Rehabilitative treatment of fracture-dislocation of the ankle with hunova

Rehabilitative treatment of fracture-dislocation of the ankle with hunova

Ankle fracture is a commonly used as a term to describe the fracture of the distal tibia or fibula. It is one of the most common lower limb injuries and the incidence has been increasing in the latest years. Depending on the severity, ankle fracture is treated with or without surgery, followed by a period of immobilization. Immobilization may result in decreased articular range of motion, muscular weakness and decreased muscle strength. In addition, ankle fracture can be accompanied by other injuries, which may further impair recovery. These injuries include damage to the cartilage and ligaments, the existence of free bodies within the intra-articular space or dislocation of the distal tibio-fibular joint. Consequently, people with an ankle fracture often experience pain, stiffness, weakness and limitations in activities such as stair climbing and walking causing reduced participation in work and recreation. For all these reasons, physical therapy becomes a very crucial activity for this kind of trauma. hunova is an innovative robotic device effective for the rehabilitation post ankle injury. It is composed of two sensorized platforms that allow to perform exercises both in sitting and upright position, providing the patient with continuous sensorial feedback. In addition, the device can be set in the ankle configuration binding the foot to the platform with a sandal and blocking the knee with a support to avoid lateral compensation. In this report we present a case study in which we share how we have achieved clinical improvements on ankle range of motion and muscular strength in isometric and isokinetic conditions after several treatment sessions on hunova in a case of severe fracture-dislocation of the ankle joint treated with surgery.