Outcomes After Proximal Medial Gastrocnemius Recession and Stretching vs Stretching as Treatment of Chronic Plantar Fasciitis at 6-Year Follow-up.

Background: Evidence from prospective short-term studies suggest that proximal medial gastrocnemius recession is a safe and efficient procedure to treat chronic plantar fasciitis resistant to nonoperative treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes of proximal medial gastrocnemius recession and stretching compared to a stretching exercise protocol for patients with chronic plantar fasciitis and an isolated gastrocnemius contracture (IGC).

Methods: Forty patients with plantar fasciitis lasting more than 1 year were prospectively randomized to a home stretching exercise program only, or to proximal medial gastrocnemius recession in addition to the stretching program.

Compared to conventional physiotherapy, does the use of an ankle trainer device after Weber B ankle fracture operation improve outcome and shorten hospital stay? A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare the functional outcomes and length of hospital stay for patients treated with conventional physiotherapy compared to a new ankle trainer device after Weber B ankle fractures.

Design: The patients were randomized, and then followed up at 3, 6, 12 and 52 weeks by a blinded physiotherapist.

Setting: This study was done at a level 1 trauma centre.

Proximal Medial Gastrocnemius Recession and Stretching Versus Stretching as Treatment of Chronic Plantar Heel Pain.

Background:: Plantar heel pain is a common disorder that can lead to substantial pain and disability. Gastrocnemius recession has been described as an operative treatment option, but there is a lack of prospective clinical and biomechanical outcome data. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and biomechanical outcomes of gastrocnemius recession and stretching compared with a stretching exercise protocol for patients with plantar heel pain lasting more than 12 months.

Validation of a New Device for Measuring Isolated Gastrocnemius Contracture and Evaluation of the Reliability of the Silfverskiöld Test.

Background: Important aspects on the diagnostics of isolated gastrocnemius contractures (IGCs) have been poorly described. This study was designed to validate a new ankle range of motion (ROM) measuring device for diagnosing an IGC. In addition, we wanted to investigate the reliability of the clinical Silfverskiöld test.

Posterior tibial tendon transfer improves function for foot drop after knee dislocation.

Background: Knee dislocation may be associated with an injury to the common peroneal nerve with a subsequent foot drop. Previous studies have demonstrated good functional results after posterior tibial tendon transfer in patients with foot drop. No studies, to our knowledge, have focused exclusively on knee dislocation as the cause of common peroneal nerve injury leading to foot drop.