HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Duncan, C. E Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Duncan, C. E Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

A Gait Training Suggestion for Lengthening Gastrocnemius-Soleus Muscles: Suggestion from the Field

C Duncan, MS, PT, is Clinical Specialist in Burn Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine Department, Baton Rouge General Medical Center, PO Box 2511, Baton Rouge, LA 70821 (USA).

This excerpt was created in the absence of an abstract.

Burns on the posterior lower extremity from the popliteal space to Achilles tendon areas often result in an atypical standing posture and gait pattern. During the acute care hospital stay, the patient frequently assumes a stance position of excessive knee flexion and ankle plantar flexion because of pain splinting or soft tissue shortening, or both (Fig. 1). This burn distribution frequently results in a temporary shortening of the gastrocnemius-soleus muscles. The abnormal stance translates into a familiar gait pattern of absent heel-strike in addition to decreased stride length, weight bearing,¹ and duration of stance phase on the involved lower extremity. Furthermore, the pattern may be observed before and after skin grafting is performed. Early intervention is important because a patient is more likely to have optimal results after skin grafting if full active range of motion was attained during the pregrafting phase of burn rehabilitation.¹...

Key Words: Burns • Gait training • Orthopedics • Posture, general

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?