Emphasizing The Diversity Of Podiatry

   What has always struck me about the podiatry profession is the diverse array of niches within the field. Podiatrists may specialize in the sports medicine arena or excel in ensuring appropriate wound care for high-risk patients with diabetes. Podiatric doctors may be known for their stellar surgical expertise while other DPMs have a strong knowledge of podiatric dermatology.    Addressing the diversity of the podiatric experience is a challenge that we look forward to with each issue. Nowhere is this diversity more apparent than in this month's edition, one of our largest issues to date.    Leading off the August issue is our annual roundup of emerging innovations in the field (see “What The Future Holds For Podiatric Care” on page 38). In the article, Associate Editor Brian McCurdy talks to leading experts in the field about a variety of modalities ranging from new wound dressings to the use of low intensity ultrasound to facilitate bone healing to devices for clearing atherosclerotic plaque in the lower extremity.    There is also a plethora of sports medicine-related articles. Eric Feit, DPM, offers “Key Insights On Treating Tennis Injuries” (see page 48). As he notes in the article, new advances in equipment for the sport have led to more powerful racquets. Accordingly, players have to react faster and more quickly to return shots. This leads to a higher risk of lower extremity injuries. With this in mind, Dr. Feit offers a review of appropriate treatment protocols for addressing common injuries ranging from ankle sprains and subungual hematomas to heel pain and Achilles tendonitis.    With the fall sports season right around the corner, Russell G. Volpe, DPM, offers pertinent tips on “Athletic Footwear For Children” (see page 74). Dr. Volpe, who chairs the Department of Pediatric at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine, discusses the impact of growth spurts, foot type and key material considerations in trying to ensure optimal fit and function in pediatric athletes. Mark A. Caselli, DPM, our longtime “Sports Medicine” columnist, and his co-authors Edward C. Rzonca, DPM, and John J. Rainieri, DPM, also provide an illuminating column with “Secrets To Treating Bicycling Injuries” (see page 106).    In regard to surgical topics, Jesse Burks, DPM, pens this month's continuing education feature, “How To Treat Severe Bunions” (see page 93). Offering insights from his experience, Dr. Burks discusses the pros and cons of common osteotomy procedures and arthrodesis techniques. Gary Jolly, DPM, the Immediate Past President of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, teams up with David Kanuck, DPM, for the article, “Mastering Complications In External Fixation” (see page 56). They emphasize a proactive approach to minimize complications such as excessive tensioning and pin tract infections.    Offering an informed biomechanics perspective, David Levine, DPM, CPed, provides “A Closer Look At Case Studies In Gait Analysis” (see page 66). Dr. Levine offers pertinent case study examples that reveal the little subtleties that clinicians can obtain from video analysis and pressure mapping, subtleties that can make a difference in facilitating effective treatment.    Given the increased interest in pain management in the past year, John E. Hahn, DPM, ND, authors the timely feature, “Alternative Therapies For Chronic Pain” (see page 82). A member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, Dr. Hahn discusses both his experience and what the literature has revealed about the effectiveness of nutriceutical products in relieving pain.    Of course, an issue like this would not be possible without the dedicated efforts of our authors and other key contributors. By continuing to share their insights and expertise, they facilitate a broader and more diverse podiatric experience.