Prof. Alfred Gatt

Prof. Alfred Gatt

Prof. Alfred Gatt

  M.Sc.(Pod.),Ph.D.,D.Pod.,S.R.Pod.,M.Pod.A.

Associate Professor

Room 56
Block A, Level 1
Mater Dei Hospital
Msida
  +356 2340 1153
Alfred Gatt qualified as a podiatrist in 1986. From 1987 till 1990 he set up and worked at the Diabetes Foot Clinic, which is still being run today at Mater Dei hospital. Since 1990 he was placed in charge of Podology Services within Department of Health, a position he has occupied for 20 years. In 1990 he became Manager Podology Service, responsible for the strategic planning, implementation and administration of all Podiatry services within the DH. Because of an extensive interest in Biomechanics, he started two new clinics while working as Manager: a once-weekly Rheumatoid Podiatric Clinic, at St Luke's Hospital and a twice-weekly Gait Assessment Clinic that included Foot Pressure Mapping for the first time in Malta, at the Podology Department at B'Kara Health Centre. Both clinics are still active to date.

In 2003 he obtained a Master's degree from the University of Brighton, with research entitled "The use of orthoses in the management of hindfoot pain in Rheumatoid Arthritis".

In 2008 he started a PhD at Staffordshire University, entitled "A Biomechanical Investigation of Ankle Joint Complex Dorsiflexion", which had such a profound effect on him that he changed over from management to becoming a full time academic in September 2010. He submitted his thesis in March 2012.

In 1999 he was founder President of the Association of Podiatrists of Malta. He is presently chairperson of the Diabetes Foot Research Group, which he has helped to launch in 2011.

His special interests include CADCAM orthoses, Foot Pressure Mapping, 3D motion capture, foot modeling and biomechanics of musculoskeletal foot conditions.
  • Podiatric Biomechanics
  • Foot Pressure Mapping
  • Orthoses
  • Gait Analysis
  • Diabetic Foot
  • Medical thermography

Gatt, A., Cassar, K., Falzon, O., Ellul, C., Camilleri, K.P., Gauci, J., Mizzi, S., Mizzi, A., Sturgeon, C. & Chockalingam, N. 2018, "The identification of higher forefoot temperatures associated with peripheral arterial disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus as detected by thermography", Primary care diabetes, .

Azzopardi, K., Gatt, A., Chockalingam, N. & Formosa, C. 2017, "Hidden dangers revealed by misdiagnosed diabetic neuropathy: A comparison of simple clinical tests for the screening of vibration perception threshold at primary care level", Primary care diabetes, .

Bartolo, E., Formosa, C. & Gatt, A. 2017, "La Relación entre la Fascitis Plantar y la Presión de Talón", European Journal of Podiatry/Revista Europea de Podología, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 1-7.

Bartolo, E., Formosa, C. & Gatt, A. 2017, "The Relationship between Plantar Fasciitis and Plantar Heel Pressure", EJPOD: European Journal of Podiatry= Revista europea de podología, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 1-7.

Ellul, C., Formosa, C., Gatt, A., Hamadani, A.A. & Armstrong, D.G. 2017, "The Effectiveness of Calf Muscle Electrostimulation on Vascular Perfusion and Walking Capacity in Patients Living With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Peripheral Artery Disease", The international journal of lower extremity wounds, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 122-128.

Ellul, C. & Gatt, A. 2017, "Intermittent calf-muscle electrical stimulation on walking capacity in patients living with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and intermittent claudication", .

Formosa, C., Gatt, A. & Chockalingam, N. 2017, "Diabetes foot screening: Current practice and the future", Foot (Edinburgh, Scotland), vol. 34, pp. 17-17.

Formosa, M.P., Gatt, A. & Formosa, C. 2017, "Evaluating Quality of Life in Patients with Hallux Abducto Valgus Deformity After a Taping Technique", Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, vol. 107, no. 4, pp. 287-291.

Gatt, A., De Giorgio, S., Chockalingam, N. & Formosa, C. 2017, "A pilot investigation into the relationship between static diagnosis of ankle equinus and dynamic ankle and foot dorsiflexion during stance phase of gait: Time to revisit theory?", The Foot, vol. 30, pp. 47-52.

Gatt, A., Grech, M., Chockalingam, N. & Formosa, C. 2017, "A Preliminary Study on the Effect of Computer-Aided Designed and Manufactured Orthoses on Chronic Plantar Heel Pain", Foot & ankle specialist, , pp. 1938640017709906.

