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The Effect of Physiotherapy on Lower Extremity Function and Gait in Children with Isolated Gastrocnemius Muscle Tightness

NCT06678139 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 30

Last updated 2025-03-26

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Since the gastrocnemius muscle crosses both joints, the joint kinematics of the ankle are affected by knee flexion. According to the Kendall \& McCreary assessment of normal joint motion angles, the generally accepted normal range of motion for ankle dorsiflexion is 20° when the knee joint is in extension and can approach 30° when the knee joint is flexed due to relaxation of the gastrocnemius. In the mid-stance phase of gait, it is observed that the ankle joint allows 8-10° dorsi flexion movement.

In this study, a minimum 13° increase in dorsiflexion with knee flexion compared to dorsiflexion with knee extension will be considered as isolated gastrocnemius muscle tightness. Isolated gastrocnemius muscle tightness has been associated with many biomechanical changes such as pes planus, talar equinus, hindfoot pronation and symptoms such as plantar fasciitis, leg pain, metatarsalgia, achilles tendinopathy by compensatory effects on the lower extremity and foot during gait. The association of increased hindfoot pronation with isolated gastrocnemius tightness has been shown in many studies. Regardless of the etiology of pronation of the hindfoot, there will be adaptive isolated gastrocnemius tightness with talar plantar flexion. Isolated gastrocnemius tightness, which causes plantar flexion in the ankle joint and pronation in the subtalar joint, also prevents the distribution of the load to the base of the foot within normal limits during weight bearing. However, no study investigating the effect of physiotherapy program on function and gait has been encountered. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a physiotherapy program on lower extremity function and gait in children with isolated gastrocnemius muscle tightness.

Conditions

  • Lower Extremity Biomechanics
  • Gastrocnemius Tightness
  • Pes Planovalgus

Interventions

OTHER

physiotherapy

Bilateral gastrosoleus stretching, iliopsoas and hamstring stretching (if a shortness is detected), foot intrinsic and extrinsic muscle strengthening, lower extremity muscle strengthening and parkour walking training will be performed. Therapeutic exercises will be performed once a week for 12 weeks under the supervision of a physiotherapist. Parents will be asked to follow a 12-week home exercise program at home during the five days. The home exercise program will include the exercises performed in the pediatric physiotherapy and research laboratory. Parents will be instructed to perform each exercise twice a day at home. Children will be given a weekly exercise diary to increase adherence to the exercise program.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Bezmialem Vakif University

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
4 Years
Max Age
10 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2024-10-20
Primary Completion
2025-03-22
Completion
2025-03-22

Countries

  • Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06678139 on ClinicalTrials.gov