Effectiveness of Manual Stretching †Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Effectiveness of Manual Stretching. Answer: Introduction: Plantar heel pain is a foot injury commonly suffered by individuals that require treatment by healthcare professionals. Such form of pain is associated with the plantar fascia. Reduced strength of the plantar flexors and reduction in muscle volume in the forefoot are the contributors of the plantar fascia (DiPreta et al., 2014). Different treatment strategies have emerged in the recent past that aim to address this patient condition, among which stretching exercises have gained immense popularity. Stretching of the plantar fascia and triceps surae muscle is regarded in the conservative treatment of plantar heel pain (Rosenbaum et al., 2014). The present systematic literature review is carried out for highlighting the usefulness of stretching exercise when applied as a short-term treatment for plantar heel pain. Radford et al., (2007) carried out a randomised controlled trial to assess the efficiency of calf muscle stretching as a treatment option for plantar heel pain on a short-term basis. The rationale for the study was that the effectiveness of the treatment option had not been validated till that time. Ninety-two participants were allocated in a random manner to either an intervention group or control group management. They were subjected to the intervention that comprised of calf muscle stretches and sham ultrasound. The process lasted for two weeks. Primary outcome measures were 'first-step' pain (and the Foot Health Status Questionnaire domains of foot function, foot pain, and general foot health. There was an improvement in both the treatment groups over time. However, the differences in improvement between groups for any of the measured outcomes were not statistically significant. In addition, a section of participants from the intervention group experienced adverse events. It was thereby concluded that plantar heel pain might not be treated on a short-term basis through stretching exercises. The study, however, has some limitations. Firstly, the trail considered only one form of calf muscle is stretching. Other stretching methods like lunges stretching and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation might have given rise to different results. The systematic review carried out by Sweeting et al., (2011) revealed that there is a scarcity of studies for assessing the effectiveness of stretching exercises as an intervention for plantar fascia. However, some evidence indicates the utility of the same. One cannot be sure from the existing literature that stretching is better than other forms of intervention when it comes to treatment of plantar heel pain. The established advantages of stretching might occur after four months of suffering the pain. There is a lack of irrefutable evidence pointing out the most efficient number of repetitions of stretching that is ost effective. Further, the comparative benefits of therapist applied stretches and self-stretches are under scrutiny. Kamonseki et al., (2016) carried out a randomized controlled, single-blind clinical trial fro examining the impact stretching has with and without muscle strengthening exercises on the foot and hip in patients suffering from plantar fasciitis. Three treatment options were considered for eighty-three patients taking part in the study. Stretching Alone Exercise Group (SAEG), Foot and Hip Exercise Group management (FHEG - abductor and lateral rotator muscles) and Foot Exercise Group (FEG - extrinsic and intrinsic foot muscles). The main measures were the Star Excursion Balance Test, the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score, and a visual analog scale for pain. The intervention was given for eight weeks after which the results indicated improvement in all groups when the analysis was done on the visual analog scale, activities of daily living, the pain and quality of life (p 0.001). Similar results were found for Foot and Ankle Outcome Score and Star Excursion Balance Test. The inference drawn f rom the study was that improvements in function, pain and dynamic lower limb stability could be achieved in patients if stretching exercises are delivered for at least eight weeks. The study was marked by the limitation of absence of a non-treatment group. Further, the participant dropout rate was high. In addition, there was no evaluation of muscle strength being done as adequate equipment was not present. From the above analysis, it is found that there is ambiguity regarding the certain role of stretching intervention in treating plantar fascia or plantar heel pain. Though a section of the study highlights its effectiveness on the long run, the supplementary investigation is urgently needed to confirm the same. Further research is warranted regarding the research topic in the form of randomised controlled trials that are sufficiently powered. Such trials must consider medium, and long-term follow up since it is the prime determining factor for the effectiveness of the treatment management. Protocols outlined based on research findings are to be customised as per individual needs if optimal outcomes are to be achieved. References DiPreta, J., Rosenbaum, A., Misener, D. (2014). Plantar Heel Pain.Medical Clinics of North America,98(2). Kamonseki, D. H., Gonalves, G. A., Liu, C. Y., Jnior, I. L. (2016). Effect of stretching with and without muscle strengthening exercises for the foot and hip in patients with plantar fasciitis: a randomized controlled single-blind clinical trial.Manual therapy,23, 76-82. Radford, J. A., Landorf, K. B., Buchbinder, R., Cook, C. (2007). Effectiveness of calf muscle stretching for the short-term treatment of plantar heel pain: a randomised trial.BMC musculoskeletal disorders,8(1), 36. Rosenbaum, A. J., DiPreta, J. A., Misener, D. (2014). Plantar heel pain.Medical Clinics,98(2), 339-352. Sweeting, D., Parish, B., Hooper, L., Chester, R. (2011). The effectiveness of manual stretching in the treatment of plantar heel pain: a systematic review.Journal of foot and ankle research,4(1), 19.