Effect of Laterally Wedged Foot Orthoses on Rearfoot and Hip Mechanics in Patients with Medial Knee Osteoarthritis

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of laterally wedged foot orthotic devices, used to treat knee osteoarthritis, on frontal plane mechanics at the rearfoot and hip during walking. Thirty individuals with diagnosed medial knee osteoarthritis were recruited for this study. Three dimensional kinematics and kinetics were recorded as the subjects walked in the laboratory at an intentional walking speed. Peak eversion, eversion excursion and peak eversion moment were increased while the peak knee adduction moment was reduced in the laterally wedged orthotic condition compared to the no wedge condition. In contrast, no changes were observed in the variables of interest at the hip. There was no significant relationship between the change in the peak frontal plane moment at the rearfoot and change in the peak frontal plane moment at the knee or hip as a result of the lateral wedge. Laterally wedged foot orthotic devices, used to treat knee osteoarthritis, do not influence hip mechanics. However, they do result in increased rearfoot eversion and inversion moment. Therefore, a full medical screen of the foot should occur before laterally wedged foot orthotic devices are prescribed as a treatment for knee osteoarthritis.

Dynamics of the Swan River Estuary: The seasonal variability

The Swan River is a south-westem Australian estuary that undergoes a distinct seasonal stratification cycle. Motivated by the increasing nutrient loading of the estuarine system, an intensive investigation into the hydrodynamics was performed with the aim of understanding the physical processes responsible for transport within the estuary. The seasonal variability of the stratification was documented with regular conductivity-temperature-depth-dissolved oxygen transects that were used to piece together an overview of the dynamics. The estuarine dynamics were classified into a gravitational overflow produced by the winter rains, a salt wedge condition governed by both discharge and topographic constraints, tidal dynamics that influence the degree of flushing, and the roles of two sills that control fluid exchange between the estuary and the ocean and control the propagation of the salt wedge and the gravitational overflow.