Effects of Plantar Flexor Muscle Static Stretching Alone and Combined With Massage on Postural Balance

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the effects of stretching and combined therapy (stretching and massage) on postural balance in people aged 50 to 65 years. METHODS: Twenty-three subjects participated in this nonrandomized clinical trial study. Each participant randomly received plantar flexor muscle stretching (3 cycles of 45 seconds with a 30-second recovery period between cycles) alone and in combination with deep stroking massage (an interval of at least 30 minutes separated the two interventions). The data were recorded with a force platform immediately after each condition with eyes open and closed. The center of pressure displacement and velocity along the mediolateral and anteroposterior axes were calculated under each condition. The data were analyzed with multiple-pair t-tests. RESULTS: The center of pressure displacement and velocity along the mediolateral axis increased after both stretching and the combined intervention. There were significant differences in both values between participants in the stretching and combined interventions (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Plantar flexor muscle stretching (for 45 seconds) combined with deep stroking massage may have more detrimental effects on postural balance than stretching alone because each intervention can intensify the effects of the other.

Evaluation of ankle joint proprioception and balance in patients with type 2 diabetes and healthy subjects

Background: Joint proprioception plays an important role in limb movement and awareness of position sense. Diabetes has a lot of complications such as loss of sensory function, which can lead to impaired balance, thus the aim of this study to evaluated joint proprioception and balance in diabetic patients

Methods: Twenty type II diabetic patients and 20 healthy controls participated in this case-controlled study. Standing balance in various positions and ankle joint proprioception were measured. The data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney and chi-square test

Results: It was observed that the ankle joint proprioception and balance in diabetic patients were significantly less than control groups. [P<0.05]

Conclusion: Joint proprioception and balance functions impair in diabetic patients. Thus improvement of joint proprioception for prevention of fall is important