None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world, affecting over 8% of the global population and is associated with a life-time risk of foot ulcers of 12-25%. Foot ulcers lead to high morbidity, increased associated healthcare costs and are the most important risk factor for lower extremity amputation. Elevated forefoot plantar pressure is a risk factor for foot ulceration and has been linked to reduced ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (equinus) in people with diabetes. Calf muscle stretching has been demonstrated to improve ankle joint range of motion across both the young and older adult healthy populations, and a pilot trial has demonstrated a reduction in plantar pressures following range of motion exercises in people with diabetes. Calf muscle stretching may be a simple, non-invasive and inexpensive method of increasing ankle joint range of motion resulting in decreased plantar pressures and a reduced risk of plantar ulceration in people with diabetes. The aims of this trial are 1) To determine if an 8 week calf stretching intervention will be effective in increasing ankle joint range of motion in people with diabetes and ankle equinus. 2) To determine if an increased ankle joint range of motion in people with diabetes and ankle equinus results in an associated reduction in forefoot plantar pressures.
Interventions
8 week home based stretching program.
The stretching program will consist of a standing static lunge calf stretch, which will be held for 30 seconds and repeated 4 times on each leg during each session. Participants will be required to perform one stretching session per day, five days a week, for the eight week trial period.
Participants will complete a daily stretch diary to record how often they did the stretches.
Sponsors
University of Newcastle
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
a) reduced ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (equinus) defined as ankle dorsiflexion range of motion of less than or equal to five degrees b) males and females 18 years of age and over c) with a diagnosis of diabetes confirmed by medical records d) able to speak and read basic English
Exclusion criteria
a) current foot ulcer b) any amputation in the lower limb c) any self-reported neurological condition (other than loss of sensation due to diabetes) that may affect the lower limb such as multiple sclerosis, stroke or polio d) surgery to the foot or lower limb involving fixation of a joint e) any condition precluding the participant from taking part in the foot pressure assessment or ankle stretching program, such as not being able to walk 8m unaided f) pregnancy
Outcome results
None listed