12/13/2013    

APMA IN THE NEWS

JAPMA Special Issue Focuses on Podiatry and Falls Prevention

 

Many falls among the elderly are related to bad balance caused, in part, by poor foot health. A special edition of the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association (JAPMA) explores a promising new virtual reality program designed to address these issues by improving balance and stability, helping to keep elderly patients on their feet. The studies included in the special issue demonstrate multifaceted podiatry interventions that reduce the risk of falling, including lower extremity exercise, non-slip socks, special footwear, and surgical foot deformity correction. 

 

Donna Flenz, a 63-year-old diabetes patient, had become fearful of taking a tumble. Rightfully so—she’s fallen eight times this year. “The worst fall was in the backyard. I broke my clavicle,” she said. Flenz is one of 29 participants in the first-of-its-kind study at the University of Arizona, where researchers are testing diabetes patients with peripheral neuropathy. The innovative virtual reality program uses wearable sensors that provide interactive visual feedback in real-time.

 

Source: BioSpace [12/10/13]