Effects of Plantar Sensory Training in Individuals With Hallux Valgus.

Investigation of the Effect of Plantar Sensory Training on Pain, Foot Posture, Functional Activities, Gait and Balance Parameters in Individuals With Hallux Valgus

Hallux valgus is a forefoot deformity with a high prevalence, which can progress to lateral deviation of the big toe, medial deviation of the first metatarsal, and subluxation of the first metatarsophalangeal joint in the future. It has been reported in studies that changes in the load distribution of the foot in hallux valgus patients, hyperkeratosis, especially first-line pain, and sensory receptors on the sole of the foot may result in the effect of sensory receptors on the sole of the foot, and thus the balance may be negatively affected, poor postural stability and an increase in the risk of falling. It is thought that increased sensitivity to the senses coming from the feet with sensory training can improve the balance and reduce the risk of falling as a result of better perception of foot orientation and position.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Pain; Hallux Valgus; Balance; Distorted
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Plantar Sensorial Training; Other: Control Group

Detailed Description

Achieving balance depends on the visual, vestibular and somatosensory systems working together and in interaction. One of the important components of the somatosensory system is the cutaneous receptors. Merkel discs, Paccini corpuscles, Meissner corpuscles and Ruffini endings are located on the plantar surface of the foot, which makes contact with the ground. Plantar cutaneous receptors are sensitive to pressure during ground contact and provide site-specific information for cortical mapping and may affect postural responses. It is recommended that sensory training of the sole of the foot, rough insoles and transcutaneous electrical stimulation applications should be added to rehabilitation in order to increase the afferent sensory feedback from the sole of the foot in patients with multiple sclerosis, starting from the early stages of the disease. It has been reported in studies that the sensory input of different foot regions has an important role in the transition and timing of the stance and swing phase in gait. It has been suggested that cutaneous reflexes in the foot can provide functional locomotion and modulation of lower extremity flexor and extensor muscle activity. It has been reported in studies that changes in the load distribution of the foot in hallux valgus patients, hyperkeratosis, especially first-line pain, and sensory receptors on the sole of the foot may result in the effect of sensory receptors on the sole of the foot, and thus the balance may be negatively affected, poor postural stability and an increase in the risk of falling. It is thought that increased sensitivity to the senses coming from the feet with sensory training can improve the balance and reduce the risk of falling as a result of better perception of foot orientation and position. Therefore, the aim of our study; It was determined as the examination of the effect of plantar sensory training on pain, foot posture, functional activities, gait and balance parameters in individuals with hallux valgus.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Ankara, Turkey, 06100
    • Hacettepe University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being diagnosed with mild or moderate hallux valgus;
• Volunteer to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having pathologies that may cause sensory problems such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, myelomeningocele, severe disc herniation,
• Having an orthopedic, rheumatological or neurological disease other than hallux valgus that will prevent participation in the exercise program
• Having previous foot surgery,
• Having a cooperation problem at a level that cannot understand and apply the exercises.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Plantar Sensorial Training; In addition to hallux valgus mobilization, active thumb abduction, strengthening of the muscles around the feet, hallux valgus taping and hallux valgus night splint, sensory training (using deep plantar massage, brushing, dipping techniques) will be performed.	Other: Plantar Sensorial Training; In addition to the routine treatment, plantar sensorial training will be added.
Active Comparator: Control Group; Routine hallux valgus physiotherapy approaches such as: hallux valgus mobilization, active thumb abduction, strengthening of the muscles around the feet, hallux valgus taping and hallux valgus night splint.	Other: Control Group; Routine physiotherapy management of the Hallux valgus

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Foot-Related pain assessment	Visual Analogue Scale will be used to evaluate the pain severity of individuals. Participants will be asked to mark their pain at rest and activity on a horizontal line of 100 millimeters, with 100 indicating maximum pain and 0 indicating no pain.	change from baseline pain severity at 6 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Light touch sensation	The light touch sense of the sole of the foot will be evaluated with the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test. This test is widely used to evaluate light touch and pressure sense. The response to touch is tested with monofilaments of varying thickness and diameter, and the value that the patient feels is recorded.	change from baseline light touch sensation at 6 weeks
Change in foot function	The AOFAS Hallux-Metatarsophalangeal-Interphalangeal Scale created by the American Foot and Ankle Foundation (AOFAS) will also be used to evaluate foot function. In this scale, which is a 100-point scoring system that evaluates pain, function, and alignment, 90-100 points are excellent, 75-89 points are good, 50-74 points are good, and less than 50 points indicate poor status.	change from baseline foot function at 6 weeks
Change in lower extremity functional level	The Lower Extremity Functionality Scale (LEFS), which is used in individuals with lower extremity problems, will be used to classify the functional status of individuals. AEFS is a 5-point Likert scale consisting of 20 questions. High scores in this scale, which has been adapted to Turkish and whose scoring ranges from 0 to 80, represent a better functional situation	change from baseline Lower extremity functional level at 6 weeks
Change in gait parameters	Individuals' gait will be assessed using the GAITRite® computerized walking path (CIR System INC. Clifton, NJ 07012). Data from the system, which has 18,432 sensors, is obtained by pressure-activated sensors at a rate of 60-120 Hz. In order to eliminate the learning effect, the subjects will be asked to walk at the pace they choose after three attempts are made. Rest breaks will be given between assessments and the average of three repetitions of the walk will be recorded	change from baseline temporo-spatial gait parameters at 6 weeks
Change in balance	Stability limits of individuals will be evaluated with Bertec Balance Check Trainer. Participants will be asked to lie on this device in the front, back, right and left directions as far as they can go without losing their balance and without lifting the soles of their feet off the platform, and the measurement results will be recorded by the system. Also, Postural sway of individuals will be evaluated and recorded with the Bertec Balance Check Trainer. It will be evaluated in four different conditions: flat ground with eyes open, flat ground with eyes closed, soft ground with eyes open and soft ground with eyes closed. Individuals will be asked to stand upright for 10 seconds for each situation, and the results will be recorded in centimeters by the system (Force plate AM, Bertec, Columbus, OH).	change from baseline postural sway and limits of stability at 6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hacettepe University
• Investigators: Study Director: Gul Yazicioglu, Prof, Hacettepe University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 1, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 27, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): November 15, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 26, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 18, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): April 25, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 28, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 27, 2023
• Last Verified: September 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: pain; hallux valgus; sensory training; plantar sensory
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases; Foot Deformities; Foot Deformities, Acquired; Hallux Valgus; Bunion
• Other Study ID Numbers: KA-20014

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No