Managing post-operative complications in a patient with excessive ankle stiffness: A case study addressing gait biomechanics and EMG

Background: Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) and electrotherapy have shown to help alleviating post-operation complications and affect gait kinematics and muscle strength.Aim: This case study aimed to manage the post-operative complications in a patient with investigate excessive ankle stiffness with kinetics, kinematics and Electromyography (EMG) approach.Materials and Methods: A 41-year-old female with post-operation complications including decreased right ankle range of motion (ROM) and strength underwent a 12-week of IASTM and Electrotherapy. Gait analysis was performed before and after the intervention.Results: The results showed notable improvements in ankle 3-dimensional (3D) ROM, power, moment, velocity, cadence, step length, ground reaction force (GRF) and decreased stiffness, muscles activity, single and double support time. Ankle dorsiflexion ROM was not notably increased during gait.Conclusion: Findings suggest that a 12-week intervention of IASTM and electrotherapy can improve gait mechanics and reduce muscle activity in a patient with excessive ankle stiffness.