Current thoughts on the use of footwear and insoles to treat medial compartment knee osteoarthritis

There have been great advances in this area over the past few years, with much of the work coming out of my research group at the Centre for Health Exercise and Sports Medicine (CHESM) at the University of Melbourne.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition worldwide and is a leading cause of knee pain and disability amongst elderly people. It is calculated that 50% of people aged over 50 years will develop osteoarthritis in the western World.

Houston we have a problem. Retail is just NOT listening to the current thoughts on pronation!

I have just finished my second round of training for technical staff here at my "real job" with Salomon. Once more the discussion revolved around questions like "how come there is no dual density midsole?".. or.. "where are the 'motion control' features?

Those of you who know me would understand there is a real threat that anyone who asks me questions like this will receive a swift backhander and be told to leave the room.. but.. it is a problem.. a BIG problem.

You see.. retail have a version of what they think running shoes should look like and should do, and for the vast majority, this version is outdated, inappropriate and.. WRONG.

Treadmill vs overground running. This should put this discussion to bed!

I can't tell you how many times I have been asked the question, " is treadmill running a valid way to analyse gait?" The smart money has always said, well, it depends on whether you are talking about a research environment or a clinical environment, coz, the rules are different.

That said, a brand new paper may well have put the debate to bed once and for all, and, the answers almost certainly will not be what you expect!

How should we run? Will Gait retraining help?

Once all but ignored, running technique is now the topic of countless magazine and Web site articles, is taught by a growing number of running coaches, and is intensively discussed on Internet chat forums and actual training runs.

These days, the way we run is covered by one catch-all phrase.."form". But the major question to be asked and answered is:  can a correct style of running, in fact be effectively taught—or, is there is an identifiably correct way to run that every runner can learn and use to run faster and with fewer injuries? And the even bigger question may well be, "does changing form decrease or increase the risk of injury?

All the April research goodies for you with my commentary!

There were a couple of ripping papers this month, in what was generally a fruitful period for things that might interest and challenge us. Let's start with

Loading rate increases during barefoot running in habitually shod runners: Individual responses to an unfamiliar condition Tam et al Gait and Postures Published Online: February 21, 2016

Does running cause arthritis?

When I was a new graduate, too many years ago to reveal, the running boom was in its infancy, and the big buzzword in the world of sports medicine was 'running will cause arhtritis, especially to the hip and knee'. And then, as now, this statement was pretty 'off the cuff' and sadly lacking in evidence. So let's revisit this and ask the direct question..'does running cause arthritis?'

This wonderful photo is quite famous, and shows Dorando Pietri's dramatic finish and eventual disqualification in the marathon at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. Look out for it in the members resources area along with a number of these historic photos. Use them in your presentations, they are great!!

Don't know your Fartlek from your Tempo run? If you want to treat runners, You better read this!

THE LANGUAGE OF RUNNING

Perhaps you would rather I wrote about the language of love?  I dunno, but if you want to walk the walk and talk the talk with your running patients, you NEED to be able to communicate in “run speak”!

Runners have a vocabulary all their own, and at times it can be quite complex, so, if you do not know your tempo from your fartlek, you better read on!

Injuries around the 5th metatarsal base. So MUCH confusion!

I was recently asked the following question: 'your thoughts on peroneal tendinopathy, particularly insertional. At the same time thoughts on other pathology about the base of the fifth metatarsal. At a recent presentation, peroneal tendinopathy and its relationship to low supination resistance were discussed and treatment advocated lateral rearfoot wedging. Your thoughts?'