TITLE:
Foot and Ankle Muscles Activation and Plantar Sensory Deficit in Leprosy and Its Implication to Foot Deformity and Walking Capacity
AUTHORS:
Fitri Anestherita, Ibrahim Agung, Nelfidayani Nelfidayani, Andri Setiawan Kokok, Johanes Putra
KEYWORDS:
Leprosy, Foot Impairment, Walking Capacity, Muscle Activity
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation,
Vol.9 No.4,
November
8,
2021
ABSTRACT: Objective: To observe extrinsic foot muscle activity ratio and sensory disturbance
in Leprosy and its implication to foot deformity and walking capacity. Design: Cross sectional study in Singkawang, West Kalimantan. Materials and
Methods: Thirty-three leprosy patients without walking aids and/or orthotic
prosthetic were enrolled using consecutive sampling. Foot deformity score was
calculated and muscle activity was measured
using surface EMG. Muscle activation ratio was calculated in Tibialis anterior-to-Gastrocnemius
(TA/GA) and Tibialis Anterior-to-Peroneal (TA/PE). Walking capacity was
assessed using Timed up and Go test. Results: Significant
differences of foot ulcer (p = 0.001) and foot deformities (p = 0.001) were
found in plantar sensory deficit group. There was strong correlation between
foot deformities and decreased TA/GA ratio (p = 0.001, r = ﹣0.787) and
decreased TA/PE ratio (p = 0.001, r = ﹣0.663). There were significant
differences of TA/GA ratio (p = 0.00) and TA/PE ratio (p = 0.09) based on the
foot ulcer, and no significant difference of
Timed Up and Go Test result within plantar sensory deficit group (p =
0.427). No significant correlation was found between walking capacity and TA/GA
ratio (p = 0.055), and TA/PE ratio (p = 0.165). Conclusion: Plantar
sensory deficit and decreased extrinsic muscle activation ratio during gait had
been proven to affect foot impairment, but have not been proven to inhibit
walking capacity.