Title : Effect of osteopathic correction on postural balance and blood circulation in the stump in patients with lower limb amputations at the calf level
Abstract:
Introduction: Number of patients with lower limb amputation is currently growing, and after surgery, they need rehabilitation. Until recently, osteopathy in the rehabilitation of such patients was not used due to the unexplored effects in patients with lower limb amputations, despite the fact that various researchers have proven the effects of normalizing muscle tone, neurohumoral system, as well as improving blood circulation and lymphatic outflow after osteopathic treatment (OT).
Aim of the study: to examine the effect of osteopathic treatment on postural balance and indirect thermographic signs of blood flow change in the stump.
Materials and methods: 76 patients (54 men and 22 women, aged 45 to 74 years, the average age was 57 years old) with lower limb amputations at the calf level with a post-amputation period of more than 3 years were examined. The study included patients who did not take medicine that affect postural balance and did not have contraindications to osteopathic correction. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: the main group (n = 41) receiving OT and the control group (n = 35) receiving sham treatment (ST). Both groups were divided into subgroups depending on the cause of the amputation: traumatic or vascular.
The stabilography method performed on the Stabilometry Biokenect complex was used to assess postural balance. 7 indices were evaluated.
Assessment of postural balance and blood circulation was performed on days 1 and 14 of the study before and after OT or ST.
Results: Using the stabilography method, objective data was obtained confirming the positive effect of OT on postural balance in patients with amputations of traumatic and vascular genesis - in the form of an increase in stability after the 1st, before the 2nd and after the 2nd OT session compared to the baseline data for all the studied parameters (p < 0.05). Patients in the vascular control group also showed a statistically significant increase in stability after the 1st session of ST, which returned to the original values by the second session ( short-term change). No statistically significant changes in stability of all parameters were found in patients from the control group with amputations of traumatic genesis.
Conclusion: The study showed improvement in postural balance and circulation after osteopathic treatment, which permits to recommend osteopathy as part of rehabilitation programs for patients with lower limb amputations.
Audience Take Away:
- OT influences postural balance in patients with lower limb amputations at the calf level.
- OT improves lower extremity blood flow in patients with lower limb amputations at the calf level (according to indirect thermographic signs)
- The study provides a theoretical understanding of the positive effects of osteopathy and recommends the inclusion of OT in the rehabilitation of patients with lower limb amputations
- The study helps to understand the effects of osteopathic treatment in patients rarely seen by osteopathic physicians
