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magazine - Bauerfeind Luxembourg Home
Issue 2013 | 1 magazine international Between illusion and distortion Injuries and overloading of the foot “This is the best thing I’ve ever done” “The strap is no wire rope, but it works” Shepherd Center, Atlanta: Innovative use of MalleoLoc LumboLoc Forte stabilizing orthosis after intervertebral disk surgery Page 20 A clinical medical evaluation of the new GenuTrain P3 Orthosis helps patients rehab from Spinal Cord Injuries Page 28 Page 26 INSOLES ErgoPad® weightflex ONE FITS ALL. Foot orthoses with the X factor. Flexible synthetic foot orthoses with variable support. The “weightflex-X” in the core of the synthetic foot orthosis offers variable support according to individual foot conditions, therapeutic goals and body weight. soft flexible arch support Motion is Life: www.bauerfeind.com medium semi-flexible arch support weightflex ® Technology strong rigid arch support Editorial Dear readers, insight into the work of Wally Blase, athletic coach of the Atlanta Hawks. He relies on the GenuTrain knee support for the prevention and rehabilitation of knee injuries. And would you believe that the LumboTrain back support is used in water sports? Brazil ian athletes value its stabilizing effect when windsurfing and stand up paddling, a sport that is currently gaining in popularity (page 6 f. & 27). Happy reading! With warm regards, Prof. Hans B. Bauerfeind Pictures: Bauerfeind ensured, for example, by two incorporated The skeleton of an adult human comprises pads and an individually adjustable correct about 206 bones, with 26 in the foot alone. ive strap. Together with various joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments, they form a real and Our products help physicians and therapists complete work of art in our feet. to make sure that their treatment is success Whether running, jumping, balancing, danc ful and to support and possibly even acceler ing, or even just standing and walking, we ate the recovery process, thereby enhancing demand top performance from our feet on the patient’s quality of life. In this issue, a daily basis, yet give them little attention you can read more about the very differ in return – at least until they start to cause ent examples of how Bauerfeind products problems. This is why our cover story shines are used across the the spotlight on world. Dutch back injuries and overload “Our products help physicians specialist Dr. Menno ing of the foot. In our and therapists to make sure that Iprenburg uses the feature article, you will be introduced to their treatment is successful and LumboLoc Forte back orthosis as a means Associate Professor to support and possibly even of stabilization after Dr. Martin Engelhardt, accelerate the recovery process.” carrying out inter Germany, and Prof. vertebral disk surgery Victor Valderrabano, (see page 20). At the Switzerland, two medi Shepherd Center in Atlanta, one of America’s cal experts who are very well versed in foot leading rehabilitation clinics, patients with problems and how to treat them. Find out incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries benefit from more on page 12. using the MalleoLoc ankle orthosis. Find out In this issue of the Bauerfeind life magazine, more on page 28. Spectators at a fast-paced game can easily we present the newly revised GenuTrain P3 vouch for the fact that basketball is an (page 24 f.). P3 stands for “permanent extremely demanding sport that causes patella protection,” as the support protects the kneecap during every movement. This is many injuries. life magazine offers you an life magazine 2013/13 Contents Focus Imprint: Bauerfeind life Magazine International Edition Printed on chlorine-free paper Editor: Bauerfeind AG Triebeser Straße 16 07937 Zeulenroda-Triebes, Germany Tel. +49(0)36628-66-1000 [email protected] www.bauerfeind.com Responsible: Simone Gebler, Christian Grimm Publisher and editorial office: mk publishing GmbH Döllgaststraße 7–9 86199 Augsburg, Germany Tel. +49(0)821-34457-0 [email protected] www.mkpublishing.de 4 life magazine 2013/1 page 12 Between illusion and distortion Aside from acute injuries, problems with the feet often arise as a result of in appropriate mechanical stress or over loading, and diagnosing these problems requires searching for clues. One of the common and dreaded complications is achillodynia. Treating foot problems, which involves the use of conservative functional methods, presents a challenge in general. Associate Professor Dr. Martin Engelhardt and Prof. Victor Valderrabano, experts in this field, demonstrate ways of tackling illusion and distortion. Title image The symbolic significance of a footprint in the sand: we pay very little attention to our feet – yet we expect so much from them. Pictures: f1online/ableimages (Title); Stefan Durstewitz, Bauerfeind, Sherri Innis Photography, Giancarlo Botteri, Scott Griessel/Fotolia.com Ankle injuries and achillodynia – p. 16 Contents “The best thing I’ve ever done” – p. 20 Orthosis helps patients rehab from SCI – p. 28 Relief for the back – p. 27 Passion expressed through dance – p. 32 Moments page 6 Extraordinary support Focus page 12 12Injuries and overloading of the foot Between illusion and distortion 16Ankle injuries and achillodynia “Chronic instability also affects the Achilles tendon” 18MalleoTrain, MalleoTrain Plus, MalleoLoc & CaligaLoc Safety in functional therapy Medical page 19 19 VenoTrain impuls+ Deep action plus comfort 3Editorial 4Imprint 8News 35Service 20LumboLoc Forte stabilizing orthosis after intervertebral disk surgery “This is the best thing I’ve ever done” 24 An observational study of the use of the GenuTrain P3 Concentric muscle action 26A clinical medical evaluation of the new GenuTrain P3 “The strap is no wire rope, but it works” 27Unusual use of the LumboTrain Relief for the back 28Shepherd Center, Atlanta Innovative use of MalleoLoc helps patients rehab from Spinal Cord Injuries 30Foot orthosis care for plantar fasciitis A significant reduction in maximum pain In Motion page 32 32Argentine tango Passion expressed through dance 22NBA insight Player health and grunt work: both part of the job life magazine 2013/15 Moments Extraordinary support Picture: Ronald Izoldi It is certainly an extraordinary sight and not ex actly a typical use: a windsurfer wearing an ortho pedic back support while gliding over the waves. Professional windsurfer Paulo dos Reis, 2012 Wind surf Formula One Design South American and World Champion and leader of the Formula Windsurfing Class 2010, likes using the LumboTrain in the sea as well. After all, the fast-paced watersport puts huge pressure on the back and especially on the lumbar spine. Several other windsurfers also rely on the active support to stabilize the muscles in the lumbar spine. † Read more on page 27. 6 life magazine 2013/1 Moments life magazine 2013/17 NEWS Eastern Europe Bauerfeind Competence Center in Lublin Under the watchful gaze of the local media, Ultra-Med sp. z o.o. opened a Bauerfeind Competence Center in Galeria Zone, a shopping mall in Lublin, Poland, in January. Medical aids from all product divisions are sold in this store which covers an area of over 100 square meters. To ensure products fit perfectly, the sales personnel use a range of Bauerfeind measurement systems. What’s more, the Competence Center is also able to modify individual foot orthoses – a grinding machine has also been installed. Even if the level of reimbursement for patients in Poland is low, the self† consciousness of the people is rising, and customers are looking for premium quality. A popular interviewee at the opening: Mariusz Długosz, President of Ultra-Med. Cannibal triathlon team, Mexico Real MalleoTrain fans No one can really remember which member of Mexico’s Cannibal triathlon team was the first to become a MalleoTrain fan. One of the athletes was given the ankle support and soon convinced his teammates of the benefits of MalleoTrain. Take, for example, Gerardo Franco, who first used the active support after injuring his ankle two years ago. “It made the rehabilitation process much faster,” he says. “The support provided stability and helped reduce pain. I just feel much more secure when I wear it while I’m training.” Javier Rosas is another member of the Cannibal team who relies on the ankle sup port. The image here shows him at the finish line of the 2012 Iron man competition in Hawaii. “I am convinced that I would not have been able to prepare for my dream event without this ankle support from Bauerfeind,” he insists. “The advice and support I received from Ortoprotec (Bauerfeind’s local partner) was also fantastic.” In any case, the MalleoTrain will help take Team Cannibal into the future. † Javier Rosas at the finish line of the 2012 Ironman in Hawaii. ErgoPad weightflex 2 The effective orthopedic ErgoPad weightflex 2 foot orthosis is particularly flat and flexible, requires little preparatory work and is ideal for patients who change their shoes regularly. As was the case with the first generation of weightflex products, the centerpiece of the new foot orthosis is the synthetic core with variable support. Depending on the individual foot conditions, the therapeutic goal and body weight, it supports the feet with the flexibility levels of soft, medium or strong. The new generation of weightflex products features a core coated with high-quality polyurethane. The partial foam covering, based on a unique technology for which a patent application has been filed, ensures that the core remains visible and gives a contour on the foot and the shoe side that requires very little preparatory work. The polyurethane foam coating has long-lasting cushioning properties despite its reduced construction height and it cushions sensitive areas of the foot. Slight sensorimotor spots in the PU surface gently stimulate the musculature. This stabilizes the hindfoot and sup ports the transverse arch. The core’s integrated hinges in the forefoot and heel † area allow the foot orthoses to adapt to different heel heights. 