Short Foot Exercise Incorporating the Foot Core System Paradigm on Clinical Trials for the Patients with Stroke

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify the correlations between activated foot intrinsic muscles through short foot exercise incorporated the foot core system paradigm and muscle tension, gait speeds, and range of motion in affected ankle for the patients with stroke. Methods Conventional therapeutic exercise group (N=17) was instructed to do conventional therapeutic exercise with physical therapists to increase strengthening of the leg muscles and for proprioceptive training for 6 weeks, 90 minutes/day, 5 day/week. Short foot exercise with conventional therapeutic exercise group (N=17) was assigned to do the same program plus short foot exercise to improve activation of foot intrinsic muscles. The level of muscle tension was measured by electromyography, ankle range of motion was measured by digital goniometer, and gait speed was measured by 10 meter walk test. Results There were significant differences between conventional therapeutic exercise group and short foot exercise with conventional therapeutic exercise group in muscle tension and fast velocity (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences between conventional therapeutic exercise group and short foot exercise with conventional therapeutic exercise group in affected and non affected range of motion (p>0.05). Conclusion Short Foot Exercise combined with conventional therapeutic exercise program appeared to show positive effects in muscle tension in stop standing and fast velocity in gait cycle except range of motion in ankle dorsiflexion.