Stretching and Eccentric Exercises Normalize Gait Parameters in Gastrocnemius Tightness Subjects
Background: Isolated gastrocnemius tightness (IGT) is a prevalent condition linked to various foot pathologies. In a previous quantitative gait analysis study, we identified an increase in knee flexion during the midstance phase in IGT patients compared with controls. Although stretching and eccentr...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/22/12494 |
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| author | Amine Hamza Lucas Martinez Riccardo Sacco Thomas Amouyel Eric Held Julien Beldame Fabien Billuart Matthieu Lalevée |
| author_facet | Amine Hamza Lucas Martinez Riccardo Sacco Thomas Amouyel Eric Held Julien Beldame Fabien Billuart Matthieu Lalevée |
| author_sort | Amine Hamza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Isolated gastrocnemius tightness (IGT) is a prevalent condition linked to various foot pathologies. In a previous quantitative gait analysis study, we identified an increase in knee flexion during the midstance phase in IGT patients compared with controls. Although stretching and eccentric exercises (the Stanish protocol) are commonly used for IGT management, their impact on gait parameters remains poorly understood. This study aimed to assess the influence of a Stanish protocol on gait parameters in bilateral IGT subjects. Methods: We enrolled 10 asymptomatic bilateral IGT subjects and 10 controls. Quantitative gait analysis and dynamic baropodometry were carried out on each subject. A Stanish protocol was applied for 4 weeks (five sessions/week) by the IGT group, followed by a similar gait analysis. The ankle and knee range of motion and foot pressure distribution were assessed during the midstance phase of the gait. Results: An increase in knee flexion was initially present in the IGT group compared with controls (8.9 +/− 4.6 vs. 3.4 +/− 2.3 degrees, <i>p</i> < 0.001). There was no difference in the ankle range of motion and foot pressures between the groups at that time. Significant reductions in knee flexion during gait were observed in the IGT subjects after the Stanish protocol (8.9 +/− 4.6 to 3.7 +/− 2.3 degrees, <i>p</i> < 0.001) with a normalization of this parameter (3.4 +/− 2.3 in controls vs. 3.7 +/− 2.3 degrees in IGT, <i>p</i> = 0.72). There was no change in ankle range of motion and foot pressure after the Stanish protocol. Conclusions: Our findings support the effectiveness of the Stanish protocol in reducing knee flexion and normalizing gait in IGT subjects. This protocol not only offers a noninvasive approach for IGT-related issues management but could also enable prophylactic care in asymptomatic cases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:02:42Z |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:02:42Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
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| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-9bf1cd42d8254bfe940be51cea670da32023-11-24T14:28:09ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-11-0113221249410.3390/app132212494Stretching and Eccentric Exercises Normalize Gait Parameters in Gastrocnemius Tightness SubjectsAmine Hamza0Lucas Martinez1Riccardo Sacco2Thomas Amouyel3Eric Held4Julien Beldame5Fabien Billuart6Matthieu Lalevée7Service d’orthopédie Traumatologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rouen, 37 Boulevard Gambetta, 76000 Rouen, FranceLaboratoire d’Analyse du Mouvement, Institut de Formation en Masso-Kinésithérapie Saint Michel, 75015 Paris, FranceService d’orthopédie Traumatologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rouen, 37 Boulevard Gambetta, 76000 Rouen, FranceService de Chirurgie Orthopédique 1, Hopital Roger-Salengro, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire, 59037 Lille, FranceClinique Mathilde 2, Orthodynamica, 76100 Rouen, FranceClinique Blomet, Ramsay Santé, 136 Rue Blomet, 75015 Paris, FranceUnité de Recherche ERPHAN, UR 20201, Université de Versailles Saint Quentin, 78000 Versailles, FranceService d’orthopédie Traumatologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rouen, 37 Boulevard Gambetta, 76000 Rouen, FranceBackground: Isolated gastrocnemius tightness (IGT) is a prevalent condition linked to various foot pathologies. In a previous quantitative gait analysis study, we identified an increase in knee flexion during the midstance phase in IGT patients compared with controls. Although stretching and eccentric exercises (the Stanish protocol) are commonly used for IGT management, their impact on gait parameters remains poorly understood. This study aimed to assess the influence of a Stanish protocol on gait parameters in bilateral IGT subjects. Methods: We enrolled 10 asymptomatic bilateral IGT subjects and 10 controls. Quantitative gait analysis and dynamic baropodometry were carried out on each subject. A Stanish protocol was applied for 4 weeks (five sessions/week) by the IGT group, followed by a similar gait analysis. The ankle and knee range of motion and foot pressure distribution were assessed during the midstance phase of the gait. Results: An increase in knee flexion was initially present in the IGT group compared with controls (8.9 +/− 4.6 vs. 3.4 +/− 2.3 degrees, <i>p</i> < 0.001). There was no difference in the ankle range of motion and foot pressures between the groups at that time. Significant reductions in knee flexion during gait were observed in the IGT subjects after the Stanish protocol (8.9 +/− 4.6 to 3.7 +/− 2.3 degrees, <i>p</i> < 0.001) with a normalization of this parameter (3.4 +/− 2.3 in controls vs. 3.7 +/− 2.3 degrees in IGT, <i>p</i> = 0.72). There was no change in ankle range of motion and foot pressure after the Stanish protocol. Conclusions: Our findings support the effectiveness of the Stanish protocol in reducing knee flexion and normalizing gait in IGT subjects. This protocol not only offers a noninvasive approach for IGT-related issues management but could also enable prophylactic care in asymptomatic cases.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/22/12494gastrocnemius tightnessStanish protocolgait analysisstretchingeccentric exercisefoot pathologies |
| spellingShingle | Amine Hamza Lucas Martinez Riccardo Sacco Thomas Amouyel Eric Held Julien Beldame Fabien Billuart Matthieu Lalevée Stretching and Eccentric Exercises Normalize Gait Parameters in Gastrocnemius Tightness Subjects Applied Sciences gastrocnemius tightness Stanish protocol gait analysis stretching eccentric exercise foot pathologies |
| title | Stretching and Eccentric Exercises Normalize Gait Parameters in Gastrocnemius Tightness Subjects |
| title_full | Stretching and Eccentric Exercises Normalize Gait Parameters in Gastrocnemius Tightness Subjects |
| title_fullStr | Stretching and Eccentric Exercises Normalize Gait Parameters in Gastrocnemius Tightness Subjects |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stretching and Eccentric Exercises Normalize Gait Parameters in Gastrocnemius Tightness Subjects |
| title_short | Stretching and Eccentric Exercises Normalize Gait Parameters in Gastrocnemius Tightness Subjects |
| title_sort | stretching and eccentric exercises normalize gait parameters in gastrocnemius tightness subjects |
| topic | gastrocnemius tightness Stanish protocol gait analysis stretching eccentric exercise foot pathologies |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/22/12494 |
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