8 life magazine 2013/1 The internal “weightflex-X” offers variable support according to individual foot conditions, therapeutic goals and body weight. Pictures: Bauerfeind, Marathon picture: Image courtesy FinisherPix.com. The foot orthosis for every shoe NEWS Compression Sock Training Stability for the ankle during running Insecurity in the ankle can soon spoil the fun of running. The new Compression Sock Training has a noticeable stabilizing effect on the ankle joint during light endurance training. To do this, the stocking uses the same active principle of a tape bandage. It is designed in a “figure of eight” formation, with a “taping zone” wrapped around the instep and heel. The strengthened knit gives the ankle joint more stability, supports the ligaments and improves coordination. In the calf area, the “muscle toning zone” exerts gentle compression to reduce tiring muscle vibrations. The light, even pressure from the outside im proves circulation in the tissue. The training stocking is made of high-quality breathable material, which draws out moisture and guarantees comfortable foot conditions. Integrated cushion ing in the toe, forefoot and heel areas absorb impact, while also protecting the feet from irritating rubbing and blistering. The stocking is available in four different color combinations. For † more information, see www.bauerfeind.com/training. The Compression Sock Training is available in four attractive color combinations: “Coal/Rivera,” “Silver/Rivera,” “Coal/Polar,” and “Silver/Polar.” Bauerfeind Stores in Taiwan East meets West Bauerfeind Store in SHIN KONG MITSUKOSHI Kaohsiung Zuoying. Bauerfeind continues to expand its international sales network: in February 2012, the medical retailer WellCare Health Care Supply opened the first Bauerfeind concept store in Kaohsiung, the second biggest city in Taiwan. The Store is situated in a big shopping mall, SHIN KONG MITSUKOSHI Kaohsiung Zuoying, and offers its clients medical aids from all product divisions. A second store opened in spring 2013 in the city of Tao Yuan. The Taiwanese appreciate the high quality of the products which Bauerfeind has been developing for more than 80 years. The Bauerfeind commitment to sports and the growing number of international design awards for Bauerfeind products contribute † to the good image of the brand. Sales partner in Russia Nikamed named “Start-up of the Year” Exciting times at Nikamed in Moscow: from over 3,000 candidates, Bauerfeind’s exclusive sales partner in Russia has been named start-up of the year for 2012. Nikamed won over the judges from Russia’s biggest business magazine with its Bauerfeind store, which opened in Moscow in April 2012. It features a “Motion Laboratory” tailored specifically to athletes’ requirements. The “Motion Laboratory” is located right on the popular “Prospekt Mira” shopping street. Customers are greeted by products displayed over 120 square meters that help to prevent sports injuries and provide support in the event of injury and during rehabilitation. The range includes Bauerfeind’s supports and orthoses, medical compression stockings and orthopedic † foot orthoses. Analysis and measurement devices are also available. Award ceremony held at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Moscow: Sergey Shaitov, Anna Fedosova and Igor Burchakov (from left to right) accepted the award on behalf of Nikamed. life magazine 2013/19 News Moscow Symposium on Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Intensive scientific exchange Rehabilitation specialists, traumatologists and (sports) orthopedists from across Russia gathered at the First Moscow State Medical University at the end of 2012 for a symposium featuring a top-class list of participants. The intense exchange between participants continued even during breaks in proceedings and at fringe events. The 150 or so attendees from all over the country enjoyed an exciting program, which was presented by the Chairman of the sym posium’s steering committee and Deputy Di rector of the “Priorova” Central Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Prof. Nikolai Eskin. Prof. Markus Walther, Medical Director and Consultant at the Schön Klinik’s Center for Foot and Ankle Surgery in Munich, kicked off this Bauerfeind-sponsored event with a speech on the topic of “Treatment concepts in foot and ankle problems.” Indication appropriate orthotic care is usually an integral part of this. Dr. Homayun Gharavi, President of the German Academy of Applied Sports Medicine (GAASM), spoke about “the importance of active and multifunctional braces in sports rehabilitation.” In doing so, he compared a simple tape bandage with treatment involv ing the MalleoTrain ankle support. While Ulf Harzmann, International Sales Manager Eastern Europe at Bauerfeind, presented the active principles of multi functional orthoses, the Moscow-based physicians at the symposium added their own contributions based on their clinical experiences of using Bauerfeind products. Prof. Michael A. Eremushkin (MD and a holder of numerous posts, including Profes sor of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, IOPS FMBA), talked about the use of orthoses at various stages of outpatient treatment. Oleg Nikolaevich Milenin (MD, PhD, Se nior Researcher for the Russian Scientific Research Institute of Physical Culture and Sport, gave a presentation on the use of the GenuTrain P3 knee support in the treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome. At the accompanying exhibition, the sym posium participants had the chance to find out about Bauerfeind’s products and mea surement technology, as well as the work car ried out by local Bauerfeind partners Orteka and Nikamed. On several occasions during the event, the hosts of the symposium explicitly empha sized the importance of high-quality medical aids for targeted patient care, citing this as the reason why Bauerfeind products have been so well-received in Russia. Based on positive feedback from the participants, it has been decided to hold the symposium on † an annual basis in future. For improved contact with the floor Bauerfeind’s MalleoTrain S ankle support is now also available with an open heel area: this modification means that the MalleoTrain S open heel improves contact with the floor. The support is thus particularly suitable for wearing during sports carried out in bare feet, such as gymnastics, martial arts and dancing. Both the MalleoTrain S and the MalleoTrain S open heel stabilize the foot thanks to the 3-level strap system. This protects against lateral twisting, improves proprioception during movement and provides a feeling of security. They provide support for the foot without † restricting its mobility and are thus particularly suitable for use in sport. MalleoTrain S open heel: particularly suitable for wearing during sports carried out in bare feet. 10 life magazine 2013/1 Pictures: Bauerfeind, iStockphoto.com/erlucho, Corrina Mallon Pictures: Bauerfeind MalleoTrain S open heel Diary Dates On course for expansion Premiere: Chile’s first Bauerfeind store Trade fairs and events June 2013 June 5 – 8, 2013 14th EFORT Congress 2013 (European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology), Istanbul, Turkey. Further information: www.efort.org June 6 – 8, 2013 Viña del Mar (meaning “Vineyard by the Sea”), is a city and commune on central Chile’s Pacific coast. The Bauerfeind store in Viña del Mar is the second retail outlet in Latin America. 39th Congress of the European Society of Lymphology, Valencia, Spain. Further information: www.eurolymphology.org June 27 – 30, 2013 Quality made in Germany is rated highly in Chile. This also applies in the area of medical 14th Annual Meeting of the European aids. Chile’s first Bauerfeind store is now open in Viña del Mar, located in the greater Venous Forum, Belgrade, Serbia. Further Valparaíso area. It joins the store in São Paulo as the second retail outlet in Latin America. information: The store opened for business in February 2013, with the official opening planned for June www.europeanvenousforum.org 2013. The focus is on high-quality orthopedic and phlebology products. “The economic region surrounding Viña del Mar offers huge potential for the sale of supports, orthoses, medical compression stockings and orthopedic foot orthoses,” says Alejandro Giletto, September 2013 Bauerfeind’s International Sales Manager Latin America & Canada. Bauerfeind and its local partner Artevascular are delighted to now be able to provide support to patients and September 8 – 13, 2013 † athletes in the company’s own dedicated store. UIP XVII World Meeting (Union Internationale de Phlébologie/ International Union of Phlebology), Boston, USA. Further information: Campaigns for vein health in Canada www.uip2013.org Leg health mission September 16 – 20, 2013 Galien, Bauerfeind’s distribution partner 24th International Congress of Lymphology, in Canada, has taken up the cause of vein Rome, Italy. Further information: health. Each year, over 100 events are held www.lymphology2013.com to inform various professional groups about vein health and the provision of compression September 19 – 21, 2013 stockings, some of them involving Galien REHABILITACJA, Rehabilitation Fair, alongside local partners. These “Healthy Lodz, Poland. Further information: Legs Days” often take place in clinics, but http://rehabilitacja.interservis.pl also at events such as the recent Greater Edmonton Teachers’ Convention (see image). Over 7,500 teachers were given the chance November 2013 to find out how medical compression stock ings work. After all, their job puts a lot of November 20 – 23, 2013 pressure on the veins as a result of prolonged MEDICA, International Trade Fair with sitting and standing. Galien and its local Congress, Düsseldorf, Germany. Further partner Pulse Medical also carried out leg information: www.medica.de measurements directly on site. Many teach ers took advantage of this opportunity and even bought a pair of VenoTrain compression December 2013 † stockings at the event. December 9 – 13, 2013 Exhibition booth at the Greater Edmonton Teachers’ Convention. Zdravookhraneniye’2013, Moscow, Russia. Further information: www.zdravo-expo.ru/en/ life life magazine 2013/111 Picture: Fotolia/Kara FoCus 12 life magazine 2013/1 FOCUS Injuries and overloading of the foot Between illusion and distortion To sprint like Usain Bolt, or play football like Lionel Messi – these are understandable dreams, but they are not without their hazards. After all, the foot, the essential link in transforming desires into reality, has its own rules to follow, and these obey the laws of loading and loading capacity. Aside from acute injuries, problems with the feet often arise as a result of inappropriate mechanical stress or overloading, and diagnosing these problems requires searching for clues. One of the common and dreaded complications is achillodynia. Treating foot problems, which involves the use of conservative functional methods, presents a challenge in general. Associate Professor Dr. Martin Engelhardt and Prof. Victor Valderrabano, experts in this field, demonstrate ways of tackling illu>>> sion and distortion. life magazine 2013/113 FoCus >>> Describing endurance