle assistive devices in China, but their application in the field is not...

Ankle dorsiflexion plays a vital role in ensuring safe and effective walking post-stroke, yet the best methods for assessing it and their clinical significance are still uncertain. This research compiles the existing sensor-based technologies used to measure ankle dorsiflexion in adults who have experienced a stroke and examines how these measurements correlate with walking performance. It also compares these findings with traditional clinical evaluation methods like manual muscle testing (MMT)....

Unpowered exoskeletons commonly assist walking by storing and releasing elastic energy, with existing designs largely limited to energy transfer within the lower limbs. However, arm swing, an integral coupled component of human gait, remains underexplored as a mechanical energy source for locomotor assistance. Motivated by gait biomechanics, we propose a cross-limb energy transfer concept that redirects positive mechanical work from unilateral arm swing to the contralateral ankle. Based on this...

New technologies and artificial intelligence are a huge area for growth in the field of foot and ankle. New technologies in the foot and ankle specialty are growing, but most studies and practice applications are in their infancy. Patient-specific instrumentation is the most successful use of new technology in foot and ankle. Research models and clinical applications of artificial intelligence in the field of foot and ankle are becoming more common, but studies are still lacking.

Critically sized bone defects remain a major challenge in orthopedic surgery. Conventional techniques, including the induced membrane technique, bulk allograft reconstruction, bone transport, and acute shortening, have inherent limitations. The advent of custom 3 dimensional printed implants has expanded reconstructive options, particularly in foot and ankle surgery. Patient-specific implant design enables more precise management of complex bone defects. Although long-term clinical data are...

CONCLUSION: The majority of PTA bifurcations occur proximal to or at the level of the DML. This high prevalence of proximal branching suggests that surgical incisions for medial ankle exposure are statistically safer when positioned at or distal to the DML to avoid iatrogenic arterial trauma.

CONCLUSION: Rates of superficial and deep infection were significantly higher in patients with acute diabetic surgery. Deep infection rates were higher in trauma than in elective surgery, but superficial infection rates were similar. Comorbidities and smoking affected infection rate in foot and ankle surgery, and should be optimized preoperatively and considered in postoperative monitoring.

The foot and ankle have a special anatomical structure and bear crucial functions of body such as weight bearing, walking, running, and jumping. High-energy injuries to these areas are complex, posing challenges to clinical tissue reconstruction. Complex foot-ankle tissue defects mostly present as multicompartmental defects involving skin and soft tissue, tendons, bones, and joints, as well as large-area skin and soft tissue defects. We divided the foot and ankle into nine regions based on the...

Lower-limb amputation remains a significant clinical and socio-economic challenge, while the high cost of microprocessor-controlled prostheses (MPKs) limits their widespread accessibility. This paper presents the design and preliminary laboratory-scale evaluation of a low-cost microprocessor-controlled ankle prosthesis intended as a feasibility-oriented alternative platform for future active prosthetic system development. Building upon the previously developed V1 mechanical architecture, an...

Exoskeletons have been used to augment or enhance human performance in a variety of settings. For exoskeletons to be used most effectively, researchers need to know how changing the control parameters affects human perception. This has been investigated for impedance parameters while in static positions, but has not yet been investigated while walking. This study investigated the ability of users to detect small changes in stimuli in exoskeleton impedance control parameters during locomotion....

Foot and ankle injections are commonly performed by family physicians for the management of musculoskeletal conditions such as plantar fasciitis, osteoarthritis, interdigital neuromas, tarsal tunnel syndrome, and pathology of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. If symptoms persist despite conservative measures, injections may improve function and reduce pain. Before an injection, the clinician should discuss procedural risks, including pain, swelling, redness, stiffness, infection, and damage...

CONCLUSIONS: Demographic factors (age, BMI, sex) and radiographic severity of ankle OA were associated with lower self-reported physical activity (MET-min/week). Longitudinal studies incorporating objective activity monitoring and cardiometabolic endpoints are needed to clarify temporal relationships and potential metabolic implications.

Achilles tendon rupture impairs the functional performance of the triceps surae muscle-tendon unit. However, long-term effects of different rehabilitation programs on these impairments remain unclear. This study evaluated the long-term effects of early rehabilitation versus cast immobilization after Achilles tendon repair. We also examined whether the uninjured side could serve as a reference for the "healthy" side. Males with previous Achilles tendon rupture (n = 20) and a group of healthy male...

