Investigation of the Effect of Foot Muscle Fatigue on the Foot Sole and Tendon Structural Properties

NCT06025266 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 11-959
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 19
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

In healthy individuals, fatigue in the foot muscles increases the load and stress on the feet. The extrinsic muscles of the foot, which investigators aimed to create fatigue in this study, are closely related anatomically and functionally to the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon. Considering that fatigue or weakness of the foot extrinsic muscles is an important risk factor for foot-ankle pathologies, it is important to reveal the relationship with the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon in healthy sedentary individuals and to determine mechanical properties of the feet of the participants to prevent possible foot injuries. Therefore, the aim of this study is to show the acute effects of fatigue in the extrinsic muscles of the foot on the viscoelastic properties of the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon. The study was completed with 19 people who met the inclusion criteria. Before starting the study, the dominant foot of the participants was determined, physical activity level was determined, foot posture index and foot posture were evaluated, navicular height and fall distance of the foot were measured, m.gastrocnemius shortness was measured with the Silfverskiöld test, flexibility was evaluated with a baseline sitting bench, tendon and fascia measurements were made with the MyotonPRO device. After the measurements, the participant was trained to perform the heel raise exercise. When the exercise was completed, the participant's foot Myoton measurements were repeated. One week later, pre-exercise Myoton measurement was performed, then the participant was trained for the foot adduction exercise. When the exercise was completed, the participant's foot Myotone measurements were repeated. In another week, pre-exercise Myotone measurement was performed, then heel raising and foot adduction exercises were performed sequentially. When the exercise was completed, the participant's foot Myoton measurements were repeated.

Conditions

Healthy Participants

Keywords

viscoelastic properties; MyotonPRO; fatigue; plantar fascia; Achilles tendon

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Biomechanical and viscoelastic properties of tissue

  Biomechanical and viscoelastic properties of AT and PF were performed using MyotonPro™ (Myoton AS, Tallinn, Estonia) device. Before and immediately after the application of the fatigue protocol, AT and PF measurements were made separately with the MyotonPro™ device. The measurement points determined for AT and PF of individuals during rest were marked with a medical marker pen (16). The measurement points of each person and their distances to the anatomical points were measured with the help of a tape measure and recorded in their files to find the same point again. During the measurement, the probe of the device was adjusted to pulse once into the skin with a force of 0.4 N and for 15 ms. During the test, the tip of the MyotonPro™ device was placed perpendicular to the marked area and gently pressed against the skin at a depth of 3 mm until the green light came on.

  3 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Identifying the Dominant Foot

  1 day

• Physical Activity Level

  1 day

• Sit-Reach Test

  1 day

• Silfverskiold Test

  1 day

• Navicular Height

  1 day

Study Arms (3)

Unilateral Heel Raise

EXPERIMENTAL

Muscle fatigue was created by exercise consisting of a combination of repetitive plantar flexion and dorsiflexion movements performed during the entire range of motion of the ankle at the frequency of movement determined by the metronome on one step.

Device: Evaluation of Viscoelastic and mechanical properties with MyotonPRO

Closed Chain Resisted Foot Adduction

EXPERIMENTAL

The exercise was performed on the designed wooden assembly. The device was used to maintain the neutral position of the subtalar joint, stabilize the lateral and medial malleoli, and prevent compensation with the knee and hip joints. Individuals were seated with the knee flexed approximately 80 degrees and separated from the other extremity by the length of the forearm, and the contralateral knee was stabilized with the ipsilateral hand. The foot was brought from the abduction position to the adduction position and the heel was not lifted from the ground throughout the movement. The exercise was performed using a green elastic band.The movement was performed in sets of 50 concentric/eccentric contractions. A rest period of 10 seconds was added between each set.

Device: Evaluation of Viscoelastic and mechanical properties with MyotonPRO

Combined Exercise

EXPERIMENTAL

Unilateral Heel Raise and Closed Chain Resisted Foot Adduction exercises were performed sequentially.

Device: Evaluation of Viscoelastic and mechanical properties with MyotonPRO

Interventions

Evaluation of Viscoelastic and mechanical properties with MyotonPRO DEVICE

MyotonPro™, a handheld, non-invasive and painless device, is used for non-invasive measurement of the biomechanical and viscoelastic properties of soft biological tissues such as superficial skeletal muscles, fascia, tendons and ligaments. The properties of the structures can be measured from different regions during complete rest or contraction.

Closed Chain Resisted Foot Adduction; Combined Exercise; Unilateral Heel Raise

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Only males were included, as sex hormones could affect the structural properties of soft tissues such as muscle and fascia.
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Agreeing to participate in the study voluntarily
• Being a healthy, sedentary male individual between the ages of 18 and 35
• Being in categories 1 and 2 according to the International Physical Activity Survey (UFAA)
• Having a normal Body Mass Index (BMI) (18.5 kg/m2 ≤ BMI ≤24.9 kg/m2)
• Having a neutral foot posture (\<6 points in the Foot Posture Index)

You may not qualify if:

• Refusing to participate in the study or wanting to leave the study
• Having a history of previous surgery in the lower extremity
• Being diagnosed with a musculoskeletal disease
• Having any chronic disease (hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, rheumatism, etc.)
• Having a skin lesion in the area to be measured
• Significant weakness in the lower extremity gross muscle test
• Any limitation in the normal range of motion of the lower extremity
• Having any deformity in the foot (pes planus, pes cavus, hallux valgus)
• Navicular drop distance ≥10 mm
• Limitation in the range of motion of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint (hallux rigidus-limitus)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Simge Dönmez: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Health Sciences

Istanbul, Uskudar, 34862, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Fatigue

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Simge Dönmez

  Kütahya Health Sciences University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Fatmagül Varol

  Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Physiotherapist

Model Details: The same 19 people were seen 3 times to evaluate.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 29, 2023
• First Posted: September 6, 2023
• Study Start: October 20, 2022
• Primary Completion: November 5, 2022
• Study Completion: January 23, 2023
• Last Updated: September 11, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)