J Korean Foot Ankle Soc.  2008 Jun;12(1):47-54.

The Effect of the Combined Stretching and Strengthening Exercise on the Clinical Symptoms in Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction Patient

• Jeong TH
• Oh JK
• Lee HJ
• Yang YJ
• Nha KW
• Suh JS

Abstract

PURPOSE
The isolated exercise therapy and its effect for the treatment of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD) is not well known. The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical effect of stretching and strengthening exercise program on the patients' muscle function and range of motion, pain and gait in the management of the early stage PTTD.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From October 2006 to March 2007, 14 patients with early stage PTTD (stage I or IIa) without surgical intervention were randomly assigned into two groups and we analyzed their clinical results. All patients were female and one who have sprained the same ankle during the program and one who withdrew from the program due to her private reason were excluded. At the last, the exercise group (EG) was seven and the control group (CG) was five. Mann-Whitney U test was used for the comparison of pain, ROM, muscle power, AOFAS score and 5 minute walking test of both groups. Wilcoxon-signed rank test was used for the comparison between the pre and post exercise program in EG.
RESULTS
The pain was significantly reduced in EG compare to CG and only the dorsiflexion was significantly increased in EG in the analysis of ROM. The dorsi flexion and plantar flexion power were significantly increased in EG.
CONCLUSION
Our 6 weeks stretching and strengthening exercise program showed noticeably improved clinical result, and therefore it is recommended as one of the useful treatment option in the management of early stage PTTD.

Keyword

Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction; Strength exercise; Stretching; Isokinetic test

MeSH Terms

Animals
Ankle
Exercise Therapy
Female
Gait
Humans
Muscles
Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction
Range of Motion, Articular
Sprains and Strains
Walking