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The effect of talocrural joint manipulation on range of motion at the ankle
Gary A Fryer1, Jacob M Mudge, Patrick A McLaughlin
1School of Health Sciences, City Campus, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.
Objective:
To determine whether a single high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust manipulation to the talocrural joint altered ankle range of motion.
Design:
A randomized, controlled and blinded study.
Subjects:
Asymptomatic male and female volunteers (N = 41).
Methods:
Subjects were randomly assigned into either an experimental group (n = 20) or a control group (n = 21). Both ankles of subjects in the experimental group were manipulated by using a single high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust to the talocrural joint. Pretest and posttest measurements of passive dorsiflexion range of motion were taken.
Results:
No significant changes in dorsiflexion range of motion were detected between manipulated ankles and those of control subjects. A significantly greater pretest dorsiflexion range of motion existed in those ankles in which manipulation produced an audible cavitation.
Conclusion:
Manipulation of the ankle does not increase dorsiflexion range of motion in asymptomatic subjects. Ankles that displayed a greater pretest range of dorsiflexion were more likely to cavitate, raising the possibility that ligament laxity may be associated with the tendency for ankles to cavitate.