sports as “mate rial testing for the body” may sound some what cynical, but that is essentially what they are. The feet are subjected to enormous loads. In long-distance running, for example, they constantly have to absorb the repeated impact of each tread, distribute the load and convert the energy into new movement. Given the forces at work on the muscles, liga ments and bones of the foot, any athlete who can withstand this material testing is already demonstrating significant talent: jump ing exerts a force of four to five times’ an athlete’s body weight on the foot, while even running can subject the foot to a load equal to the body weight multiplied by three. Any talented athlete who can endure this torture on a lasting basis has solid found ations to build on. Twenty-six bones make up the basis of the foot, while an even higher number of joints, capsules, tendons 14 life magazine 2013/1 and muscles form longitudinal and trans versal arches. This structure is what makes a healthy foot so flexible. The cushioning properties of the body’s lowest extremity are supported by fat pads. Normally, all the absorbing and dynamic characteristics of the foot architecture function with remark ably few problems, but only up to a certain limit, at which point the exposed position of the foot makes it vulnerable, in spite of its extraordinary flexibility: this can result in problems associated with overloading – including in the Achilles tendon. Eighty kilometers per week are enough “The maximum load a foot can bear var ies greatly depending on the individual,” explains Associate Professor Dr. Martin Engelhardt, Chief Orthopedic Physician in the Orthopedics and Trauma and Hand S urgery Clinic at Klinikum Osnabrück. Being a specialist in sports medicine, Dr. Engelhardt was the Chief Orthopedist for the German Olympic team. It is clear what he means by individual differences, but the load-bearing limit of the foot is difficult to determine in practice. What is the patient’s level of fitness? What previous damage has the foot suffered? Are there any anatomical peculiarities? These questions have to be answered not only with regard to determin ing maximum loads, but also to obtain a precise diagnosis of problems relating to overloading. “The state of the patient’s constitution is also important, and that’s what I start with,” says the physician. “There is the question of the starting level. Before I started actively participating in sport, a low load situation was enough to provoke an in jury.” A dilemma of the modern age becomes apparent here: we want to do s omething, but Pictures: Stefan Durstewitz, doc-stock/3d4medical.com Chief Physician and Associate Professor Dr. Martin Engelhardt is a triathlete himself. FOCUS we can’t, at least not straightaway. The situ ation is different for elite athletes, however, whose foot problems are caused by much higher loading and load ranges. The sports medicine specialist, who is a triathlete himself, goes on to add that “Bones, tendons and ligaments need time to adjust to higher demands.” The lower blood circulation com pared with muscle tissue and internal organs is a factor here. Nevertheless, Dr. Engelhardt is able to provide an approximate benchmark value for loading: “Even elite athletes should not exceed seventy to eighty kilometers of running per week. Anything above this limit is critical.” Running involves accelerating the body without the use of external sports equip ment – an extremely strenuous activity. In spite of this, acute injuries are rare in run ning sports. Muscle strains or tears certainly do occur, but the big issue when it comes to running relates to problems associated with overloading. It is estimated that fifty to sixty percent of all sports injuries are caused by this. However, regardless of all their indi vidual characteristics, there is clear evidence of “material damage” in certain sports. The Achilles tendon often proves problematic for runners “Achilles tendon problems are common among runners,” Dr. Engelhardt explains. “They range from chronic tendinosis to dorsal calcaneal spurs or bursitis, triggered by Haglund’s deformity, and right through to general inappropriate mechanical stress situations.” He adds that plantar fasciitis, which is caused by excessive strain on the plantar fascia, is also quite common, and that can lead to plantar calcaneal spurs. In many cases, awkward heel-to-toe move ments in the foot due to instabilities, pes valgus or pes cavus also contribute toward tendinopathies occurring in the Achilles tendon. However, the physician is keen to warn against generalizations: “Based on movement analyses, for a long time it was believed that problems were an inevitable result of overpronation,” says Dr. Engelhardt, “But that is not the case.” However, he does not exclude the possibility of later problems with these patients’ Achilles tendons or skeletal systems. Yet he does believe there are various treatment possibilities: “In the case of unphysiological pressure distribution loads on the foot, which we can record us ing a pressure plate, we have a good option available that involves the use of a special orthosis, like those offered by Bauerfeind, to make the load situation more bearable.” An extremely thorough clinical examination has to be carried out for all foot problems, whether they are acute problems or symp toms of overloading. In addition, an MRI scan can detect edema formation on the bone, which, according to Dr. Engelhardt, is a clear diagnostic indication of overloading. “In the types of sport in which I am involved, such as long-distance running and triathlon, as well as in other sports such as football, we also have to bear stress fractures in mind when dealing with problems to do with overloading. These often occur in the meta tarsal bone, and also in the heel bone and the navicular bone.” Even stress fractures can be treated conservatively. However, Dr. Engelhardt thinks that an obvious field of application for conservative early functional therapy is treating tendinopathies of the Achilles tendon, as well as ankle injuries. Medical aids can stimulate protective reflexes “In principle, we have the entire range of physiotherapy at our disposal to start with. Then we can use supports such as the AchilloTrain. A good use for this support is to reduce swelling in areas around the Achilles tendon that have been subjected to excessive loads. The AchilloTrain can effectively reduce swelling, and its proprio ceptive effects are useful too.” In general, Dr. Engelhardt thinks that it is important not to disregard proprioception. “The proprio ceptive protective reflex helps reduce the risk of injury. This reflex can be trained during therapy with the help of supports and balance boards.” The orthopedic specialist also regards heel cushions and orthoses as suitable therapeutic aids: “Heel cushions can be used for partial load relief, while the relevant orthoses are ideal for optimizing the positioning of the foot in the case of pes valgus – bringing the heel toward a neutral position.” Modern conservative therapy can be used to help withstand “material testing † for the body.” Reference: Valderrabano V., Engelhardt M., Küster H-H. (Ed.), Fuß & Sprunggelenk und Sport (“Foot & ankle and sport”), Deutscher Ärzte-Verlag 2009, 319–323. The Achilles tendon is the thickest and strongest tendon in the human body. Men are more commonly affected by Achilles tendon problems than women. life magazine 2013/115 FoCus Ankle injuries and achillodynia “Chronic instability also affects the Achilles tendon” Specialists in sports medicine are finding themselves increasingly faced with problems in volving one of the strongest tendons in the human body. Ankle injuries and misalignments can make life difficult for the Achilles tendon in the long run, says Prof. Victor Valderrabano, Chief Physician of the Orthopedic Clinic at Basel University Hospital. According to Prof. Valderrabano, who is a foot and tendon specialist, a treatment package consisting of physiotherapy and orthopedically effective orthoses and supports can provide the key to dealing with pathologies concerning the hindfoot. …and are these superseding knee problems in medical practice? Prof. Valderrabano: Certainly not. However, it is true that particular successes regard ing treatment for the knee, such as early functional therapy, have contributed toward a certain decline in the occurrence of knee problems. Special preventive measures may also play a role in this. Can these successes be carried over to foot treatment? Prof. Valderrabano: The construction of the foot is unique, and its structures consist of extremely small components. If you make even the slightest change to one compo nent, this can have an impact on the inter play of the entire structure. For example, 16 life magazine 2013/1 sprained ligaments in the hip or knee have a less serious effect on the stability of the joint in question than a sprained ligament in the ankle. Here, even an elongation of up to two millimeters is enough to cause instability. An extra two millimeters quickly increases the load on the ankle joint by 40 percent with every step, because the talus is constantly subluxated. You can just imagine what effect an extra three, four or five milli meters would have. the optimal line of tensile force in the Achil les tendon to be thrown off balance – and achillodynia occurs. If you narrow down this pain to the Achilles tendon – what is the most important factor here? Prof. Valderrabano: Most tendon problems are already present, such as problems with the Achilles tendon attachment or tendin opathies, but overloading aggravates the symptoms. Tendinopathies can also be You and your Basel-based team see more than caused by all kinds of intrinsic and extrinsic 1,000 feet every year. Is instability a major factors: idiopathic misalignments of the problem? hindfoot, inappropriate footwear, inadequate Prof. Valderrabano: Not exclusively in rela training methods, imbalances, a lack of mus tion to feet. In the ankle, however, instabil cular flexibility, aging. Haglund’s deformity or bursitis in the tendon attachment area are ity following supination trauma, such as a also common causes of tendon problems. fibular ligament rupture – the most com mon sports injury of all – can very quickly become chronic. This is particularly the case How long can the Achilles tendon withstand when the instability is not diagnosed or is these problems? treated incorrectly – with disastrous con Prof. Valderrabano: The Achilles tendon can sequences. Achilles tendon diseases are one suffer for a long time. And then suddenly consequence, and osteoarthritis is poten the tendon