Gauci, J., Falzon, O., Camilleri, K.P., Formosa, C., Gatt, A., Ellul, C., Mizzi, S., Mizzi, A., Cassar, K. & Sturgeon, C. 2017, "Automated segmentation of regions of interest from thermal images of hands", IEEE, , pp. 3822.

Mercieca, S., Ann, L., Formosa, C., Grima, J.N., Chockalingam, N., Gatt, R. & Gatt, A. 2017, "On the Use of Auxetics in Footwear: Investigating the Effect of Padding and Padding Material on Forefoot Pressure in High Heels", physica status solidi (b), vol. 254, no. 12.

Vella, L., Gatt, A. & Formosa, C. 2017, "Does Baseline Hemoglobin A1c Level Predict Diabetic Foot Ulcer Outcome or Wound Healing Time?", Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, vol. 107, no. 4, pp. 272-279.

Zarb, F., McNulty, J., Gatt, A., Formosa, C., Chockalingam, N., Evanoff, M.G. & Rainford, L. 2017, "Comparison of in vivo vs. frozen vs. Thiel cadaver specimens in visualisation of anatomical structures of the ankle on proton density Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) through a visual grading analysis (VGA) study", Radiography, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 117-124.

Alcacer-Pitarch, B., Backhouse, M., Gijon-Nogeron, G., Biscontini, D., Bonafede, S., Ferreira, A., Gatt, A., Lescure, Y., Nava, T.N. & Redmond, A. 2016, THU0640-HPR Provision of Care Services for Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases-Related Foot and Ankle Problems: A Survey from Sixteen European Countries, BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

Ellul, C. & Gatt, A. 2016, "Transcutaneous calf-muscle electro-stimulation: A prospective treatment for diabetic claudicants?", Diabetes and Vascular Disease Research, vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 442-444.

Formosa, C., Gatt, A. & Chockalingam, N. 2016, "A critical evaluation of existing diabetic foot screening guidelines", The review of diabetic studies: RDS, vol. 13, no. 2-3, pp. 158.

Formosa, C., Simiana, C. & Gatt, A. 2016, "Comparación del estado de salud en pacientes con úlceras crónicas y amputaciones menores en el pie", European Journal of Podiatry, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 31-36.

Formosa, C., Simiana, C. & Gatt, A. 2016, "A Comparison of Health Status in Patients with Chronic diabetic foot ulcerations and Minor foot amputations", EJPOD: European Journal of Podiatry= Revista europea de podología, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 31-36.

Formosa, C., Vella, L. & Gatt, A. 2016, "Characteristics predicting foot ulceration outcomes in the diabetic foot", .

Gatt, A. 2016, "Investigating the mechanical properties of Thiel-embalmed metatarsals", Journal of Medical Biomedical and Applied Sciences, vol. 3, no. 12.

Gatt, A., Briffa, A., Chockalingam, N. & Formosa, C. 2016, "The Applicability of Plantar Padding in Reducing Peak Plantar Pressure in the Forefeet of Healthy Adults: Implications for the Foot at Risk", Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, vol. 106, no. 4, pp. 246-251.

Gatt, A., Formosa, C. & Otter, S. 2016, "Foot orthoses in the management of chronic subtalar and talo crural joint pain in rheumatoid arthritis", The Foot, vol. 27, pp. 27-31.

Gauci, J., Falzon, O., Camilleri, K.P., Formosa, C., Gatt, A., Ellul, C., Mizzi, S., Mizzi, A., Cassar, K. & Chockalingam, N. 2016, "Automated Segmentation and Temperature Extraction from thermal images of human hands, shins and feet", Springer, Cham, , pp. 275.

Grech, C., Formosa, C. & Gatt, A. 2016, "Shock attenuation properties at heel strike: Implications for the clinical management of the cavus foot", Journal of orthopaedics, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 148-151.

Gatt, A., Formosa, C., Cassar, K., Camilleri, K.P., De Raffaele, C., Mizzi, A., Azzopardi, C., Mizzi, S., Falzon, O., Cristina, S. & Chockalingam, N. 2015, "Thermographic patterns of the upper and lower limbs: baseline data", International journal of vascular medicine, vol. 2015, pp. 831369.

Gatt, A., Formosa, C., Schembri Wismayer, P. & Chockalingam, N. 2015, "A Biomechanical Comparison of fresh-frozen and Thiel embalmed feet: Opening innovative opportunities for the study of human foot anatomy", .

Gatt, A., Muscat, R. & Formosa, C. 2015, "An evaluation of self-care practices and knowledge in patients living with Type 2 diabetes attending primary healthcare settings", .

