Study of improvement in pain in congenital pes planus (flat foot) due to Conservative Rehabilitative measures

Saumen Kumar De; Debangshu Bhakat; M.M.Biswas; Sunil Kumar Basu; Subhrajyoti Naskar

Volume : IX, Issue : II, February - 2020

Study of improvement in pain in congenital pes planus (flat foot) due to Conservative Rehabilitative measures

Saumen Kumar De, Debangshu Bhakat, M. M. Biswas, Sunil Kumar Basu, Subhrajyoti Naskar

Abstract :

Introduction: Pes planus is one of the commonest foot deformities during childhood. Pain is one of the commonest symptom in these patients. The pain becomes continuous and progressively worse leading to disability. This study was our humble attempt to put some light to assess the role of non–surgical treatment approaches in cases of congenital pes planus with respect to improvement in pain. Methodology: This Prospective Randomized Open Label Control Trial was conducted in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sambhu Nath Pandit Hospital, 11, Lala Lajpat Rai Sarani, Kolkata–700020 between December 2009 to November 2011 after getting Institutional Ethical Committee clearance. Proper consent was taken from the legal guardian of the patient. Confirmed cases congenital pes planus (flat foot) between 6 years to 18 years were included according to inclusion and exclusion criteria and were being randomly subdivided into two (2) groups. One group (GROUP:1) of patients received: Exercise (Ex) therapy, Shoe Modification (SM) and Acetaminophen (paracetamol) S.O.S and the other group of patients (GROUP :2) received :Exercise (Ex) therapy, Shoe Modification (SM), Electrical Stimulation in the form of Faradic Foot Bath (FFB)and Acetaminophen (paracetamol) S.O.S and after initial visit followed up on 6th, 12th, 24th weeks; every time with respect to improvement in pain on Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results: There was statistically significant improvement (with p value less than 0.05) in pain scores in both the groups. Interesting observation in our study is that there is statistically significant improvement of pain score of group 1 patients is only evident after 6 weeks of treatment. Another interesting finding is that while comp� the numerical variables of group 1 and group 2 shows statistically significant improvement of pain score with p–value less than 0.05 from the beginning of the our study. Conclusion: Faradic foot bath definitely improves the pain score in congenital pes planus (flat foot) with statistical significance of less than 0.05 (p value < 0.05). Conservative management like exercise and orthosis also statistically improves pain score after 6 weeks of treatment.