• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.92-98
• /
• 2019

Forefoot disorders are often seen in clinical practice. Forefoot deformity and pain can deteriorate gait function and decrease quality of life. This review presents common forefoot disorders and conservative treatment using an insole or orthosis. Metatarsalgia is a painful foot condition affecting the metatarsal (MT) region of the foot. A MT pad, MT bar, or forefoot cushion can be used to alleviate MT pain. Hallux valgus is a deformity characterized by medial deviation of the first MT and lateral deviation of the hallux. A toe spreader, valgus splint, and bunion shield are commonly applied to patients with hallux valgus. Hallux limitus and hallux rigidus refer to painful limitations of dorsiflexion of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. A kinetic wedge foot orthosis or rocker sole can help relieve symptoms from hallux limitus or rigidus. Hammer, claw, and mallet toes are sagittal plane deformities of the lesser toes. Toe sleeve or padding can be applied over high-pressure areas in the proximal or distal interphalangeal joints or under the MT heads. An MT off-loading insole can also be used to alleviate symptoms following lesser toe deformities. Morton's neuroma is a benign neuroma of an intermetatarsal plantar nerve that leads to a painful condition affecting the MT area. The MT bar, the plantar pad, or a more cushioned insole would be useful. In addition, patients with any of the above various forefoot disorders should avoid tight-fitting or high-heeled shoes. Applying an insole or orthosis and wearing proper shoes can be beneficial for managing forefoot disorders.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.41-51
• /
• 2019

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of combined Joint Mobilization and Functional Electrical Stimulation on Muscle Activation and Mobility of ankle joints in stroke patients and their Modified Functional Reach Test (MFRT) results. METHODS: A total of 26 patients with stroke were randomly selected for enrollment in this study. (1) Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) (2) combined Joint Mobilization and FES. An EMG system was used to measure tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius activities. Range Of Motion (ROM) of Ankle Joint and MFRT for Dynamic Balance. Pre and post intervention results were compared by paired-t-tests and differences in changes after intervention between groups were identified by the independent t-test. RESULTS: The muscle activation, ROM, and MFRT differed significantly in the experimental group (p<.05). The ROM was significantly different for the active dorsiflexion pre and post intervention in the group that received FES alone (p<.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest use of a systematic program of proactive posture control to prevent dysfunction when planning interventions for ankle joints can help stroke patients walk efficiently.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.219-225
• /
• 2018

Objective: Epidemiological research shows that 47 to 73% of athletes suffer from recurrent ankle sprains. Joint mobilization techniques (JMT) implemented in correcting may be beneficial in the management of ankle injuries. The purpose of this study is to examine the immediate JM on ankle complex as clinical measures in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) through intervention. Method: Thirteen subjects with CAI (8 males and 5 females) participated in this study. Each subject tried total four alignments (Navicular drop test: NDT, Standing rearfoot angle: SRA, Tibia torsion: TT, and dorsiflexion range of motion: DFROM). The participants were performed the 10 meter shuttle run after JMT for post-task. Finally, it was tried to compare between pre-post tasks after shuttle run. Results: SRA and DFROM after intervention showed significant differences. SRA (p=.026), and DFROM (p=.034). Conclusion: We concluded that the JMT has resulted in improvement in SRA, DFROM. Increased DFROM and varus shapes of foot would be closed kinetic chain, indicating that reduce the risk factors of ankle sprain. Future study needs to be conducted in order to measure the effects of prolonged intervention of JMT.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.61-67
• /
• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study is to report the effect of balance training through various ankle inclination on dynamic balance in healthy adults. Methods: This study was participated in 20 healthy subjects. Twenty healthy adults were randomly divided into 10 ankle inclination group and 10 flat group, 3 kinds of exercised were performed in $30^{\circ}$ of the plantar flexion, $0^{\circ}$ of the neutral angle and $30^{\circ}$ of the dorsiflexion. Above 3 kinds of exercises were also performed in the flat group. Dynamic balance of each group was evaluated using a Figure-of-8 hop test, Up-down hop test, and Functional reach test before and after the experiment. Results: In the ankle inclination, the post-experiment showed a significant difference in Figure-of-8 hop test, Up-down hop test, and Functional reach test in comparison to pre-experiment(p<.05). Conclusion: The exercise applied in the ankle inclination is effective in improvement of the dynamic balance.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.189-195
• /
• 2021

Foot drop due to lumbar disc herniation is perceived to be an indication for surgery. A 44-year-old male presented with motor deficit in left ankle dorsiflexion along with radiating pain and paraesthesia. Motion Style Acupuncture Therapy (MSAT) was administered on the left side every other day. Acupuncture and Chuna were performed daily. Herbal medicine was taken 3 times a day. His symptoms rapidly improved throughout treatment, verified by decreased Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), increased 5-level EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D-5L) scores, and improved motor grades. We suggest that a combination of MSAT with traditional Korean medicine could be a favorable option for foot drop in LDH patients in terms of rapid pain reduction and the improvement of quality of life.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.1756-1762
• /
• 2019

