Osteopathic Diagnosis and Treatment of Sciatica Induced by a Plantar Proprioception Violation

Abstract

The objective of the research was to determine the role of postural disorders and plantar proprioception in the formation of sciatica. We examined 206 patients aged of 16 to 49 years with the syndrome of sciatica. All patients were performed: medical history, neurological examination, manual testing of the mobility of foot bones, lumbar vertebrae and the sacrum, postural examination, radiography, MRI, stabilographic study. As a result, the selective patients with sciatica were distributed to 3 experimental groups (EG): EG 1 - no plantar proprioception anomalies (n = 154), EG 2 - with abnormal plantar proprioception (n = 52). EG 2 was divided into 2 subgroups: EG 2a - the main group (n = 32) which complex treatment included manual (osteopathic) technique correction of position and mobility of plantar bones. EG 2b (n = 20) - the control group of patients without correction of position and mobility of the plantar bones. All patients received the medication. EG 2 patients in addition to medical therapy received specific manual (osteopathic) treatment, which included correction of the mobility of plantar bones. Following the treatment the plantar ratio of patients of a main group (p < 0,001) significantly increased and practically unchanged in a control group (p > 0,05). The significant improvement in plantar proprioception of sciatica patients after application of manual techniques restoring the position and the mobility of plantar bones is represented. It reflects the normalization of the static-dynamic stereotype.