EFFECT OF ERGON IASTM TECHNIQUE ON RANGE OF MOTION IN PATIENTS WITH BIMALEOLAR FRACTURE

Abstract

Ankle fractures are common injury occurring due to low energy trauma. Тhe purpose of the operative intervention is аnatomical restoration of the function and anatomy of the talocrural joint. Ankle fractures are of great social significance due to the fact that they most often affect the young age of the population. Rehabilitation after ankle fracture can begin soon after the fracture has been treated by the use of different types of immobilisation which allow early commencement of weight-bearing or exercise. Alternatively, rehabilitation may start following the period of immobilisation, with physical or manual therapies. The ERGON® technique is an innovative therapeutic approach, combining static and dynamic manipulations of the soft tissues of the body with tools for the treatment of neuromuscular and skeletal pathologies. Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) is a popular treatment for myofascial restriction. Purpose:The purpose of this pilot study is to monitor the efficacy of Ergon IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization) Technigue applied to patients after surgical treatment of a bimaleolar ankle fracture in subacute postoperative period on the restoration of the ankle range of motion. Research methodology: 17 patients with bimaleolar fracture in subacute postoperative period were studied, distributed as follows: control group - 8 patients and experimental group - 9. The study methodology includes functional studies: range of motion of the ankle joint before and after one month application of kinesitherapy. Routine kinesitherapy was applied to control group, and in experimental group, kinesitherapy and Ergon IASTM twice a week were administered. The Ergon technique is applied to each procedure with techniques: rub, wave, excav, ciryax, sculpt, sep, switch, split. Results:Тhe empirical material is processed with the statistical package Prism 3.0. The mean values ( ± SD) of the range of motion of the ankle joint before and after one month of kinesitherapy were as follows: dorsal flexion in control group was 4.39°±2.62° and 7°±3.22° in experimental group. After one month of treatment, the results are as follows: dorsal flexion in control group is 11°±3.02° and 18.22°±1.32° in experimental group. Plantar flexion before the application of kinesitherapy in control group is 23.5°±3.07° and 29.22°±3.35° in experimental group. After one month of treatment, the results are as follows: plantar flexion in control group is 30.4°±2.88° and 41.11°±2.2° in experimental group. The differences in the values of the results of the indicated tests in the two measurement periods were statistically significant (p<0.05). The presented data prove the better effect and impact of Ergon IASTM techniques applied in the experimental group compared to convection kinesitherapy in the control group, in patients with bimaleolar fracture in the subacute postoperative period. Conclusion: In the pilot study we found that there are statistically significant differences in both groups. Despite the better initial results of the patients in the experimental group, we found that IASTM had a better effect in restoring the ankle range of motion of patients with bimaleolar fracture of the ankle joint, compared with convection kinesitherapy administered in the control group.