The Effect of Isometric Exercise Plantar Flexor on Osteoblast Activity Measured by Bone Specific Alkaline Phosphatase and Callus Formation in a Patient Post Open Reduction Internal Fixation with Non-articular Tibia Fracture
Authors: Nasyaruddin Herry Taufik  , Tulaar Angela Bibiana Maria , Moesbar Nazar , Ganie Ratna Akbarie 
Published: December 2019

BACKGROUND: Post-operative non-articular tibia fracture several problems that can occur include; pain, muscles atrophy, muscles weakness, joint stiffness, delayed union, and non-union that makes patients limited in their daily activities. Several factors that play a role in the process of fracture healing include osteoblast activity and exercise. Isometric exercises plantar flexor might effectively prevent the problem. Markers of osteoblast activity are bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) levels and Hummer scale callus formation. Not yet known the effect isometric exercise of plantar flexor on osteoblast activity in the post open reduction internal fixation of non-articular tibia fractures, due to the lack of studies in this field.
AIM: This research was conducted to investigate the effect of isometric plantar flexor on osteoblast activity and callus formation in patients post open reduction internal fixation nonarticular tibial fractures.
HYPOTHESIS: There are differences in osteoblast activity and callus formation between groups that do isometric exercises of plantar flexor muscles with those that without isometric exercises plantar flexor.
ANALYSIS: Hypothesis test used a paired t-test with a value of α 0.05 and a confidence level of 95%.
METHODS: This clinical trial was true experimental with pre-post test control group design divided into two groups, group I obtained treatment of isometric exercises of the plantar flexor muscle, range of motion knee joint, and ankle while group II obtained the range of motion knee joints and ankle. Osteoblast activity measured with bone-specific alkaline phosphatase level and callus formation.
RESULTS: The result of the study found to increase mean bone-specific alkaline phosphatase group I; 15.6 and group II; 5.2. A paired t-test of independent samples with α of 0.05 and confidence interval 95% was obtained p-value = 0.000, there is a significant difference in increased levels of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase group I obtained isometric exercises plantar flexor with group II without isometric exercises plantar flexor in patients post open reduction internal fixation of a non-articular tibia fracture. Radiographic examination of Hummer scale callus in group I who carried out isometric exercises plantar flexor had an average value of 2.63, whereas group II without isometric exercises plantar flexor average of 3.06. Wilcoxon test with a 0.05 and 95% confidence interval obtained p-value = 0.000, there is a significant difference in callus image in both groups of patients post open reduction internal fixation non-articular tibia fracture. The linear regression calculated of callus assessment with bone-specific alkaline phosphatase obtained the value of R quadrat = 0.793, which showed that the formation of callus Hummer classification could predict the change in bone-specific alkaline phosphatase value by 79%.
CONCLUSION: The research found isometric exercise plantar flexor in patients post open reduction internal fixation non-articular tibia fracture enhances osteoblast activity and callus formation that will likely short the healing process time and prevent delayed union or non-union.