<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><italic>Study aim</italic>: It is important for therapists to incorporate new practical methods into therapy programs when they have demonstrable efficacy in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Investigating the acute effects of myofascial release techniques (MFR) and passive stretching (PS) on hind foot loading and the severity of spasticity in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) was the aim of the study.<italic>Material and methods</italic>: Following the initial evaluation, 10 participants with MS (n = 20 feet) were given MFR for the plantar flexor muscle group. After the day following the first visit, participants were asked to come again and PS was applied to the plantar flexor muscle groups after the evaluation. The severity of spasticity was assessed with the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). Dynamic loading parameters of the hind foot – medial and lateral maximum pressure (N/cm2), active contact areas (cm2), contact percentiles (%) – were evaluated with dynamic pedobarography. Participants of the study were evaluated four times: (1) at the initial evaluation, (2) after MFR application, (3) 24 hours after the initial evaluation (pre-PS), (4) after PS.<italic>Results</italic>: There were no differences in MAS (p > 0.05) according to time-dependent analyses (p > 0.05). After MFR, the maximum pressure of the medial heel and active contact area were increased (p &lt; 0.05) and there was a carryover effect on the maximum pressure of the right foot.<italic>Conclusions</italic>: This study showed that MFR was an effective method for management of plantar flexor spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis in the short term and there was a carryover effect in favor of MFR. There was no additional effect of PS.</abstract>

Study aim: It is important for therapists to incorporate new practical methods into therapy programs when they have demonstrable efficacy in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Investigating the acute effects of myofascial release techniques (MFR) and passive stretching (PS) on hind foot loading and the severity of spasticity in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) was the aim of the study.Material and methods: Following the initial evaluation, 10 participants with MS (n = 20 feet) were given MFR for the plantar flexor muscle group. After the day following the first visit, participants were asked to come again and PS was applied to the plantar flexor muscle groups after the evaluation. The severity of spasticity was assessed with the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). Dynamic loading parameters of the hind foot – medial and lateral maximum pressure (N/cm2), active contact areas (cm2), contact percentiles (%) – were evaluated with dynamic pedobarography. Participants of the study were evaluated four times: (1) at the initial evaluation, (2) after MFR application, (3) 24 hours after the initial evaluation (pre-PS), (4) after PS.Results: There were no differences in MAS (p > 0.05) according to time-dependent analyses (p > 0.05). After MFR, the maximum pressure of the medial heel and active contact area were increased (p < 0.05) and there was a carryover effect on the maximum pressure of the right foot.Conclusions: This study showed that MFR was an effective method for management of plantar flexor spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis in the short term and there was a carryover effect in favor of MFR. There was no additional effect of PS.

Comparing the acute effect of myofascial release techniques and passive stretching on hind foot dynamic loading in patients with multiple sclerosis: A cohort-blinded study

Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences

Biomedical Human Kinetics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Study aim: It is important for therapists to incorporate new practical methods into therapy programs when they have demonstrable efficacy in the treatment of...

Comparing the acute effect of myofascial release techniques and passive stretching on hind foot dynamic loading in patients with multiple sclerosis: A cohort-blinded study

Published Online: Feb 24, 2020

Page range: 51 - 58

Received: Mar 28, 2019

Accepted: Feb 11, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bhk-2020-0007

Keywords
Multiple sclerosis, Musculoskeletal manipulations, Plantar pressure distribution, Gait

© 2020 Ayla Fil Balkan et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Comparing the acute effect of myofascial release techniques and passive stretching on hind foot dynamic loading in patients with multiple sclerosis: A cohort-blinded study

Published Online: Feb 24, 2020

Page range: 51 - 58

Received: Mar 28, 2019

Accepted: Feb 11, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bhk-2020-0007

KeywordsMultiple sclerosis, Musculoskeletal manipulations, Plantar pressure distribution, Gait

© 2020 Ayla Fil Balkan et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Multiple sclerosis, Musculoskeletal manipulations, Plantar pressure distribution, Gait