structure is so altered and the tially another (Valderrabano et al., see ref.). tendon is so necrotic that just one careless movement is enough to tear it! Ruptures are rarely trauma-related, and they rarely Are Achilles tendon problems directly conoccur in clean, healthy Achilles tendons. If nected with foot or ankle injuries? this happens, it is usually in the context of Prof. Valderrabano: Yes, in fact there are numerous cases in which both the ankle and professional sport or an accident. In three quarters of all cases, however, the Achilles the Achilles tendon present or become a major problem. The reason for this is that, in tendon ruptures in diseased conditions. the case of chronic instability, the move How can you restore the Achilles tendon to a ment axes are not optimally positioned, healthy state? which results in a misalignment. Instability in the lateral upper ankle joint, for example, Prof. Valderrabano: When it comes to often leads to a varus angulation of the therapy, it is always important to consider hindfoot. In turn, this misalignment causes the whole picture. If achillodynia occurs in Picture: Stefan Durstewitz The foot is receiving a lot of attention at the moment. Why is this? Prof. Valderrabano: There is certainly a noticeable increase in the level of medi cal interest in the foot, but this has less to do with us, the physicians, than with patient behavior. Sports that involve put ting strain on the feet – and there’s more than just a few of these – are very popular. Untrained participants in sport very often overestimate their abilities. They want to emulate Roger Federer on the tennis court, even though they have the physical fitness and neuromuscular skills of an office worker. As a result, accidents happen. Furthermore, people who are immobile and often over weight have to be taken into account. Every excess kilo these people carry multiplies the continuous load on the foot. Those are the main factors... FOCUS A proven foot specialist: Prof. Victor Valderrabano, Chief Physician of the Orthopedic Clinic at Basel University Hospital. connection with chronic instability, one form of treatment alone is not generally sufficient. I usually provide such patients with a treat ment package. Depending on the indication, this may contain physiotherapeutic mea sures and shockwave therapy, for example. Added to this are orthoses and a support for stabilizing the ankle, such as the MalleoTrain or – in the most severe cases – the MalleoLoc orthosis. Bauerfeind’s professional heel re lieves the sensitive area under the heel. This kind of “conservative package solution” with orthoses has a proven track record. Patients † benefit greatly from this. Reference: Valderrabano V., Hintermann B., Horisberger M., Fung T.S., Ligamentous posttraumatic ankle osteoarthritis, Am J Sports Med (2006), 34, 612–620. life magazine 2013/117 FOCUS MalleoTrain, MalleoTrain Plus, MalleoLoc & CaligaLoc Safety in functional therapy Gradual mobilization is the key to the success of functional ankle therapy. Depending on the severity of the injury, supports and orthoses can provide the stabilization and restriction of movement needed to help improve the healing of damaged structures. MalleoTrain MalleoTrain Plus MalleoLoc CaligaLoc Increasing stabilization MalleoTrain – for muscular stabilization of the ankle The MalleoTrain active support is used to treat a sore ankle joint. Indications are post operative and posttraumatic irritation (e.g. after sprains), joint effusions and swellings resulting from osteoarthritis and arthritis, tendomyopathies and ligamental weaknesses. MalleoTrain Plus – increased stability and effective protection against lateral twisting The MalleoTrain Plus support is ideal for providing conservative treatment for simple ligament injuries (grade I)*, for chronic ankle instability or for supination prophylaxis (particularly during sporting activities). It is based on the same mechanism as a functional tape bandage. The semi-elastic strap system, which is wrapped around the foot in a figure of eight, enhances the stabilizing effect of the support and protects the ankle from lateral twisting. The tensile force can be in dividually adjusted and determines the slight degree to which the foot’s plantar flexion is restricted. 18 life magazine 2013/1 MalleoLoc – stability for the ankle bone The MalleoLoc offers a higher degree of stabi lization. It is used for conservative and, par ticularly, early functional therapy for simple to severe ligament injuries (grades I and II) and for chronic ligament insufficiency. This anatomically self-molding orthosis is fixed into place with straps to reduce the forward displacement of the talus. It stabilizes the upper ankle joint, even without wearing sturdy shoes. The foot is held in a slightly pronated position to ensure active protec tion against lateral twisting. This protection is boosted by the neuromuscular stimulation provided by the ProprioPoint plantar guide. Dorsal extension and plantar flexion are restricted, but without affecting the normal heel-to-toe movement of the foot. CaligaLoc – partial immobilization The newly revised CaligaLoc provides postoperative protection after ligament suturing/ reconstruction and conservative therapy fol lowing complex ligament injuries (grades II and III). The anatomically contoured, softly padded plastic splint is held securely on the foot by velour straps. This secures the upper and lower ankle joint. The CaligaLoc reduces the forward displacement of the talus more strongly than the MalleoLoc, and the active range of movement is considerably more restricted. The integrated pronation wedge under the heel raises the hindfoot slightly and takes the strain off the exterior liga ments. The CaligaLoc orthosis offers a high degree of stabilization, but enables gradu ated freedom of movement, which is essential for the successful regeneration of injured ligament structures in the ankle joint. This is where the main difference lies compared to using a walker or a plaster cast. The Caliga Loc can also be worn in ordinary, ready-made shoes and is easier to use on an everyday basis. Partial immobilization is effective for approximately four to six weeks. After this a higher degree of mobilization is required, which can be provided by the MalleoLoc or † MalleoTrain Plus. *Classification of ligament injuries in grades I-III in accordance with the simple classification system used by the American Medical Association. Pictures: Bauerfeind The required degree of stabilization and restriction of movement are decisive when it comes to choosing a product. MEDICAL VenoTrain impuls+ Deep action plus comfort When treating advanced vein problems, it is important that compression is constant and reaches the deep venous system of the leg. VenoTrain impuls+ combines effective therapy with exceptional wearing comfort – not least as a result of the high microfiber content. The wearing comfort of medical compression stockings (MCS) is not usually the focus of long-term treatment of advanced and deep vein problems. But, when treating serious symptoms, the patient’s commitment to the therapy is a particularly important success factor; therapy often fails because of discom fort when wearing compression stockings. VenoTrain impuls+ is used for moderate to serious vein problems and in the treatment of the initial stages of lymphedema. The round-knit MCS in compression classes 2 and 3 is made from a hard-wearing, short-stretch material. Thanks to its special stretching properties, it is easy to put on and ensures a high pressure with a therapeutic effect that spreads right down to the deep venous system of the leg, even with low levels of muscle movement. The constant high pres sure lasts as long as the compression stock ing is worn. Using microfiber to treat even severe conditions is a unique feature For a combination of maximum comfort and efficient treatment, VenoTrain impuls+ has a microfiber content of over 40 percent. Silky soft microfiber filaments make the stocking particularly comfortable, easy to look after and also easier to put on. The high microfiber content of the knitted fabric has an additional benefit: it optimizes the repelling of moisture and the tempera ture control, so that the stocking is comfort able to wear on both hot and cold days. VenoTrain impuls+ is available as a standard or made-to-measure product in a range of styles, in the colors caramel and black, as † well as with open or closed toe. Lycra knitted core Double-covered in microfibers Lycra compression core High-quality materials and technical expertise in manufacturing are the cornerstone for medical efficacy and the excellent wearing comfort of VenoTrain compression stockings. Wrapped in polyamide Clear advantages Dr. Hans-Jürgen Thomä, Head of the Phlebology Department, Bauerfeind AG. Why does Bauerfeind insist on a high microfiber content in many of its compression stockings? Microfiber has clear advantages over traditional fibers in terms of temperature control and repelling of moisture. With most manufacturers, MCS with a high microfiber content are reserved for mild vein condi tions. However, we set ourselves the chal lenge of making the advantages of microfiber available even to patients with severe vein problems or lymphedema. What effects does the use of microfiber have on the stretching properties of shortstretch stockings like VenoTrain impuls+? None at all – the compression strength is created almost entirely by the elastic core of the “weft” (inserted thread). The microfiber mainly serves as a wrapping material for the knitting yarn and therefore has no effect on the compression effect of the † knitted fabric. life magazine 2013/119 MEDICAL LumboLoc Forte stabilizing orthosis after intervertebral disk surgery “This is the best thing I’ve ever done” Dr. Menno Iprenburg is a specialist in TESSYS (Transforaminal Endoscopic Surgical System). Dr. Menno Iprenburg has previously been stationed in Tanzania and Zambia as well as in many countries in Asia. As a young physician, he went wherever he was needed. Today the world comes to him. “Apart from 20 life magazine 2013/1 Australia – no idea why – we have already had people from all known nations here.” By here, the orthopedist means a spot around 20 miles south of Assen. In the middle of the green expanse of North Holland, by a canal that goes on for miles, lies Veenhuizen. A few pretty, well-kept little houses; that’s all there is. At the end of the village, however, a col lection of brick buildings emerges. “It is the remains of an old state jail, renovated a few Pictures: Stefan Durstewitz, Bauerfeind In the small Dutch village of