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Interesting article on plantar shear in the May issue of Lower Extremity Review. Researchers and practitioners are gradually realizing that peak plantar pressure may not be as useful for predicting and preventing diabetic foot ulcers as previously thought, and are beginning to refocus their attention on plantar shear. http://www.lowerextremityreview.com/index.php/article/plantar-shear-casting-light-on-dark-matter

 

Please tell us, Richard, what do plantar ulcers have to do with "dark matter"?

 

As you read the article it will become clearer. It refers to a quote by David Armstrong, DPM, PhD that can be found in an article from the 2010 LER Resource Guide. Here is a link to that article: http://lerresourceguide.com/displayArticle.asp?ArticleID=32

 

Sorry, Richard, I read the article and didn't care much for Dr. Armstrong's metaphor (Dave is a friend of mine). I especially don't care for the metaphor being somehow extended into the title of a scientific article, where the reference to a hypothetical concept in astrophysics somehow has any relation to a known and measurable force within the scienitific discipline of biomechanics. Maybe I'm too much of a purist, but this type of metaphorical terminology in the title of an article in a supposedly scientific publication makes no sense to me.

 

Kevin,

Thanks for your input. I'm glad you are reading the articles in LER. We appreciate your comments.

 

LMAO :D

 

Simon:

Do you get it at all? We have been able to measure plantar shear forces for over three decades with force plates and these are now called "dark matter". Now, since we can't directly measure internal stresses, internal forces or internal moments, but can only estimate them mathematically, what do we call them...... "black holes"?!

 

Yeah, I get it. I just liked the response. I guess headlines sell papers... whether they be tabloid newspapers or scientific articles.