Hereditary hemochromatosis: a literature review and case report.

PURPOSE: To improve understanding in the physical therapy (PT) community of hereditary hemochromatosis (HH), a common but little-known iron overload disorder, symptoms of which may mimic other orthopaedic conditions. Medical management typically involves phlebotomy to remove excess iron; however, there is little specific information in the literature on PT management of patients with HH after trauma. CASE DESCRIPTION: The patient was a 65-year-old woman with multiple fall-related traumas, including right wrist, thumb, and patellar fractures and left thigh muscle strain with significant ecchymosis and effusion. Medical history included HH. Iron-related lab values had been analyzed 9 days prior to the fall and had demonstrated a steady increase over the previous 4 months since her last phlebotomy. OUTCOMES: As the level of exercise and activity increased during the course of PT treatment, the patient developed shortness of breath and increased fatigue. The exercise level in therapy was reduced to accommodate the change in the patient's response. Blood values analyzed 7 weeks after the fall demonstrated a drop in haemoglobin and hematocrit values, while serum ferritin levels had risen. IMPLICATIONS: Understanding early symptoms and management of a patient with manifestations of HH will better enable physical therapists to consider this disorder as a differential diagnosis or co-morbidity that affects treatment considerations.

Dorsal mobility and first ray stiffness in patients with diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Limited joint mobility in diabetic patients has been identified as a risk factor in the development of plantar ulcers. We examined dorsal mobility and passive first ray stiffness in patients with diabetes and investigated the relationship between first ray mobility and ankle joint dorsiflexion. METHODS: Forty individuals were studied: 20 with diabetes (mean estimated duration of 16 +/- 10 years) and 20 matched controls. Dorsal first ray mobility was measured using a mechanical device. Force-vs-dorsal mobility displacement values were collected at 10 N increments to a load limit of 55 N. Ankle joint dorsiflexion motion was measured with a goniometer. The "prayer sign," a clinical indicator of limited joint mobility, was evaluated in each patient. Subjects were separated into the two groups for data analysis. RESULTS: Patients in the diabetic group had more stiffness and less dorsal first ray mobility than the control group (p <.05). In particular, patients with a positive prayer sign had significant first ray stiffness (p <.05). Patients with diabetes also had less ankle dorsiflexion (p <.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with diabetes have more stiffness and less first ray mobility and less ankle dorsiflexion than those without diabetes. The presence of a positive prayer sign correlates with stiffness and loss of first ray mobility. Soft-tissue stiffness may contribute to the development of foot ulcers in diabetic patients with neuropathy.

Relationship between static mobility of the first ray and first ray, midfoot, and hindfoot motion during gait.

The relationship between a static measure of dorsal first ray mobility and dynamic motion of the first ray, midfoot, and hindfoot during the stance phase of walking was investigated in healthy, asymptomatic subjects who represented the spectrum of static flexibility. Static first ray mobility of 15 subjects was measured by a load cell device and ranged from stiff (3.1 mm) to lax (8.0 mm). Using three-dimensional motion analysis, mean first ray dorsiflexion/eversion and mid-/hindfoot eversion peak motion, time-to-peak, and eversion excursion were evaluated. Subjects with greater static dorsal mobility of the first ray demonstrated significantly greater time-to-peak hindfoot eversion and eversion excursion (p <.01), and midfoot peak eversion and eversion excursion (p <.01). No significant association was found between static first ray mobility and first ray motion during gait. This research provides evidence that the dynamic response of the foot may modulate the consequences of first ray mobility and that compensory strategies are most effective when static measures of dorsal mobility are most extreme.

Dorsal first ray mobility in women athletes with a history of stress fracture of the second or third metatarsal.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. OBJECTIVE: To examine the amount of dorsal first ray mobility in subjects having a history of stress fracture of the second or third metatarsal as compared to control subjects, and to test the influence of navicular drop, length of the first ray, and generalized joint laxity on the measure of dorsal mobility. BACKGROUND: [corrected] Instability of the first ray may cause the lesser metatarsals to carry greater weight and contribute to the incidence of metatarsal stress fracture. Stability of the first ray is believed to be compromised when subtalar joint pronation continues into late stance, the first metatarsal is short, or an individual has generalized joint laxity. To date, no research has assessed the relationship of these etiological factors to the measure of first ray mobility. METHODS AND MEASURES: Fifteen women athletes having a history of a second or third metatarsal stress fracture were matched by age, body mass, and sport activity to women athletes without fracture. Dorsal first ray mobility was quantified by a device using a standard load of 55 N. Change in vertical height of the navicular during stance was the measure of foot pronation. Relative length of the first ray navicular segment compared to the length of the second ray navicular segment was measured by caliper. Generalized joint laxity was evaluated using the Beighton 9-point scale. Within-day repeated measures assessed reliability. Differences between groups were determined by independent t test. Multiple polynomial regression analysis assessed the relationship between dorsal mobility and navicular drop, length of the first ray, and joint laxity. RESULTS: Interrater reliability coefficients ranged from 0.36 for metatarsal length to 0.71 for navicular drop. The intrarater reliability coefficient for dorsal first ray mobility was 0.93. Dorsal first ray mobility was not significantly different between the 2 groups. With regression analysis, the Beighton score was the only variable retained as a significant predictor of dorsal mobility (R2 = 0.24). CONCLUSION: Results do not support the theory that describes the unstable first ray as a common cause of metatarsal stress fracture. In addition, this investigation found generalized joint laxity to be a significant predictor of dorsal first ray mobility.

Comparison of two methods used to assess first-ray mobility.

Mobility of the first-ray is associated with several common lower extremity disorders. However, the reliability and validity of clinical measurement remains unclear. In this study we examined first-ray mobility by using one hand to stabilize the lesser metatarsals while the clinician's other hand applied a displacement force to the head of the first metatarsal. The amount of mobility was graded as stiff, normal or hypermobile. We then used a well-validated mechanical device to perform similar tests and assessed validity, intrarater reliability and interrater reliability. Three clinicians having varied levels of experience graded first-ray mobility on 15 subjects. A separate investigator measured dorsal mobility with a mechanical device. Both methods of testing were repeated to assess measurement reliability. Reliability was estimated by kappa (K) statistics. Spearman correlation assessed the relationship between mobility graded manually and dorsal mobility measured by device. Manual examination intrarater K values ranged from 0.50 to 0.85, and interrater agreement from 0.09 to 0.16. Manual grading was not related (r = -0.21) to the absolute measure of total dorsal mobility made by device. This brings into question the validity and reliability of manual estimates of first-ray mobility.

Measuring forefoot alignment with a table-mounted goniometric device.

Evaluating the need for orthotic treatment may include the measure of forefoot-to-hindfoot alignment. This paper describes a table-mounted goniometric device that improves intra-rater reliability and simplifies the measurement of forefoot alignment. Instructions for constructing the device are provided. Use of this device may help clinicians evaluate forefoot alignment when making orthotic correction of the foot.