Veenhuizen, Dr. Menno Iprenburg performs surgery on his back patients. The results of his endoscopic operations sometimes make patients weep for joy. To ensure that this joy lasts, he uses a stabilizing orthosis as part of post-surgical treatment. MEDICAL clinic, and we order more once a week.” Usu ally, the patient’s back muscles are still so weak and tense from the long period of pain before surgery that immediate support after surgery is a great help. Since the recovering patients can stand up and take their first few steps straight away, the LumboLoc Forte has a stabilizing effect from the beginning. This creates confidence. “People like it,” says the orthopedist. It provides security for those who are nervous, and the orthosis reminds overconfident patients to hold back with certain movements. It should be worn during the first night after surgery and in the daytime for the following fourteen days. During the third to fourth week, the orthosis years ago,” the physician explains. In one of the buildings, which used to be the quaran tine station, the ‘Rugkliniek Veenhuizen’, also known as ‘Spineclinic Iprenburg’, set up home three years ago. Today, in a place previously used to prevent infection, intervertebral disk surgery is performed. TESSYS uses a natural keyhole Patients who are plagued by pain after an intervertebral disk prolapse undergo a special method of surgery with Dr. Iprenburg. “In Holland, we call it PTED (Percutaneous Trans foraminal Endoscopic Discectomy),” explains the physician, “Internationally it is known as TESSYS (Transforaminal Endoscopic Surgi cal System).” This refers to an endoscopic procedure for removing the intervertebral disk prolapse with minimal surgical inter vention. The special feature of TESSYS is that the surgeon can reach through the inter vertebral foramen, a “natural keyhole,” with his smallest instruments to the location of the prolapse, where he can remove the press ing tissue and free the trapped nerve. The patient lies on their side, the incision is only a few millimeters long, and there are few side effects as a result. Patients who come into the Rugkliniek stooping usually leave it a few hours later walking upright. “I have my life back!” “When you see the relief on the patient’s face it warms your heart.” Dr. Iprenburg puts on a video that shows himself and a patient immediately after surgery. Uncertain, but with astonishment in her eyes, the patient walks two or three steps. She stops in her tracks. Then she cries. “I have my life back”, she says, her voice breaking. Speechless. It is understandable, when faced with these kinds of images, that even the experienced physician concluded: “This is the best thing I’ve ever done.” Yet TESSYS has nothing to do with miracle cures à la Lourdes, as the physician made it sound. The procedure is internationally established and validated. In studies it has been described as “signi ficantly superior” in comparison with the standard method (e.g. with the patient in a prone position). Apparently, around 10,000 intervertebral disk operations have been Security and comfort: LumboLoc Forte. carried out to date across the world using the TESSYS method. Of those, and there is evidence to prove it, 1,700 had taken place in Veenhuizen alone as of the start of 2013. Surgery is only carried out in the Rugkliniek when the pain has not reduced six to eight weeks after the intervertebral disk prolapse. Dr. Iprenburg learnt the double keyhole procedure in Germany and practiced it as an orthopedist in Assen, before founding his own private clinic in Veenhuizen. “Although the procedure is more expensive than the standard method, it is cheaper from a macro economic perspective, because patients can start work again sooner,” said the physician. “In studies it has been described as ‘significantly superior’ in comparison with the standard method.” (Dr. Menno Iprenburg) can be taken off. However, it should still be used when driving afterward, to enforce a straight posture when sitting. The pressure that the regenerating intervertebral disks must withstand while sitting can gener ally be very high. The physician continues by saying that a study by the University of Amsterdam shows that compression of the lower spinal column can prevent relapses. “I can see an additional important function of the LumboLoc Forte in this regard,” he adds. “Relapses are often caused by physio therapy being carried out too soon and too Orthoses as a security and a reminder intensively. The surgical wound between the vertebral disks needs six to eight weeks to Without exception, all patients receive the heal,” stresses the physician. Then life can LumboLoc Forte stabilizing orthosis after † surgery to optimize the spinal column statics start afresh. and relieve the lumbar spine. Dr. Iprenburg had already had positive experiences of us Reference: Kai Uwe Lewandrowski, Sang-Ho Lee, Menno ing this treatment during his time in Assen. Iprenburg: Endoscopic Spinal Surgery, JP Medical Publishers, February 2013. “We always have six orthoses here in the For further information about: Dr. Menno Iprenburg please visit www.herniakliniek.nl. See page 35 for contact information for Bauerfeind Benelux. life magazine 2013/121 MEDICAL National Basketball Association (NBA) insight Player health and grunt work: both part of the job Wally Blase has been an athletic trainer in the NBA for 17 years. In 2005, he was even named the Professional Athletic Trainer of the year by the Southeast Athletic Trainers Association (SEATA). It’s a job he loves, but it’s not what most people envision. life reveals what it really takes to be an athletic trainer in the NBA. Wally Blase, athletic trainer for the At lanta Hawks, looks relaxed and dapper in his blue suit and matching tie as he sits courtside during an NBA game. From all outward appearances, one would envision the 42-year-old to have a prestigious and relatively cushy job. Well … at least the first impression is accurate; it is a prestigious job. Only 30, including Wally Blase, hold such a position in the NBA. But the cushy part? He would probably break into an uproarious laugh. Managing a staff of three – one full-time assistant trainer, an intern and a strength training coach – is something one envi sions an athletic trainer to do. Scheduling player training, taping ankles, addressing post-game injuries, icing, and massages – these are all part of what one envisions an athletic trainer to do. But who would think that an NBA athletic trainer would be the pivot point of the team? The shoulders on which all team logistics rest – logistics like scheduling plane flights and buses, in-flight and hotel food, room assignments, tips for bellboys and skycaps, ball kids, equipment and luggage transportation, training venues, and more? “You do a lot of grunt work so you need to swallow your ego and be able to do every thing. Once the team departs from their home base, the athletic trainer becomes the 22 life magazine 2013/1 You can’t treat the personality, you have to treat the athlete “I was lucky when I got this job because I had been with the Chicago Bulls, so I wasn’t green around veteran players. You have to be able to discern what’s best for the ath lete, even if they have strong personalities. They need to trust you and know you have their best health in mind. You can’t treat the personality, you have to treat the athlete,” said Wally Blase. Prevention of injuries is of A typical timetable For life Wally Blase provides an insight into a typical timetable: Typical Practice Day Game Day 8:00 Arrive at arena 8:00 Arrive at arena 9:00 Athletes arrive 9:00 Athletes arrive 10:00 - 11:00 Morning practice 11:00 - 12:00 Visiting team practice 12:00 Go home 9:00 - 11:00Pre-work-out sessions, player development and tape up players 11:00 - 1:00Practice 1:00 - 3:00Post practice treatments 3:00 Go home because they have to handle all the logis tics and anticipate demand. For instance, if they are scheduling practice at an out of town arena, they have to look ahead and work around that venue’s concert schedule, including pre and post-concert events. Being a wiz at training and logistics isn’t the only attribute an athletic trainer needs. Dealing with different cultures, person alities, and a wide age-range amongst play ers requires wisdom and experience. 3:00Return and prepare for game 11:00 - 12:00Go home (or fly out to another city) primary importance to him. He accomplishes this through preventative modality treat ments such as ice, heat, flexibility train ing, preventative exercises and strength exercises. By finding out where an athlete is weak or deficient, he puts together a plan to strengthen those areas of deficiency. With 82 regular season games and possibly as many as 94, including preseason and playoffs, injuries are bound to occur. Typical injuries include patellar (knee) tendonitis Pictures: Sherri Innis Photography, Bauerfeind Wally Blase, athletic trainer for the Atlanta Hawks. traveling secretary, tour manager, and travel coordinator, until the team arrives back home. Many teams employ assistant trainers to help with these duties, and even have their equipment managers help with the work load, but ultimately the head athletic trainer is responsible and oversees the whole operation,” said Wally Blase. Unlike athletic trainers in other sports who have staff to handle these logistics, athletic trainers in the NBA need to be good administrators MEDICAL Wally Blase uses Bauerfeind’s GenuTrain knee support as prehab, to prevent patellar injuries, and rehab, to treat patellar injuries. and ankle sprains. Wally Blase refers to these types of injuries as “chronic overuse” injuries, and uses Bauerfeind’s GenuTrain knee support as prehab, to prevent patellar injuries, and rehab, to treat patellar injuries. He said the product is cropping up in a majority of the other teams as well. “The technology and material give the athlete the right amount of compression, stability and strength. The brace lasts longer and is more comfortable than others on the market, time. In fact, he hopes to cap off his career and the players say it relieves their symp by someday moving up into management. For now, however, he’s most content to work toms when they are playing,” he said. with players he considers to be “the best “It’s an incredible job” athletes in the world.” Aside from working with the players, Blase’s “It’s an incredible job and I love the cama raderie of the team,” he said. “Being able involvement with his professional organiz to help the players perform at their highest ation is something he cherishes as well. level is very rewarding; it’s a great chal He calls the NBA athletic trainers “incred