Department of Podiatry

Dr. Anita Raspovic

Lecturer and Curriculum Coordinator PhD (LaTrobe), B.App.Sci Podiatry (Hons) (La Trobe) Health Sciences 3, Room 543, Bundoora campus +61 3 9479-5835 a.raspovic@latrobe.edu.au

RESEARCH/INTERESTS

The biomechanics of gait in people with diabetes

Anita has had an interest in the foot in diabetes since graduating in 1992 and practising as a clinical podiatrist in the area. Early work was conducted on pressure measurement and offloading in plantar ulceration, and the accuracy of clinical observation of elevated pressure. Clinical, educational and research work in Nauru and the Philippines further paved the way for exploring the area of the diabetic foot as a special interest.

Her main area of research thus far has focused on foot and lower limb complications in diabetes, in particular plantar pressure and biomechanical alterations in neuropathy and implications for foot ulceration. A Faculty of Health Sciences PhD Scholarship was awarded to support doctoral research on this topic, completed in 2008. Anita is currently involved in research evaluating the pressure relieving properties of a therapeutic shoe and disseminating the findings of her PhD work through publication and conference presentations. Further investigations on mechanical aspects of the foot in diabetes are planned for the future.


TEACHING

Vascular assessment
Vascular pathology of the foot and ankle
Wound management (particularly of the foot in diabetes)
Clinical supervision

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Journal Articles

Raspovic, A. (2004) The clinical accuracy of the assessment of highly elevated plantar pressures in diabetes mellitus. The Diabetic Foot, Volume 7, Number 3, 130-137.

Raspovic, A. (2004) Ankle Brachial Indices – do they have a role in the assessment of blood flow to the feet in people with diabetes? A case study perspective. Australasian Journal of Podiatric Medicine, Volume 38, Number 3, 75-81.

Raspovic, A. (2004) Foot care – A focus on the foot in diabetes. InPharmation, Volume 5, Number 6, 6-11.

Raspovic, A. (2003) The 2002 Australasian Journal of Podiatric Medicine members’ survey – a summary of results. The Australasian Journal of Podiatric Medicine, Volume 37, Number 2, 48-49.

Vinicombe, A,. Raspovic, A. and Menz, HB. (2001) Reliability of navicular displacement measurement as a clinical indicator of foot posture. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, Volume 91, Number 5, 262-268.

Raspovic, A. (2000) The Role of Footwear for the Patient with Diabetes - Practical tips. Wound Care Network, Issue 4, 4.

Raspovic, A,. Newcombe, L,. Lloyd, J. and Dalton, E. (2000) The effect of customised insoles on vertical plantar pressures in sites of previous neuropathic ulceration in the diabetic foot. The Foot, Volume 10, Number 3, 133-138.

Vinicombe, A,. Raspovic, A. and Menz, H.B. (1998). The inter and intra tester reliability of the clinical measurement of navicular drop and drift. Australasian Journal of Podiatric Medicine, Volume 2, Supplement No 1.

Raspovic, A., Newcombe, L., Lloyd, J. and Dalton, E. (1998). Vertical pressure reduction with customised insoles in the prevention of recurrent foot ulceration in patients with peripheral neuropathy. Australasian Journal of Podiatric Medicine, Volume 2, Supplement No 1.

Lloyd, J. and Raspovic, A. (1996). A practical approach to footcare in the Philippines. Australian Podiatrist, Volume 30, Issue 4, 109-110.

Wilkinson, MJ., Menz, HB. and Raspovic, A. (1995). The measurement of gait parameters from footprints. The Foot, Volume 5, 84-90.

CONFERENCES & PRESENTATIONS

Recent conference presentations

21st Australasian Podiatry Conference, New Zealand, 2005 Validity of Clinical Plantar Pressure Assessment of the Foot in Diabetes

19th Australasian Podiatry Conference, Canberra, 2001 Biomechanics and diabetes. Clinical relevance to the foot.

The impact of reducing sagittal plane ankle joint range of motion on plantar pressures (poster).

Australasian Podiatry Council, The Diabetic Foot Conference, Sydney, 2000 The effect of stretching on foot and ankle joint range of motion and plantar pressures. in people with diabetes - A pilot study.

18th Australasian Podiatry Conference, Adelaide, 1998 The effect of customised insoles on vertical plantar pressures in sites of previous neuropathic ulceration in the diabetic foot.

OTHER

Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research (JFAR)

Manuscript Reviewer for the following journals: Journal of Foot and Ankle Research (JFAR) Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association (JAPMA) and The Foot

Member of the Wound Management Association of Victoria

Content Approved by: Head of Podiatry
Page maintained by: Podiatry Webmaster
Last Updated: March 31st, 2008