None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
We hypothesized that neuromuscular stretching applied to cavus feet with radiological angles with values that show a tendency away from normal can be changed to those of a normal foot architecture. In the foot, to measure the height of the plantar arch, a weight-bearing lateral radiograph is used on which one of the angles that can be drawn is the Internal Moreau-Costa-Bertani angle. When this angle is less than or equal to 125 degrees, the foot is classified as cavus. Objective: This study seeks to determine whether, through neuromuscular stretching applied to the sole, radiological angles with values that show a tendency away from normal can be changed to those of a normal foot architecture. Methods: 34 subjects with pes cavus underwent neuromuscular stretching of the sole of their dominant foot using a TENS MED 931 device. Measurements were made of the Internal Moreau-Costa-Bertani (IMCB), the first metatarsal declination (DImtt), and calcaneal pitch (VC, verticalization of the calcaneus) angles before, immediately after, and one week after applying the stretching technique. Results: The radiographic measurements showed significant changes in the IMCB, DImtt, and VC angles (p=0.03; p=0.019; p=0.041, respectively), and these were maintained one week after the intervention. The DImtt angle was that with changes that were more strongly correlated with the IMCB angle (r=-0.77). Conclusion: Neuromuscular stretching in pes cavus opens the plantar arch as measured by the IMCB angle, and reduces the inclination of the first metatarsal and the calcaneus relative to the ground.
Interventions
First we diagnosed pes cavus from a -bearing lateral radiography of both feet. The radiological angles were measured using the AutoCad'Registered Trademark'(AutoCad 2007) software package.
The electrotherapy instrument used to provoke the stretching of the fascia and of the intrinsic muscles of the foot was the TENS MED 931'Registered Trademark'(Enraf-Nonius, Rotterdam, Netherlands). The neuromuscular stretching was carried out on the subject's dominant foot. The contralateral foot was the c
First we diagnosed pes cavus from a -bearing lateral radiography of both feet. The radiological angles were measured using the AutoCad'Registered Trademark'(AutoCad 2007) software package. The electrotherapy instrument used to provoke the stretching of the fascia and of the intrinsic muscles of the foot was the TENS MED 931'Registered Trademark'(Enraf-Nonius, Rotterdam, Netherlands). The neuromuscular stretching was carried out on the subject's dominant foot. The contralateral foot was the control. To stretch the fascia and intrinsic muscles through electrical stimulation, the stimulating electrodes were put in place and the subject stood on one leg, holding on to a bar to keep steady. The current intensity was increased until we observed contraction of the toes (besides, the current intensity depends on the threshold of tolerance of each subject) At that point we stopped increasing the current. When relaxation of the toes was evident to the examiner, the intensity of the current was again increased until there was another toe contraction. This procedure was repeated thrice as is established for post-isometric muscle relaxation procedures. The duration of the stretching varied from subject to subject, but ranged from 2 to 5 minutes. Post-intervention radiographic measurements were performed immediately after the completion of the neuromuscular technique, following the protocol described above. To evaluate the short-term effects, these measurements were repeated one week after the intervention.
Sponsors
University of Sevilla (Spain)
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
(I) having pes cavus. For this criterion, a weight-bearing lateral radiograph was taken of the dominant foot, measuring the Internal Moreau-Costa-Bertani angle, with pes cavus corresponding to a value greater than 125 degrees.
Exclusion criteria
(I)having a degenerative musculoskeletal, tumoral, or systemic disease (II)having undergone foot surgery III)having received manual foot treatment of some sort in the four weeks prior to the study (IV)using orthopodiatric treatment for pes cavus (V)having had serious trauma to the foot.
Outcome results
None listed