Gatt, R., Vella Wood, M., Gatt, A., Zarb, F., Formosa, C., Azzopardi, K.M., Casha, A., Agius, T.P., Schembri-Wismayer, P., Attard, L., Chockalingam, N. & Grima, J.N. 2015, "Negative Poisson's ratios in tendons: An unexpected mechanical response", Acta biomaterialia, vol. 24, pp. 201-208.

Formosa, C., Gatt, A., Mizzi, A., Mizzi, S., Cassar, K., Camilleri, K.P., Azzopardi, C., Deraffaele, C., Falzon, O. & Cristina, S. 2014, "Hidden dangers revealed by misdiagnosed peripheral arterial disease using Abpi measurement", Diabetic Medicine, vol. 31, pp. 44.

Gatt, A., Spiteri, M., Formosa, C. & Chockalngam, N. 2014, "Investigation of plantar pressures in overweight and non-overweight children with a neutral foot posture.", OA Musculoskeletal Medicine, vol. 10, no. 2.

Gatt, A., Mifsud, T. & Chockalingam, N. 2014, "Severity of pronation and classification of first metatarsophalangeal joint dorsiflexion increases the validity of the Hubscher Manoeuvre for the diagnosis of functional hallux limitus", Foot (Edinburgh, Scotland), vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 62-65.

Gatt, A., Formosa, C. & Chockalingam, N. 2014, "Prevalence of limited joint mobility and forefoot deformities in people with Type2 diabetes in Malta", .

Formosa, C., Cassar, K., Gatt, A., Mizzi, A., Mizzi, S., Camileri, K.P., Azzopardi, C., DeRaffaele, C., Falzon, O., Cristina, S. & Chockalingam, N. 2013, "Hidden dangers revealed by misdiagnosed peripheral arterial disease using ABPI measurement", Diabetes research and clinical practice, vol. 102, no. 2, pp. 112-116.

Formosa, C., Gatt, A. & Chockalingam, N. 2013, "The importance of clinical biomechanical assessment of foot deformity and joint mobility in people living with type-2 diabetes within a primary care setting", Primary Care Diabetes, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 45-50.

Gatt, A. & Chockalingam, N. 2013, "Validity and reliability of a new ankle dorsiflexion measurement device", Prosthetics and orthotics international, vol. 37, no. 4, pp. 289-297.

Scalpello, A., Gatt, A. & Chockalingam, N. 2013, "A pilot comparison of forefoot plantar pressures in newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients and non-rheumatic subjects", Foot (Edinburgh, Scotland), vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 120-122.

Formosa, C., Gatt, A. & Chockalingam, N. 2012, "Diabetic foot complications in Malta: Prevalence of risk factors", The Foot, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 294-297.

Formosa, C., Gatt, A. & Chockalingam, N. 2012, "The importance of diabetes foot education in a primary care setting", Journal of Diabetes Nursing, vol. 16, no. 10, pp. 410-414.

Formosa, C., Gatt, A. & Chockalingam, N. 2012, "Screening for peripheral vascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes in Malta in a primary care setting", Quality in primary care, vol. 20, no. 6, pp. 409-414.

Gatt, A. & Chockalingam, N. 2012, "The effect of uncontrolled moment and short-term, repeated passive stretching on maximum ankle joint dorsiflexion angle.", Foot, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 76-80.

Gatt, A. & Chockalingam, N. 2012, "Validity and reliability of a new anke dorsiflexion measurement device", Prosthetics and Orthotics international, , no. doi:10.1177/0309364612465886.

Gatt, A. 2012, Biomechanical Assessment of Passive Ankle Joint Complex Dorsiflexion Alfred Gatt 2013 thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement of Staffordshire University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Staffordshire University.

Gatt, A. & Chockalingam, N. 2012, "Assessment of Ankle Joint Dorsiflexion: An Overview.", Revista Internacional de Ciencias Podológicas, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 25.

Gatt, A. & Chockalingam, N. 2012, "Exploracion de la flexion dorsal del tobillo: una revision", Revista Internacional de Ciencias Podologicas, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 25-30.

Gatt, A. & Chockalingam, N. 2011, "Clinical Assessment of Ankle Joint Dorsiflexion", Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, vol. 101, no. 1, pp. 59-69.

Gatt, A., Chockalingam, N. & Chevalier, T.L. 2011, "Sagittal plane kinematics of the foot during passive ankle dorsiflexion", Prosthetics and orthotics international, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 425-431.

__LecturingPortfolio
As chairperson of the Diabetes Foot Research Group, Alfred is involved in a new research initiative involving the use of thermography
as a possible diagnostic and prognostic clinic tool in diabetic feet.

http://www.um.edu.mt/healthsciences/diabetesfootresearch

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