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Look What The Stork Brought; Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment for Postpartum Foot Drop: A Case Study

Journal: The AAO Journal Date: 2025/06, 35(2):Pages: 13-14. doi: Subito , type of study: case report

Full text    (https://aaoj.kglmeridian.com/view/journals/aaoj/35/2/article-p13.xml)

Keywords:

case report [693]
childbirth [49]
female [565]
foot drop [2]
OMT [3661]
osteopathic manipulative treatment [3683]
postpartum [15]
women [520]

Abstract:

Introduction: Foot drop results from weakness of dorsiflexion muscles; restricting activities and increasing fall risk. Etiologies include lumbar radiculopathy and peroneal nerve injury or compression. Following childbirth, palsies affect less than 1% of postpartum patients [1], but significantly interfere with daily living. Cases of postpartum peroneal nerve palsies have been reported, however, there is limited research regarding osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) for foot drop in postpartum mothers. Case: A 33-year old female presented on postpartum day 5 with right foot drop and dorsal foot numbness following an otherwise uncomplicated vaginal delivery. The patient first noted her symptoms following laboring in a birthing harness wrapped around her knees. Physical exam revealed decreased active dorsiflexion and sensation over the dorsum of the right foot consistent with peroneal nerve palsy. Straight leg raise test was negative and deep tendon reflexes were 2+. Bilateral sacral flexion, right anterior innominate rotation, and right posterior fibular head were found on osteopathic structural examination. OMT was performed including muscle energy and articulatory techniques to affected areas. Results: Goniometric measurements of ankle dorsiflexion and sensory surface area mapping of the right foot were taken pre and post OMT. Immediately following treatment there was an increase of 16.4 degrees of active dorsiflexion in the right foot and approximately 50% decrease in impacted sensory surface area of right foot. Clinically, the patient displayed confidence and improvement in walking. Discussion: This case demonstrated prompt improvement in acute peroneal nerve palsy for a postpartum patient with a single session of OMT. OMT offers a non-invasive whole-body approach to treating delivery complications in postpartum patients. Further studies are needed to illustrate the benefits of OMT for various acute postpartum nerve palsies.


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