CONCLUSIONS: ESWT during the early subacute stage was associated with improvements in spasticity and joint mobility in patients with PSS. Repeated sessions showed greater cumulative changes compared with a single session. Trial registration UMIN-CTR000050477.

Understanding how the central nervous system controls complex movements, such as walking, remains a fundamental challenge. Although motor units (MUs) are well-studied in isometric tasks, their role in generating joint moments during functional dynamic movements is unclear, partly due to non-stationary conditions. Filling this knowledge gap is essential for studying neural control of walking at the cellular level and for guiding neuro-rehabilitation and robotic interventions. We developed a...

BackgroundTo date, most reference data on foot and ankle morphology are derived from Western cohorts, potentially overlooking significant ethnic variation in Asian population. This study utilized 3D weight-bearing computed tomography (WBCT) to establish population-specific reference values of 3D foot and ankle parameters for a Korean cohort and compare these values with published European data.MethodsThis retrospective, cross-sectional study analyzed the asymptomatic contralateral feet of 39...

Purpose: This study aimed to comparatively analyze the lower-limb biomechanical differences between two populations with ankle dorsiflexion limitation during the stance phase of gait, thereby providing a scientific basis for clinical rehabilitation and athletic training. Methods: 12 males with congenital ankle dorsiflexion limitation and 12 males with acquired ankle dorsiflexion limitation, along with 12 healthy male controls were recruited into the study. Group differences in lower-limb...

CONCLUSION: The ISOTIB demonstrated excellent reliability and validity, suggesting it is a viable tool for assessing maximal ankle strength. The ISOTIB offers a practical alternative to current methods, which are typically expensive and utilise large immovable devices.

Assessing ankle abductor (ABD) strength is clinically relevant because the peroneal muscles are key contributors to lateral ankle stability. However, no previous study has examined whether isolated ABD strength can be measured reliably and reflects peroneal muscle function. This study evaluated the intra-session test-retest reliability of a novel device for isometric ABD strength assessment and examined construct validity using surface electromyography (EMG). Two independent samples were...

BACKGROUND: Dynamic ankle spasticity during walking is a common complication after stroke. It remains unclear which clinical indicators predict dynamic spasticity and whether three-dimensional (3D) gait parameters can reflect its severity. METHODS: 3D gait analysis data were obtained from 42 patients with dynamic spasticity and a 1:1 propensity score-matched control group. Spasticity was assessed using the Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS). Dynamic kinematic and spatiotemporal gait indicators were...

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) can effectively relieve post-stroke spasticity; however, research comparing the impact of different ESWT frequencies is limited. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic efficacy of different ESWT frequencies for post-stroke ankle plantar flexor spasticity. METHODS: In this prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled trial, we recruited patients treated in the Rehabilitation Department of Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital for...

CONCLUSION: The FF-PD is a valid and reliable device for assessing ankle force sense in plantarflexion and dorsiflexion. It effectively differentiates individuals with CAI from healthy controls, and ROC-derived cutoff values provide clinically interpretable thresholds that may support clinical screening and decision-making, as well as the potential use in monitoring changes during clinical screening and rehabilitation.

Ankle-foot deformities, such as clubfoot, pose treatment challenges due to complex and patient-specific biomechanics. Accurate assessment of muscle force behavior is essential for tailoring interventions, yet conventional gait analysis is limited in isolating muscle-specific function. Intraoperative force measurements via the muscle's tendon offer a unique opportunity to directly quantify muscle mechanics. This study aimed to characterize the passive and active force-angle relationship of the...

CONCLUSION: Based on the present study conducted at a single tertiary medical center, the shortage of medical personnel due to resident resignations during South Korea's medical crisis led to a reduction in total surgical volume, an increase in infection severity, and a shift in anesthesia techniques.

Prosthetic ankle-foot devices provide valuable assistance for individuals with a unilateral transtibial amputation (TTA) to effectively engage in daily living activities, although users often experience diminished walking performance such as increased metabolic cost, knee joint loading, and dynamic balance asymmetry due to the lack of torque control from commonly prescribed passive devices. Consequently, active powered prosthetic devices have been developed; however, it is unclear how to...

