Plantar Fasya Mekaniği Üzerinde Alet Destekli Germe Tekniğinin Etkilerinin Değerlendirilmesi: Randomize Kontrollü Pilot Çalışma

Öz

Amaç: Ayak-ayak bileği patolojilerinin rehabilitasyonunda yaygın olarak kullanılan yöntemlerden biri germe egzersizleridir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, tasarlanan yeni bir cihaz desteği ile uygulanan farklı germe egzersizlerinin sağlıklı bireylerde plantar fasya sertliği üzerine etkinliğinin incelenmesidir. Yöntem: Ondokuz sağlıklı katılımcı ile çift kör, randomize kontrollü bir çalışma yürütüldü. Katılımcılar plantar fasyaya özgü germe (PFSS) ve Aşil tendonu germe (ATS) olmak üzere iki gruba ayrıldı. Tüm katılımcılar, özel olarak tasarlanmış bir alet kullanarak dominant bacaklarında (PFSS veya ATS) germe egzersizlerini yaparken, dominant olmayan bacakları aletsiz şekilde gerildi. Plantar fasya sertliği, müdahale öncesi ve sonrası bir myotonometre ile ölçüldü. Her germe seansı, 10 saniye süreyle 10 tekrardan oluşuyordu. İstatistiksel analizde gruplar arası karşılaştırmalarda Mann-Whitney U testi, gruplar içindeki müdahale öncesi ve sonrası farkları değerlendirmek için Wilcoxon işaretli sıralama testi kullanıldı. Bulgular: Cihaz destekli germe, hem PFSS (p=0,008) hem de ATS (p=0,005) gruplarında cihaz desteksiz (geleneksel) germe tekniklerine kıyasla plantar fasya sertliğinde anlamlı bir artışa yol açtı (p<0,05). Cihaz destekli veya cihaz desteksiz yapılan PFSS ve ATS arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark gözlenmedi (p>0,05). Sonuç: Bu ön çalışma, yeni tasarlanmış cihazın plantar fasyaya yönelik germe müdahalelerinin etkinliğini artırma potansiyeline sahip olduğunu göstermektedir. Cihaz destekli germe tekniklerinin rehabilitasyon planlarına dahil edilmesi, gelecekteki klinik uygulamaları potansiyel olarak destekleyebilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Aşil tendonu
• elastisite
• fasya
• kas germe egzersizleri

Evaluating the Effects of an Instrument-Assisted Stretching Technique on Plantar Fascia Mechanics: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Abstract

Aim: Stretching exercises are a widely employed method in the rehabilitation of foot-ankle pathologies. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of various stretching exercises, implemented with the aid of a newly designed device, on plantar fascia stiffness in healthy individuals. Method: A double-blind randomized controlled pilot trial was conducted with nineteen healthy participants. Participants were divided into two groups: plantar fascia-specific stretching (PFSS) and Achilles tendon stretching (ATS). All participants performed the stretching exercises (PFSS or ATS) on their dominant leg using a specially designed instrument, while the non-dominant leg was stretched without it. Plantar fascia stiffness was measured with a myotonometer before and after the intervention. Each stretching session included 10 repetitions, held for 10 seconds. The Mann–Whitney U test was used for between-group comparisons, while the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to analyze within-group pre- and post-stretch differences. Results: Instrument-assisted stretching resulted in a significant increase in plantar fascia stiffness compared to traditional (non-instrument) stretching techniques in both PFSS (p=0.008) and ATS groups (p=0.005). No statistically significant differences were observed between PFSS and ATS with or without the instrument (p>0.05). Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that the novel instrument has the potential to enhance the effectiveness of stretching interventions for the plantar fascia. Incorporating instrument-assisted stretching techniques into rehabilitation plans may support future clinical applications.

Keywords

• Achilles tendon
• elasticity
• fascia
• muscle stretching exercises

Kaynakça

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