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Does Using The Healthystep Foot Rehabilitation Ball Alter Gait And Foot Function?

The evidence for the rehabilitation of the foot and ankle influencing kinematic and kinetic foot function beneficially has been rapidly growing. Now thanks to Gemma Crabtree that body of evidence has increased further, but this time using a very simple tool; the HealthyStep exercise ball.

Gemma’s paper is “The effect of toe flexion exercises on grip” Branthwaite, Grabtree, Chockalingam & Greenhalgh.  J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2018; 108(5):355-361.

 

So What Does the Research Tell Us?

The study was conducted on 23 asymptomatic individuals with no past foot pathology or extremes of foot posture, decided by using the foot posture index. Static seated toe grip was assessed by looking at peak pressures and pressure time integrals using individual pressure sensors on each toe. Dynamic plantar pressures were recorded on a 15m Matscan. After the recordings were taken each subject was given a HealthyStep exercise ball and shown just one part of the rehabilitation programme we recommend, the part of trying to lift the ball from the floor. They were given 6 weeks before review

 

 

After 6 weeks the static grip peak pressure and pressure-time integral had increased under the second and third toes. Dynamically more important changes had occured under each metatarsal, with increased % contact time. Gemma et al, concluded that this could lead to increased forefoot stability, gait efficiency and possible reduction in toe pathology progression.

 

Use of the HealthyStep Rehabilitation Ball

 

Podiatrists are using the exercises with great clinical success on plantar fasciitis/fasciopathy and a whole host of metatarsalgias, but those primarily caused by dysfunction in the flexor plate mechanism. Any patient generating low pressure or a short loading period under the metatarsals in terminal stance phase and any patients not engaging their toes to initiate toe apex pressure in gait, have also been given the exercises.

 

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