Evaluation of the effectiveness of a physical therapy complex program in patients after surgical treatment of ruptured Achilles tendon

The purpose of the work is to evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive program of physical therapy in patients after surgical reconstruction of the Achilles tendon. Materials and methods. Subjects population comprises 58 patients (aged 34–57 years), including 39 (67.24 %) males and 19 (32.76 %) females, who were up to the surgical restoration of the Achilles tendon. All patients were divided into two groups: the main group (MG, n = 29) and the control one (CG, n = 29). Research methods embraced a review of scientific literature presented on the Internet; experimental research of ascertaining and formative orientation; pedagogical observation; goniometry, plantodynamometry, modified Romberg test; methods of mathematical statistics. Results. After surgery, the angle of plantar flexion was better (P < 0.01) in MG patients compared with CG patients (4 weeks): 29.1 ± 1.19° and 28.1 ± 1.13°. However, statistically significant differences between MG and CG patients in subsequent measurements were not found (P > 0.05). The percentage values of the load distribution on the operated extremity had improved by the final measurement date (16 weeks), which reduced the difference in the load distribution on the extremities to 9.20 ± 3.09 % in MG patients and up to 14.60 ± 2.98 % in CG patients (Me (25 %; 75 %) ) ‒ 8 (6; 12) % and 16 (12; 18) %). The indicators of the final performance of Romberg test were significantly better in MG patients, making 11.4 ± 2.13 s, which is 2.5 seconds better than in CG patients (P < 0.01). Conclusions. Dynamic characteristics of plantar flexion were restored by the following means: adaptive physical exercises and corrective gymnastics, different walking exercises, exercises with fitball, exercises on an exercise bike and step platforms, hydrotherapeutic exercises, orthopedic shoes, physiotherapeutic methods, and massage. The proposed comprehensive program is effective and can be used for post-surgical physical therapy in patients diagnosed with Achilles tendon rupture.