TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of a tendo-achilles lengthening procedure on muscle function and gait characteristics in a patient with diabetes mellitus
AU - Hastings, Mary Kent
AU - Mueller, Michael J.
AU - Sinacore, David R.
AU - Salsich, Gretchen B.
AU - Engsberg, Jack R.
AU - Johnson, Jeffrey E.
PY - 2000/2
Y1 - 2000/2
N2 - Study Design: Case report with repeated measures. Objectives: To describe the effects of a tendo-Achilles lengthening (TAL) and total contact casting (TCC) on wound healing, motion, plantar pressure, and function in a patient with diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, neuropathic ulcer, and limited dorsiflexion range of motion (DFROM). Background: Limited DFROM has been associated with increased forefoot pressures and skin breakdown. A TAL was expected to increase DFROM and reduce forefoot pressures during walking, but the influence on muscle performance and function was unknown. Methods and Measures: The patient was a 42-year-old man with a 20-year history of type 1 diabetes (NIDDM) and a recurrent neuropathic plantar ulcer. Outcome measures were DFROM, isokinetic plantar flexor muscle peak torque, in-shoe and barefoot peak plantar pressure, physical performance test (PPT) score, and peak ankle and hip moments during walking obtained from an automated gait analysis. All tests were completed pre-TAL, 8 weeks post-TAL (after immobilization in a TCC), and 7 months post-TAL. Results: The wound healed in 40 days. The TAL resulted in a sustained increase in DFROM (0 to 18°). Plantar flexor peak torque was reduced by 21% 8 weeks after the TAL compared with the torque before surgery but recovered fully at 7 months. Seven months following TAL, in-shoe forefoot peak plantar pressure was reduced by 55%, barefoot pressure decreased by 14%, PPT score increased by 24%, peak ankle plantar flexor moment remained decreased by 30%, and the peak hip flexor moment increased by 41% during walking. Conclusion: For this patient, a TAL resulted in short-term deficits in peak plantar flexor torque, but a 7-month follow-up showed improvements in ankle DFROM, walking ability, and a decrease in forefoot in-shoe peak plantar pressure.
AB - Study Design: Case report with repeated measures. Objectives: To describe the effects of a tendo-Achilles lengthening (TAL) and total contact casting (TCC) on wound healing, motion, plantar pressure, and function in a patient with diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, neuropathic ulcer, and limited dorsiflexion range of motion (DFROM). Background: Limited DFROM has been associated with increased forefoot pressures and skin breakdown. A TAL was expected to increase DFROM and reduce forefoot pressures during walking, but the influence on muscle performance and function was unknown. Methods and Measures: The patient was a 42-year-old man with a 20-year history of type 1 diabetes (NIDDM) and a recurrent neuropathic plantar ulcer. Outcome measures were DFROM, isokinetic plantar flexor muscle peak torque, in-shoe and barefoot peak plantar pressure, physical performance test (PPT) score, and peak ankle and hip moments during walking obtained from an automated gait analysis. All tests were completed pre-TAL, 8 weeks post-TAL (after immobilization in a TCC), and 7 months post-TAL. Results: The wound healed in 40 days. The TAL resulted in a sustained increase in DFROM (0 to 18°). Plantar flexor peak torque was reduced by 21% 8 weeks after the TAL compared with the torque before surgery but recovered fully at 7 months. Seven months following TAL, in-shoe forefoot peak plantar pressure was reduced by 55%, barefoot pressure decreased by 14%, PPT score increased by 24%, peak ankle plantar flexor moment remained decreased by 30%, and the peak hip flexor moment increased by 41% during walking. Conclusion: For this patient, a TAL resulted in short-term deficits in peak plantar flexor torque, but a 7-month follow-up showed improvements in ankle DFROM, walking ability, and a decrease in forefoot in-shoe peak plantar pressure.
KW - Dorsiflexion range of motion
KW - Peak plantar pressure
KW - Physical performance test
KW - Plantar flexor moment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033952842&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2519/jospt.2000.30.2.85
DO - 10.2519/jospt.2000.30.2.85
M3 - Article
C2 - 10693086
AN - SCOPUS:0033952842
VL - 30
SP - 85
EP - 90
JO - Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy
JF - Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy
SN - 0190-6011
IS - 2
ER -