ible,” and is very proud of their charitable lenge, but also a lot of fun. Of course, I hate foundation and scholarships, a philanthropic that I have to be away from my family so endeavor that often goes unnoticed. much, especially now that I have a child. Wally Blase loves his association with the I don’t like missing birthdays or events, but NBA and the Hawks in particular and plans I don’t punch a clock and the job is any † to stay with the franchise for a very long thing but monotonous.” Further information The Bauerfeind GenuTrain is the original functional knee support. Bauerfeind products in USA are distributed since 1985 by Bauerfeind USA, Inc. to retailers and medi cal doctors. The International Sales Manager Ulrich Reddig in Marietta is the main contact person. “Our GenuTrain is a true classic that keeps improving: The latest generation sits firmly on the knee with out any compromises. It is highly effective in sen sorimotor terms. The Omega pad delivers targeted pain relief at the patella and front meniscus. These are the reasons for a daily application of GenuTrain by so many top athletes in the US professional sports.” For further Information please contact Bauerfeind USA (address, page 35). Ulrich Reddig, International Sales Manager, Bauerfeind. life magazine 2013/123 MEDICAL An observational study of the use of the GenuTrain P3 Concentric muscle action Physiotherapist Alexander Verdonck during the observational study of the new GenuTrain P3. Knee pain patient Magdalena Kremer. The pain was almost unbearable. When going down stairs, crouching, even when sitting down. “It was a stabbing pain, directly behind the kneecap,” says Magdalena Kramer, describing her suffering. “Patellar chondro pathy” – cartilage problems of the patella, also known as anterior knee pain or patello femoral pain syndrome – is more common in women than in men, especially in teenagers and young adults. Potential causes of anterior knee pain are malfunctions of the muscles and knee joint ligaments. Thigh muscles that are weakened on the inside can lead to pain, lateralization New support for anterior knee pain Magdalena Kremer could not bear it any longer. Her consumption of painkillers increased rapidly. “My physician told me that my kneecap had moved out of the joint,” reports Magdalena Kremer. The disability care worker has suffered from pain since the age of 18. She cannot think of a particular strain that could have caused it. The pain came and went. “In the end, I was considering surgery,” said the 28-year-old. Until, that is, her physician told her about an observational study being organized at the Hellersen Sports Clinic in Lüdenscheid. Under the medical 24 life magazine 2013/1 and the dreaded lateral subluxation or even to luxation of the kneecap. Typical symptoms of anterior knee pain are pain which occurs after unusual straining of the knee or after sitting down with sharply bent knees for long periods of time. “In winter it even went to sleep on me sometimes,” describes Magdalena Kremer. “I would fall down suddenly.” Not a good situation in her job as a disability care worker. Her work on the farm at home also suffered considerably as a result of the pain, not to mention relaxing in the evenings. Her knee was almost always swollen. It made no difference if it was bent or extended. Pictures: Stefan Durstewitz, Bauerfeind If you want to get the symptoms of anterior knee pain under control, focusing on the patella is essential. The variety of functional mechanisms in the new, redesigned GenuTrain P3 active support push the kneecap towards the center – back to its natu ral, painless position. MEDICAL supervision of Dr. Bernd Lasarzewski, a study was to be carried out to determine whether a new, redesigned knee support could get the problems of anterior knee pain under control (see also interview on p. 26). Physiothera pist Alexander Verdonck was responsible for the practical execution and evaluation of every movement. For all-round protec tion, various functional elements that are integrated into the support work together. A specially shaped pad, together with an adjustable corrective strap, hold the patella securely in a centered position and protect it from lateral drifting. A patella cover also lit y for a u q n e v o Pr years ! 0 2 n a h t more “The patients have more stability.” It is difficult to estimate how much the corrective strap alone contributed to the success of the observational study, due to the interplay of all the functional ele ments. One thing is certain: all probands rated the new GenuTrain P3’s stabilizing Indications for the GenuTrain P3 • Patellofemoral pain syndrome (chondropathy, chondromalacia) • Patellar tip syndrome (patellar tendonitis) • Lateralization of the patella (dislo cation tendency) • High-riding patella (patella alta) • Feeling of instability • Anterior knee pain • After lateral release surgery Optimized fit, effective action: the new GenuTrain P3. the observational study. Magdalena Kremer did not take long to make up her mind. She participated in the initial test with four teen other probands. There were seven men and eight women alltogether and a total of eleven probands completed the study. The age range was 17 to 46 years. The injured leg was compared with the healthy leg. The tests were carried out using the new GenuTrain P3 active support by Bauerfeind. prevents medial tilting. A second, wedgeshaped pad on the outer thigh relaxes the muscles and reduces the outward pull on the patella. GenuTrain P3’s compressive knit ac celerates the reabsorption of edema and effu sions. The muscles that stabilize the joint are activated and the feeling of stability returns. All these characteristics made Dr. Lasarzewski and Alexander Verdonck curious even before the observational study. However, there was one feature that particularly aroused their Securing the kneecap interest: the adjustable corrective strap. P3 stands for “permanent patella protection”: “It makes it different from other supports,” the GenuTrain P3 protects the kneecap d uring explains physiotherapist Alexander Verdonck. and supporting effect on the knee joint positively. After evaluating relevant knee scores, a clear improvement in the pa tients’ situations could also be objectively documented. The outcome is clear for Magdalena Kremer: “I feel almost no pain,” she says, and her joy is audible. “Being able to adjust the strap myself also gave me a great feeling of security.” The orthopedist Dr. Lasarzewski also has no doubts about the support. “After an in-depth evalua tion of all data, it can be said that there is a measurable increase in stability for † patients using the GenuTrain P3.” life magazine 2013/125 MEDICAL A clinical medical evaluation of the GenuTrain P3 with its adjustable corrective strap “The strap is no wire rope, but it works” In cases of patellar instability, luxation as the first manifestation must be avoided at all costs, stresses Dr. Bernd Lasarzewski, Head Physician at the Knee, Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Department at the Hellersen Sports Clinic in Lüdenscheid. The team physician for the national women’s football team thinks a seemingly insignificant strap can help. mented. Such as a certain function of the GenuTrain P3, which played a significant role in the observational study at our clinic ... Anterior knee pain, patellar instability – who does it affect? Dr. Lasarzewski: Widespread anterior knee pain can be caused by patellar instability. A colleague once said that half of North Rhine Westphalia is affected by this condition. Anterior knee pain is certainly very common. It mainly affects girls and young women. You mean the corrective strap, that can be adjusted ... Dr. Lasarzewski: ... and by the patients themselves – an inconspicuous strap, wound around the patella in the right place. The patella corrective strap is no wire rope, but it works! Patients can adjust it to make it tighter or looser, depending on the level of instability or how it feels to them. In this way, it can contribute to an improvement. The pull of the corrective strap on the new GenuTrain P3 can be adjusted. the patella. One of the biggest challenges is: how can I improve the situation by strengthening the muscles? The central muscle is the vastus medialis muscle, which guides the patella by means of the tendon attachments. Physiotherapy is required as the first step. Suitable training in conjunc With a tendency towards luxation? Dr. Lasarzewski: There is a risk. Luxation tion with supports that stabilize the patella should be avoided at all costs, as bone struc can reduce the symptoms. tures could become damaged too – a clear Which characteristics must these supports indication for surgery. In addition, after a first luxation, the risk of a relapse is greatly have? Dr. Lasarzewski: Focus on the patella is increased. important. Many supports have a ring to center the kneecap. This does not have How can you avoid luxation and what enough effect however. To convince patients can you do to treat anterior knee pain? and orthopedists, wearing comfort and, Dr. Lasarzewski: Conservative procedures above all, effectiveness must be well docu should always be tried first when treating Dr. Bernd Lasarzewski, Hellersen Sports Clinic, Lüdenscheid, Germany. 26 life magazine 2013/1 What do you think of the GenuTrain P3’s other features, like the patella cover and the muscle-relaxing pad? Dr. Lasarzewski: You have to consider the support as a whole. The combination of all of the characteristics and functions should be coherent. That includes the musclerelaxing pad. It can act as an antagonist for the vastus medialis muscle by relaxing its partner, the vastus lateralis muscle. This can avoid a tipping or lateralization of the patella. What is your conclusion on the newly redesigned GenuTrain P3? Dr. Lasarzewski: Before the observational study, I admit I was skeptical. However, the medical-clinical evaluation surprised me. The support can help to reduce pain in cases of anterior knee pain and reduce the risk of luxation of the kneecap. It is especially important for young women, who take great care with their appearance, that their support is an effective treatment and motivation aid – it helps them to help † themselves. Pictures: mk, Bauerfeind, Fernando Pasqualin, Marilia Kim What causes subluxation of the kneecap? Dr. Lasarzewski: Subluxation occurs when the patella can no longer move easily in its natural trochlear groove. A valgus position ing of the kneecap worsens the situation. Instability is usually lateral. Overexertion in sport can be a cause. Local overexertion of the patellofemoral structures is often caused by lateralization of the patella. MEDICAL Unusual use of the LumboTrain Relief for the back Whether it is windsurfing or stand up paddle surfing, many watersports put a lot of strain on the back. Some top Brazilian athletes are therefore using an active support to provide relief. good windsurfing session. “When using the Lumbo Train I feel comfortable about doing every move, but most of all, it makes me stand in the right position and really relaxes my lower back.