Otago Exercise Program as an Adjunct to Routine Physiotherapy in a Patient With Tibial Plateau Injury: A Case Report

The tibia is a long bone in the lower limb. Tibial fractures account for approximately 20% of adults and 8% of older people. A tibial plateau fracture may result from low-energy forces, most commonly in older people with low bone density. The tibial plateau fractures vary widely, from stable non-displaced fractures with little soft tissue damage to severely comminated unstable fractures with severe soft tissue damage. Fractures of the tibia plateau had a significant impact on patients' lives, lowering their quality of life and limiting their participation in sports. Other effects of the injury itself, such as arthritis later developing, muscle, bone wasting, and joint stiffness, can have an impact on patients' lives. For these patients, physical therapy can target areas to improve some of such conditions. A 50-year-old female was diagnosed with lateral tibial plateau injury in the left knee and post tibial plateau injury in the right knee joint on an X-ray after a road accident, and a bilateral above-knee cast was applied for four weeks, following a period of non-weight-bearing. Along with this, a physiotherapy treatment plan was advised, which included a variety of exercises, electrotherapy, and an Otago exercise program, which resulted in pain reduction and improvements in range of motion (ROM), strength, balance, and gait ability. A structured physiotherapy program with an Otago exercise program gradually improved the functional goals, balance, and gait patterns progressively.