The effect of adding plantar flexors isometric exercise on calf circumference in patient with post open reduction internal fixation non-articular tibia fracture

• Main Authors: Nasyaruddin Herry Taufik, Angela Bibiana Maria Tulaar, Ratna Darjanti Haryadi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: DiscoverSys 2020-04-01
• Series: Bali Medical Journal
• Subjects: isometric exercise, plantar flexor, calf circumference, tibia fracture
• Online Access: https://balimedicaljournal.org/index.php/bmj/article/view/1724

<p><strong>Background: </strong>Post-operative non-articular tibia fracture some problems that often occur include pain, muscles atrophy, muscles weakness, and joint stiffness that makes patients limited in their daily activities. Several factors that play a role in muscles atrophy and weakness prolonged immobilisation and lack of exercise. Plantar flexor isometric exercise might effectively prevent the problem. Not yet known the effect isometric exercise of plantar flexor on calf circumference in patients post open reduction internal fixation of tibia fractures, due to the lack of studies in this field. The aim of investigating the effect of isometric exercise plantar flexor on calf circumference in patients post open reduction internal fixation non-articular tibia fracture.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> Study design using an experimental model with pre-test and post-test control group design divided into two groups, group A obtained treatment of isometric exercises of the plantar flexor muscles, range of motion knee and ankle joint while group B obtained a range of motion knee and ankle joint. <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Results:</strong> Descriptive analysis in group A there were 13 (81.3%) samples which increased calf circumference and 3 (18.7%) samples did not change while group B there were 4 (25%) samples increased calf circumference, 1 (6%) sample did not change and 11 (69%) samples were reduced calf circumference. The study was found increase mean calf circumference in group A was 0.76 cm and reduction mean calf circumference group B was 0.44 cm. Independent samples differences with α of 0.05 and confidence interval 95% was obtained p-value = 0.003, which has shown there is a significant difference in increased calf circumference group A obtained isometric exercises plantar flexor compared to group B without isometric exercises plantar flexor in patients  post open reduction internal fixation of a non-articular tibia fracture. </p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong>: The study found plantar flexor isometric exercise in patients post open reduction internal fixation non- articular tibia fracture enhances calf circumference that will prevent muscle calf atrophy and weakness.</p>