Subtalar joint position during gastrocnemius stretching and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion. 2008

Marie Johanson, and Jennifer Baer, and Holley Hovermale, and Phouvy Phouthavong
Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA. majohan@learnlink.emory.edu

BACKGROUND Gastrocnemius stretching exercises often are prescribed as part of the treatment program for patients with overuse injuries associated with limited ankle dorsiflexion. However, little is known about how the position of the subtalar joint during gastrocnemius stretching affects ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM). OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of subtalar joint position during gastrocnemius stretching on ankle dorsiflexion ROM. METHODS This study was a 3-way mixed-model design. The 3 factors were subtalar joint position (supinated, pronated), lower extremity (experimental, control), and time (pretest, posttest). Lower extremity and time were the repeated measures. METHODS University research laboratory. METHODS Thirty-three healthy volunteers (29 women, 4 men). METHODS Participants performed a gastrocnemius stretching exercise 2 times daily for 3 weeks with the subtalar joint of the randomly assigned experimental side (dominant or nondominant) in the randomly assigned position (supination or pronation). The contralateral lower extremity served as the control. METHODS Before and after the 3-week gastrocnemius stretching program, we used goniometers to measure ankle dorsiflexion ROM in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing positions with the subtalar joint positioned in anatomic 0 degrees . RESULTS Ankle dorsiflexion ROM measured in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing positions increased after the gastrocnemius stretching program (P = .034 and .003, respectively), but the increase in ROM did not differ based on subtalar joint position (P = .775 and .831, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Subtalar joint position did not appear to influence gains in ankle dorsiflexion ROM after a gastrocnemius stretching program in healthy volunteers.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D011187 Posture The position or physical attitude of the body. Postures
D011446 Prospective Studies Observation of a population for a sufficient number of persons over a sufficient number of years to generate incidence or mortality rates subsequent to the selection of the study group. Prospective Study,Studies, Prospective,Study, Prospective
D005080 Exercise Test Controlled physical activity which is performed in order to allow assessment of physiological functions, particularly cardiovascular and pulmonary, but also aerobic capacity. Maximal (most intense) exercise is usually required but submaximal exercise is also used. Arm Ergometry Test,Bicycle Ergometry Test,Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing,Exercise Testing,Step Test,Stress Test,Treadmill Test,Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test,EuroFit Tests,Eurofit Test Battery,European Fitness Testing Battery,Fitness Testing,Physical Fitness Testing,Arm Ergometry Tests,Bicycle Ergometry Tests,Cardiopulmonary Exercise Tests,Ergometry Test, Arm,Ergometry Test, Bicycle,Ergometry Tests, Arm,Ergometry Tests, Bicycle,EuroFit Test,Eurofit Test Batteries,Exercise Test, Cardiopulmonary,Exercise Testing, Cardiopulmonary,Exercise Tests,Exercise Tests, Cardiopulmonary,Fitness Testing, Physical,Fitness Testings,Step Tests,Stress Tests,Test Battery, Eurofit,Test, Arm Ergometry,Test, Bicycle Ergometry,Test, Cardiopulmonary Exercise,Test, EuroFit,Test, Exercise,Test, Step,Test, Stress,Test, Treadmill,Testing, Cardiopulmonary Exercise,Testing, Exercise,Testing, Fitness,Testing, Physical Fitness,Tests, Arm Ergometry,Tests, Bicycle Ergometry,Tests, Cardiopulmonary Exercise,Tests, EuroFit,Tests, Exercise,Tests, Step,Tests, Stress,Tests, Treadmill,Treadmill Tests
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000842 Ankle The region of the lower limb between the FOOT and the LEG. Tarsus,Regio tarsalis,Ankles
D000843 Ankle Joint The joint that is formed by the inferior articular and malleolar articular surfaces of the TIBIA; the malleolar articular surface of the FIBULA; and the medial malleolar, lateral malleolar, and superior surfaces of the TALUS. Ankle Syndesmosis,Articulatio talocruralis,Distal Tibiofibular Joint,Inferior Tibiofibular Joint,Talocrural Joint,Tibiofibular Ankle Syndesmosis,Tibiofibular Syndesmosis,Ankle Joints,Ankle Syndesmoses,Ankle Syndesmosis, Tibiofibular,Distal Tibiofibular Joints,Inferior Tibiofibular Joints,Joint, Ankle,Joints, Ankle,Syndesmosis, Ankle,Talocrural Joints,Tibiofibular Ankle Syndesmoses,Tibiofibular Joint, Distal,Tibiofibular Syndesmoses
D013380 Subtalar Joint Formed by the articulation of the talus with the calcaneus. Talocalcaneal Joint,Joint, Subtalar,Joint, Talocalcaneal,Joints, Subtalar,Joints, Talocalcaneal,Subtalar Joints,Talocalcaneal Joints

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