Recent studies show the relevance of using sEMG signals and extracted features in powered prosthesis control. However, amputation technique determines the availability of residual muscles, and minimizing sensor number is to be preferred. Therefore, (i) limiting the total number of sEMG muscle inputs, (ii) minimizing the inputs from the lower leg muscles, and (iii) completely excluding the lower leg muscles will make the control algorithm economical, flexible, and practical, respectively. Using...

Most falls occur while walking, making gait quality a logical therapeutic target. Many temporo-spatial variables have been implicated in increased fall risk, but these are dependent upon kinematic parameters of the joints involved in the gait cycle. The widespread availability of wearable sensors has made the acquisition of kinematic data feasible, and those related to the ankle are most relevant, as they relate most closely to causes of falls, trips, slips, and mis-steps. The purpose of this...

CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided ankle and popliteal/saphenous blocks using levobupivacaine provided prolonged, safe, and effective analgesia. Variable soak-time appears to be a key modifiable factor influencing block reliability and warrants further investigation.

CONCLUSION: HRUS identified multiple ankle and foot pathologies, proving especially effective for superficial soft tissues. Its high spatial resolution, dynamic assessment, accessibility, and lack of ionizing radiation support its use as a first-line imaging tool. A planned sensitivity-specificity comparison with MRI, aiming for at least 90% agreement, may validate HRUS and foster research funding. However, limitations such as small sample size, operator bias, and limited MRI correlation warrant...

CONCLUSIONS: Bosu-ball training increased cortical activation and improved ankle-foot function among individuals with CAI, and yielded more improvements with active HD-tDCS. The increment of cortical activation was positively correlated with the improvement of ankle-foot function.

CONCLUSION: In this single-institution retrospective cohort, we did not detect statistically significant differences in radiographic osseointegration or major postoperative outcomes among synthetic, allograft, or mixed graft formulations; larger prospective studies are warranted.

Exoskeletons have shown significant promise in rehabilitation by assisting patients with motor dysfunction. However, the design of wraps remains predominantly empirical, requiring extensive experimentation and prolonged timelines. This study aims to present a coupled numerical model of a lower leg wrap system, which is capable of predicting pressure distributions on the skin to provide mechanical indicators for inferring user comfort. The coupled lower leg wrap model integrated a reconstruction...

Postoperative pain following foot and ankle surgery significantly impacts patient recovery and satisfaction. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a comprehensive multimodal analgesia protocol compared to conventional pain management in patients undergoing foot and ankle surgery. In this prospective, single-center randomized controlled trial, 82 patients (41 per group) undergoing primary foot and ankle surgery were assigned to either a multimodal analgesia protocol (multimodal group) or...

Most current passive exoskeletons assist a single movement task, and it remains a challenge to design exoskeletons for multiple movements to further reduce human metabolic rate. In this paper, a passive knee-ankle exoskeleton is designed based on the geometrical laws of the human knee and ankle joints angle changes during walking and squatting. It utilises extension springs installed between the knee and ankle joints to store and release energy during motion, thereby assisting walking and...

Accurate assessment of three-dimensional ankle kinematics is essential for advancing biomechanical analyses and informing potential clinical applications. While optical motion capture systems (OMCs) are considered the gold standard, their high cost and limited portability restrict their use outside the laboratory. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) offer a more practical alternative; however, concerns remain regarding their validity and reliability in diverse walking conditions. This study...

CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that BME is common in haemophilic ankles and more strongly associated with pain and joint health than IPSG scores. Integrating BME into MRI assessments may enhance evaluation and monitoring of haemophilic joint disease.

A multi-function articulated ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) allows independent adjustment of dorsiflexion and plantarflexion range of motion (ROM) and stiffness to optimize gait performance in individuals post-stroke. This study investigated the effects of varying two parameters of an articulated AFO (dorsiflexion ROM and stiffness) on center of pressure (CoP) trajectories, plantar forces, and spatiotemporal parameters during treadmill walking in 10 individuals post-stroke. After individualized...

