Back on your feet after brain damage Loop Expertise Centrum develops method for treating walking impairments

27 February 2018

Brain damage following a stroke, brain tumor or accident often results in walking impairments. The huge variation in problems and treatment options makes this a very difficult problem to treat. Researchers and doctors working in the Loop Expertise Centrum (Centre of Excellence for Walking) run by Sint Maartenskliniek and Radboud university medical center have developed a method for treating these walking impairments. Their article will be published in the 26 February edition of JAMA Neurology.

Treating walking impairments after brain damage is complex. There is a huge variation in walking abnormalities and patients find all kinds of ways to compensate for their abnormal gait. In addition, there is a variety of treatment options: physiotherapy, medication, splints, or surgical procedures. Very little scientific research has been carried out into choosing the correct treatment. There are no solid guidelines, so there is a large variation in clinical practice.
 
Three categories
Junior rehabilitation doctor and researcher Jorik Nonnekes and colleagues from Radboud university medical center and Sint Maartenskliniek have now developed an algorithm for treating walking impairments resulting from brain damage. They have distinguished three main categories of causes: a deviant foot angle, calf muscle weakness and over-active thigh muscles. Based on research literature and their own experience in treating walking impairments, the doctors and researchers have defined an optimum approach to treating these impairments. Surprisingly, surgical interventions play a prominent role.
 
Orthopedic options
Jorik Nonnekes: “It’s difficult to find the correct treatment for patients with walking impairments resulting from brain damage. Long periods of physiotherapy and orthopedic shoes are often the first preferred option, with surgical interventions, such as lengthening a tendon or fixating a joint in the foot, coming much later. We have learned from experience that it can be better to look at the surgical options sooner rather than later.”
 
This was the case for Lenny van Eck (37). After a stroke in 2012, she continued to have problems walking. She was initially prescribed physiotherapy and orthopedic shoes. But last year, she had an operation to correct the angle of her foot: “I’m so pleased I went ahead with this. My toes used to point downwards, but now they’re straight. After five years of special shoes, I can now wear my own shoes again. Walking did was painful before the operation, but not anymore. I can walk much further now too. I should have done this ages ago.”
 
Food for thought
Many treatment centers do not consider surgical options because they lack the facilities. So over the past few years, the Loop Expertise Centrum of Radboud university medical center and Sint Maartenskliniek have been encouraging orthopedic surgeons and rehabilitation doctors to work together to treat walking impairments. According to the researchers, a systematic approach to walking problems is the first step towards developing solid guidelines. Follow-up research is needed to compare the various effects of the different treatments. Nonnekes: “We have already received enthusiastic reactions from the reviewers, indicating that our publication gives food for thought and a reason to evaluate the current approach to this problem in the United States.”

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