“ Top athlete Paulo dos Reis uses the LumboTrain for stand up paddling (SUP) as well as windsurfing (see page 6/7). In this sport, athletes stand on a type of surfboard and use a single blade paddle to propel themselves along – a strenuous activity for the back. The back support gives the winner of the SUP Summer Opening Race on Sylt in 2012 (Class 14.0) stability when participating in this popular sport and a comfortable feel † ing in the lumbar spine area. Note: Bauerfeind products are not designed for use in the swimming pool or in the sea. However, they can be washed in the washing machine at 30 degrees. Please use a liquid detergent and remove the pads from the support before washing it. Windsurfer Ricardo Bimba Santos loves to speed. The Brazilian coast offers numerous hot spots for windsurfers. It is no wonder that a country that has optimum geographic condi tions, plenty of enthusiasm for sport and exercise, speed and beauty also produces many windsurfers who have achieved world wide success. One of these is Ricardo Bimba Santos, twice Youth World Windsurfing Cham pion, World Champion in 2007 and winner of the Jaguar NeilPryde Racing Series in 2012. “My greatest ambition is to win a medal at the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016,” he revealed. The Brazilian windsurfs five times each week, as well as doing fitness training and aerobics twice a week and pilates once a week. Better posture, less pain “Windsurfing is a sport that places heavy demands on your back, especially the lum bar spine,” says Ricardo Bimba Santos. “I have always had back problems, especially between L4 and L5. However, thanks to intensive back training, I have managed to remain one of the world’s top windsurfers.” He has worn the LumboTrain active support for two years to support his back. He does not wear it during competitions, but likes to wear it afterward as well as frequently during his everyday life. “When I’m wearing it my back feels stronger, I have better posture and the pain is reduced,” said the athlete. He also passed on this experience to his best friend Fernando. “LumboTrain – a good tip!” Fernando Samara Pasqualin (photo on page 5) took up windsurfing in 1994, when he was seven years old; seven years later he won the Junior South American Championship. He also trains five times a week. “As most of the board sports do, windsurfing certainly exposes your body to injuries due to constant back torsion and impact. After windsurfing, I often have severe back pain and was pleased to receive the tip about the back support.” He has been wearing the LumboTrain for a year, Paulo dos Reis uses the LumboTrain for stand up paddling (SUP) as well as windsurfing. mainly for preventative purposes and after a life magazine 2013/127 Medical Shepherd Center, Atlanta Innovative use of MalleoLoc helps patients rehab from Spinal Cord Injuries Rehabilitation is essential for those with Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI); but it’s not just the spine that needs proper support during recovery, it’s also the ankles. Joy A. Bruce (MSPT, PhD, NCS), full-time research scientist and manager of the Spinal Cord Injury Laboratory (SCIL) at Shepherd Center in Atlanta, discovered that MalleoLoc provided additional support to the ankles and allowed patients to progress faster during the rehabilitative process. Her interview with life provides details on this innovative approach. The Shepherd Center How did you learn about the stabilizing orthosis? Joy A. Bruce: When I was in college I played soccer and rugby and had multiple inversion sprains. Others on my team were using the product so I tried it. It worked well to help control foot and ankle position ing and prevent roll-over sprains. How did Shepherd Center discover this product? Joy A. Bruce: I brought in a MalleoLoc I had, and then I had the department purchase the devices. I wanted to be able to train people at higher levels without sacrificing mobility or safety. Given that you had been using MalleoLoc for patients with impairments to their feet and ankles, when did you start using the product as part of your treatment protocol for patients with SCI? Joy A. Bruce: The first patient I used it with was a young man with a very incomplete SCI. He wanted to return to running and playing tennis. He had lingering strength and proprioceptive impairments. He was at high risk of inversion sprains. I used the device with him during training including running and plyometrics. It was very suc cessful in protecting him and positioning him during these activities. 28 life magazine 2013/1 The Shepherd Center is a free-standing rehabilitation hospital that serves patients with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and other neurological diseases/disorders. The center treats approximately 1,727 patients a year (382 inpatients, 1,345 outpatients) with an average stay in the facility of 49 days. The mean age of their patients is 37.6 years; 83 percent are male, and 17 percent are female. For further information please visit: www.shepherd.org How has using MalleoLoc affected SCI patient recovery? Joy A. Bruce: These patients are particularly susceptible to catching their toes or rolling into inversion. The MalleoLoc allows us to minimally limit the degrees of freedom at the ankle while still providing biomechanical support. Providing flexible control of the ankle enables us to focus on overall move ment patterns and control of proximal segments while advancing activity. It also allows us to challenge our patients more readily to perform faster walking/running on varied surfaces and under varied conditions. How often is the stabilizing orthosis used as part of the treatment protocol? Joy A. Bruce: Stabilizing orthoses are used consistently with patients who are working on high-level locomotor and balance activi ties. These devices are used multiple times per week by multiple patients. How does MalleoLoc compare to other devices on the market? Joy A. Bruce: The advantage over other lace-up devices is weight, malleability, cleanability, and ease of use with the straps. The device wasn’t cost-prohibitive, didn’t require a prescription, and could be modi fied/customized using a heat gun. What kind of modifications do you make? Joy A. Bruce: Portions of the MalleoLoc are made of molded plastic. If we find a place that rubs the patient, we heat the plastic and mold it to fit their skeleton. It’s rare Pictures: Sherri Innis Photography How long has Shepherd Center been using MalleoLoc? Joy A. Bruce: I introduced it in outpatient treatment in 2000. Medical that we have to do this, but it’s very easy to do. How have your patients reacted to wearing MalleoLoc? Joy A. Bruce: Patients love that the devices are light weight, low profile, easily fit into shoes they already own, are simple to use, durable, washable, and not too expensive. One of the reasons I use this device is that a lot of folks with SCI have involvement in their upper body and hands as well. They find it Joy A. Bruce, manager of the Spinal Cord Injury Laboratory (SCIL). difficult to use braces with laces, but a simple strapping system works really well. It provides minimal bracing while allowing independence and maximum functioning. Is the usage of ankle braces for SCI injury something commonly used by most rehab centers, or is this something unique to Shepherd Center? Joy A. Bruce: Bracing has always been a part of SCI rehab, but using devices that were in troduced for athletics is a novel concept that has spread quite a bit recently. Joy A. Bruce discovered that MalleoLoc provided additional support to the ankles and allowed patients to progress faster during the rehabilitative process. Do you recommend MalleoLoc after a patient has been discharged? Joy A. Bruce: We often recommend these devices to our patients who are being dis charged into the community or who will be walking independently while still exhibiting some strength or sensory deficits that put them at risk of inversion sprains or mechani cal issues. Combined with in-shoe orthoses, the MalleoLocs may provide a biomechanically stable platform that allows some patients with neurological issues to push their functional † limits in a safe manner. For further information please contact: Bauerfeind USA (address, page 35). life magazine 2013/129 MEDICAL Foot orthosis care for plantar fasciitis A significant reduction in maximum pain Use of a foot orthosis is part of the standard treatment for heel pain and talalgia on the sole of the foot. Prof. Markus Walther, Medical Director and Head Physician at the Center for Foot and Ankle Surgery at the Schön Klinik München Harlaching, led a study* to investigate different foot orthosis concepts, including the professional heel by Bauerfeind. Professor Walther, what motivated you to carry out this study? Prof. Walther: Heel pain and talalgia is a fairly major epidemiological problem. Among 50-60 year olds alone, we can assume that almost half will experience heel pain once a year – usually because of plantar fasciitis. In this disorder, the band of connective tis Prof. Markus Walther, Medical Director and Head Physician, Schön Klinik München Harlaching. was only possible with custom-made foot orthoses. We now wanted to investigate the extent to which industrially pre-fabricated foot orthoses could achieve a similar effect. How did you do this? Prof. Walther: In our randomized pro spective study we compared a thin cushion foot orthosis made from PU foam available online (A), and two branded products and the professional heel by Bauerfeind (C). The professional heel is a multi-layer, cushioned orthotic blank with a self-supporting syn thetic core and a central heel cut-out with a plantar fan design. 