Falls in older adults are a serious public health concern with physical and economic consequences that reduce independence and quality of life. Older adults have morphological changes at the foot and ankle that may disrupt foot neuromechanics and the foot's ability to regulate mechanical leverage and balance during walking. This study quantified age and walking speed effects on mechanical leverage of the foot and ankle, as well as the extent to which interindividual differences in foot-ankle...

CONCLUSION: ACC elicited dose-dependent vasoconstriction and robust hypoalgesia, with PPT improvements plateauing by 10 min. Because CIVD and post-cooling hyperaemia escalated at ≥ 15 min, a 10-minute ACC bout best balanced analgesia with vascular control, limiting disproportionate rebound perfusion and preserving a physiological equilibrium between vasoconstriction and vascular reopening; extending to 15 min can be reserved for cases needing marginal additional relief.

CONCLUSIONS: Six weeks of progressive balance exercises significantly increased corticomotor excitability corresponding to the peroneus longus muscle in individuals with chronic ankle instability.

The triceps surae, composed of the soleus (SOL) and medial (MG) and lateral (LG) gastrocnemii, are synergists that act as a functional unit to plantarflex the ankle. However, anatomical differences suggest that each muscle is capable of generating distinct torques at the ankle, raising the possibility that each can be independently controlled to suit the needs of a given task. This possibility was explored by investigating the activation patterns of the triceps surae during two balance tasks...

CONCLUSION: Bone and soft tissue neoplasms require local and distant staging prior to biopsy. For a suspected diagnosis, clinical, anatomical and radiological correlation must be maintained. Treatment can proceed after the case has been reviewed by a multidisciplinary sarcoma committee. In chordoma cases, extra-axial locations are extremely rare. Reconstruction of the ankle presents major anatomical difficulties, with multiple techniques having been described. In such cases, a careful...

CONCLUSION: Foot and ankle tumors are rare but clinically significant as misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis can lead to poor outcomes. Although most are benign, malignant cases, especially in the ankle region, require aggressive management. Awareness of their regional distribution and histopathological spectrum is essential for early recognition, accurate diagnosis, and appropriate treatment planning. Cite this article as: Yıldırım S, Çiftdemir M, Salih O, Ustabaşıoğlu FE, Üstün F, Usta U....

Three-dimensional printing has rapidly evolved into an important technology in orthopedic surgery, enabling the creation of patient-spe cific instruments, implants, and anatomical models. As printing has become more affordable and accessible, point-of-care manufacturing has increasingly allowed clinicians to design and produce surgical aids directly within clinical units. This development, combined with advances in computed tomography (CT)-based imaging and segmentation software, has...

CONCLUSIONS: AIMSS may affect all joints, including the ankles and feet. Lack of patient information regarding AIMSS can lead to unnecessary, time-consuming, costly and potentially harmful diagnostic procedures and treatment.

Objective. Hybrid brain-computer interface (BCI) systems incorporate electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) signals to extract corticomuscular coherence (CMC) features, enabling self-modulation of neural communication. While promising for stroke rehabilitation, the neurophysiological mechanism underlying hybrid BCI therapy remains poorly understood. To address this gap, we characterized post-stroke CMC dynamics during ankle dorsiflexion and further established their relationship...

CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of distinguishing forefoot from rearfoot surgery when evaluating VTE risk. There were six occurrences of VTE following rearfoot surgery without prophylaxis. The use of a risk factor-based prophylaxis protocol was associated with a marked reduction in VTE events, supporting objective risk stratification to guide prophylaxis decisions and improve patient outcomes.

Expert consensus on clinical application of absorbable polymer screw in foot and ankle surgery was developed by Foot and Ankle Committee of Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Foot and Ankle Committee of Sports Medicine Physician Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Foot and Ankle Group of Orthopedic Branch of Shanghai Medical Associationand, and Foot and Ankle Alliance of National Orthopedic Medical Center of Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital. Based on...

Edgington, HCA, Lambert, AJ, Sophocleous, V, Waterworth, SPW, Barker, JT, Liew, BXW, and McManus, CJ. Blood flow restriction does not impair ankle proprioception in healthy male adults. J Strength Cond Res 40(4): e352-e357, 2026-Blood flow restriction (BFR) training has been widely used to enhance muscle strength and hypertrophy at low loads, yet its impact on proprioception, particularly ankle joint position sense (JPS), is not fully understood. This study assessed the effect of BFR on ankle...