Therapeutic Effect on the Change of Gait Performance in Chronic Calf Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Time Series Case Study

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the influence of the chronic calf myofascial pain syndrome [MPS] on gait performance and the effectiveness of myofascial treatment programs in order to inform the clinical management for this impairment.Methods: A female subject suffered from chronic knee and ankle pain for five years as a result of calf muscles MPS. The range of motion, pain intensity, and gait analysis were evaluated before and after myofascial pain therapy. The eight-week calf myofascial treatment programs included manual techniques, deep myofascial release, deep friction massage, and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching, and a home program [self-stretching exercises].Results: There were significant improvements in the ankle-dorsiflexion range of motion of the affected leg after treatment [P < 0.01]. A trend of moderate improvement in pain conditions were recorded both in resting and after work. Although the kinematic data of gait analysis were quite similar across treatments except for improv...