30 patients from an orthopedic traumatology practice in Middle Microfiber top cover 30 life magazine 2013/1 Pictures: Conny Kurz, Bauerfeind Cushion layer with sue in the sole of the foot becomes inflamed polyurethane cushion at the site where the plantar fascia attaches to the bone. This is because the fascia loses elasticity over the course of a person’s life. Pad It is easiest to picture it like this: you swap an elastic bungee rope for a steel rope and jump. When the rope is fully unwound, there is a loud bang, because the tension is built Synthetic core up suddenly and there is no soft cushioning. In affected patients, there is a massive strain on the attachment site of the fascia to the Durable bone and it begins to tear away or become polyurethane cushion inflamed. Pressure on this structure can be relieved by using a foot orthosis. Simple foot orthosis Bottom coating concepts only aim to cushion the hindfoot to reduce the maximum pressure during the heel strike. However, with a hindfoot frame and medial support, combined with a spe cially designed recess for the affected struc tures, supplementary mechanical pressure relief can be achieved. For a long time, this The professional heel’s particular characteristic is its construction and its special orthotic core. MEDICAL Franconia took part in the study. The pa tients’ average age was slightly over 50. All patients had a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis with no other form of foot disease. In addi tion, the probands had not yet undergone any treatment. During the 3-week period of observation, use of a foot orthosis was the only treatment method used. The foot orthoses were allocated at random. What was the main focus of the study? Prof. Walther: The pain parameter, because this determines the affected patients’ qual ity of life. The study documented the development of maximum pain, the average pain level during the treatment period, the daily pain duration and the length of time that the foot orthoses were worn. The daily walking activity and the subjective wearing comfort were also recorded. The patients used the visual analog scale (VAS) for all subjective assessments. What were the most important results? Prof. Walther: During the observation peri od, maximum pain was significantly reduced in Group B (patients wearing the soft foam foot orthosis) and in Group C (professional heel). This reduction in pain was detectable for Group B after two weeks, but after only one week for Group C. We had not expected such a clear difference. How do you explain the professional heel’s rapid pain relief? Prof. Walther: The firm core means that patients can hold their hindfoot in a better posture. This reduces the peak loads on the attachment site between the fascia and the bone. The average pain level was also significantly reduced in Group B and Group C. As expect ed, the difference between foot orthoses B and C was not as marked here, because it is the cushioning that plays an important role here, and this was equally good in both branded products. The two branded products were also rated much higher than the (Internet) foot ortho sis A in the subjective assessment of wear ing comfort. The professional heel was rated slightly higher than foot orthosis B. Overall, the Internet foot orthosis did not show any statistically significant effect on pain intensity and duration of pain in the wearing test, and for some patients it was also extremely tattered after the three weeks. One more thing is important to me: use of a foot orthosis, even when it is as good as this one, should never be the only element of treatment. It is also important to work on the elasticity of the fascia with stretching † exercises as well. * Prof. Walther presented the study in a lecture at the ORTHOPÄDIE + REHA-TECHNIK 2012 world congress and trade show in Leipzig. Internet orthosis (A) soft foam foot orthosis (B) professional heel (C) start 1st week 2nd week 3rd week With the professional heel, there was a significant reduction in maximum pain. Pain relief was achieved much earlier than with the other foot orthoses. Maximum pain [VAS] (0 = no pain, 100 = maximum pain) professional heel Relieves pressure with every step The orthotic core of the professional heel is specially designed to leave MTP joints I and V free, thus keeping pressure on these joints to a minimum. Further pressure relief for the foot is achieved by lowering the base of the fifth metatarsal bone. The special shape of the hole notches and the intelligent fan design of the synthetic orthotic core ensure that the professional heel does not form any uncomfortable edges. In addition, pressure relief is achieved for a larger area. The self-supporting synthetic core supports the arch of the foot and relieves pressure on the heel area. life magazine 2013/131 In Motion Argentine tango Passion expressed through dance Aggressive and emotional, comforting and yet full of longing, melancholy and expressive – all of these words can be used to describe the tango. The dance that originated in the nightclubs of Buenos Aires is now universally popular. Inscribed onto the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in September 2009, the tango still combines emotion and spirit, as well as vitality and enjoyment of movement. Picture: Shutterstock.com/Jose AS Reyes With purposeful strides, heads touching and upper bodies perfectly in line, the couples glide and revolve skillfully around the floor. A leg hook in the air, a pause, a rapid rotation, a gentle touch. >>> 32 life magazine 2013/1 In Motion life magazine 2013/133 In Motion A Tango festival in Buenos Aires in 2012. Tango demonstration in La Boca, the most famous of the 48 districts in Buenos Aires. >>> Elegance, melancholy, eroticism – this dance expresses them all: the Argentine tango involves a breathtaking variety of figures, tremendous versatility and lots of feeling. When watching couples dancing the tango, you can see their radiance – that is the belief of Colombian psychologist Cynthia Quiroga Murcia, who has found that dancing the tango leads to a reduction in the stress hormone cortisol while increased quanti ties of the sex hormone testosterone course through the dancers’ bodies. Tango is good for the health and triggers all sorts of plea surable feelings! The tango was born in Buenos Aires and Montevideo between 1850 and 1880. At that time, the capitals of Argentina and Uruguay were both desirable places to live and the final stop for many European immigrants in search of a better life. In the cafés and clubs of the working-class neighborhoods, they sought a distraction from the daily grind of slaughterhouses, tanneries and warehouses, from unemployment, crime and their primi tive lives. Their songs express despair, wist fulness and longing. “Tango is a sad thought that can be danced,” explains E nrique Santos Discépolo (1901–1951), one of the most famous tango composers. The dance steps are accompanied by African Candombe drums. The compositions mix elements of Spanish flamenco, Italian opera and the Milonga songs of the Argentine gauchos. The bandoneón, a handheld instrument similar to the accordion that was brought to Argentina in 1870 by German immigrants, became the characteristic instrument of the tango thanks to its melancholy tone. A selection of the tango festivals being held in 2013 • Tangoamadeus in Vienna, May 8 to 12, www.tangoamadeus.com • 13th International Tango Festival in Berlin, May 17 to 20, www.tangofestivalberlin.de • 9th Toronto Tango Festival, June 6 to 9, www.torontotangofestival.com • Tangocamp Festival in Tylösand, Sweden, June 14 to 17, www.tangocamp.se • 10th International Istanbul Tango Festival, July 3 to 7, 34 life magazine 2013/1 www.istanbultangofestival.com • Seinäjoki Tango Festival, Finland, July 10 to 14, www.tangomarkkinat.fi • Tango Buenos Aires Festival and World Cup, August 13 to 27, www.tangobuenosaires.gob.ar • 4th Innsbruck Tango Festival, October 24 to 27, www.tangofestivalinnsbruck.at Other dates are also available at: https://tango.info/festivals A vibrant tango scene The bandoneón has given the Argentine tango new popularity. There is now a vibrant tango scene with numerous events held around the world: every year, tango enthus iasts gather in Seinäjoki in the first week of July (see the infobox). Over 150,000 people can now be found dancing on the streets of the small Finnish town during the course of this week. “Tango is our national music,” says Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki, comment ing on the significance of the genre, which has inspired many of the country’s composers and performers. Although the Argentine tango can be per formed with any desired combination of rota tions, steps and figures, the sequence of steps in the standard tango, as has been taught as part of the World Dance Program since 1963, is significantly more regimented. Where a continuous flow of dance in harmony with the music is typical of the Argentine tango, abrupt changes of pace and movement domi nate in standard tango – long, prowling steps are followed by small, jagged, staccato move ments. The standard tango is nowhere near as passionate and tender as the Argentine tango – a conscious change implemented by British choreographers to suit social conventions. † Pictures: Tango BA Festival y Mundial 2012, Corbis/Jose Fuste Raga Tango as national music From the beginning of the 20th century, the tango became a cult dance in Europe and was acceptable in all sections of society after upper-class young Argentinians made it popular in the salons and bars of Paris. This marked the start of the tango’s golden age, which lasted until the mid-1950s. Service Bauerfeind worldwide Bauerfeind AG Triebeser Straße 16 07937 Zeulenroda-Triebes Germany Phone +49 (0) 36628-66-10 00 Fax +49 (0) 36628-66-19 99 [email protected] Adresses: Austria Bauerfeind Ges.m.b.H. Hainburger Straße 33 A-1030 Vienna Phone +43 (0) 800 44 30 130 Fax +43 (0) 800 44 30 131 [email protected] Benelux Bauerfeind Benelux B.V. 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Historiador Diago 13 E-46007 Valencia Phone +34 96 385 66 33 Fax +34 96 385 66 99 [email protected] Switzerland Bauerfeind AG Vorderi Böde 5 CH-5452 Oberrohrdorf Phone +41 (0) 56 485 82 42 Fax +41 (0) 56 485 82 59 [email protected] United Arab Emirates Bauerfeind Middle East FZ-LLC Dubai Healthcare City P.O. Box 505116, UAE-Dubai Phone +971 4 4335 685 Fax +971 4 4370 344 [email protected] United Kingdom Bauerfeind UK Phyllis House 229 Bristol Road GB-Birmingham B5 7UB Phone +44 (0) 121 446 53 53 Fax +44 (0) 121 446 54 54 [email protected] USA Bauerfeind USA, Inc. 3005 Chastain Meadows Parkway Suite 700 Marietta, GA 30066 Phone 1 800 423 34 05 Phone (770) 429 83 30 Fax (770) 429 84 77 [email protected] life magazine 2013/135 ORTHOSES Sof Tec® Genu The intelligent knee orthosis. Study demonstrates that knee stability increases significantly by wearing SofTec Genu (reference: Int J Sports Med 2012; 33: 934–939) A reprint of the study “Effect of Brace Design on Patients with ACL-Ruptures” from Strutzenberger G. et al. can be obtained at [email protected]. Motion is Life: www.bauerfeind.com