Background: Functional ankle instability (FAI) indicating a decrease in muscle strength, proprioception, neuromuscular control, balance and postural control function. Objective: To investigate the effect of jumping exercise on the supporting surface on the ankle muscle thickness, proprioceptive sensation, and balance in adults with FAI. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Methods: Twenty young people with FAI were randomly assigned to the unstable supporting surface jump group (N=10) and the stable supporting surface jump group (N=10). The intervention was conducted three times a week for eight weeks, and for 30 minutes per session. Trampoline was used as an unstable support surface and the stable support surface was carried out on a regular floor. The thickness of the tibialis anterior muscle and medial gastrocnemius muscle was measured by ultrasonography, and the proprioception of dorsiflexion and plantarflexion was measured using an electrogoniometer. The dynamic balance was also measured with a balance meter. Results: The the muscle thickness of the medial gastrocnemius muscle was significantly higher in the stable supporting surface jump group than in the unstable supporting surface jump group (p<.05). Furthermore, the plantar flexion proprioception and dynamic balance were significantly improved in the unstable supporting surface jump group than in the stable supporting surface jump group in the intergroup comparison (p<.05). Conclusions: The conclusion has been reached in this study that the jumping exercise on the unstable supporting surface could be a more effective in improving FAI than the regular surface.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.79-86
• /
• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of reduced plantar cutaneous sensation on gait kinematics during walking with and without CAI. Method: A total of 20 subjects involved in this study and ten healthy subjects and 10 CAI subjects participated underwent ice-immersion of the plantar aspect of the feet before walking test in this study. The gait kinematics were measured before and after ice-immersion. Results: We observed a before ice-immersion on plantar cutaneous sensation, CAI subject were found to reduced ankle dorsiflexion, knee external rotation, hip adduction, and internal rotation compared to control subject. After ice-immersion, CAI subjects were found to reduce knee external rotation, hip adduction. However, no significant ankle joint kinematics. Conclusion: While walking, gait pattern differences were perceived between groups with and without plantar cutaneous sensation. The results of the study may explain the abductions in the hip angle movements in CAI patients at initial contact compared to healthy subjects in the control group when plantar cutaneous sensation was reduced. A change in proximal joint kinematics may be a conservative strategy to promote normal gait patterns in CAI patients.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.37-42
• /
• 2022

Objective: The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of the strength of the ankle support on the walking characteristics and ankle joints when men with flexible flat feet walk. Method: 13 adult male subjects (age: 23.9 ± 2.4 yrs, height: 173.0 ± 5.0 cm, weight: 76.9 ± 13.2 kg, Navicular Drop Test (NDT): 10.2 ± 0.8 mm) participated in this study. Each participant had to walk with the 3 conditions, barefoot, soft arch support and hard arch support, along a walkway while their kinematics was recorded at 100 Hz. Results: Based on the results of this study, it is considered that men with flexible flat feet should use hard arch support rather than bare feet to induce normal arch shape, relieve foot damage caused by excessive ankle joint abnormalities and improve stability. Conclusion: Our results for men with flat flexibility, there was a significant difference in the value of step length when walking was performed using two arch supports with different strengths. The angle of ankle dorsiflexion was significantly increased, and the ankle eversion angle was significantly decreased.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2023

PURPOSE: This study examined the immediate effects of applying ankle eversion taping using kinesiology tape in chronic stroke patients-design: a randomized cross-over trial. METHODS: Seventeen stroke patients underwent three interventions in random order. The subjects were initially assigned randomly to an ankle eversion taping, placebo taping, or no taping for each intervention. Ankle eversion taping was used for mechanical correction and was involved in ankle dorsiflexion and eversion. The tape was stretched by 30-40%. Placebo tapping was applied in the same form as eversion tapping but was not stretched. The balance ability was assessed using the Y-balance test. The gait ability was assessed by maximum foot pressure and time of stance phase, and gait speed was assessed using a 10 m walk test (10MWT). All measurements were performed immediately after the intervention. RESULTS: The results showed that the dynamic balance and stance phase time in chronic stroke patients was improved after ankle eversion taping. The ankle eversion taping conditions increased significantly (p < .05) compared to the placebo and no taping conditions. CONCLUSION: The application of ankle eversion taping that uses kinesiology tape instantly increased the gait ability of chronic stroke patients. On the other hand, more research will be needed to identify the long-term effects of ankle eversion taping.

• Journal of Fashion Business
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate impact of wearing low-level current wrist guards on pain scale, range of motion (ROM), and muscle strength in elderly women with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). Subjects were 12 elderly women aged between 65 and 85 years who were diagnosed with CTS symptoms. Measurements included grip strength and wrist ROM. Wrist ROM was assessed through flexion and dorsiflexion. Wrist guards were worn. After two weeks, pain level was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results showed a significant reduction in VAS score in the MES group after stimulation, whereas there was no difference in the control group. However, there was no significant difference in ROM between the MES group and the control group. Grip strength increased in the MES group after two weeks (p ≤ 0.001). In conclusion, clinical trials suggest that MES wrist guards might be provided as an adjunctive treatment method for CTS patients. This study provides foundational data for the design and use of auxiliary devices such as gloves in the field of MES research for pain reduction, ROM improvement, and muscle strength enhancement resulting from CTS.