Immediate effects of talocrural and subtalar joint mobilization on balance in the elderly

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the immediate effects of therapeutic mobilization of the talocrural and subtalar joints on ankle mobility and postural control in elderly subjects.

Nineteen subjects (83.1 ± 6 years, 159 ± 1 cm; 56.1 ± 9.7 kg - mean ± standard deviation) participated in this study. The centre of pressure (COP) displacements along the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral axes was recorded in static and dynamic conditions on a force platform before and after therapeutic mobilization of the feet and ankles without blinding the subjects.

In static conditions, the sway area is reduced contrarily to dynamic conditions where the sway area is increased. In the two experimental sessions, subjects showed comparable COP displacements and the total length of the oscillations. Results demonstrated a significant improvement immediately after mobilization for ankle range of motion in dorsal flexion (right +4.7°; left +3.2°) and plantar flexion (right 5.2°; left +4.2°).

These results suggested that postural control is improved in static conditions and decreased in dynamic conditions. Therapeutic mobilization of feet and ankles in the elderly provides an immediate improvement in joint range of movement in dorsal and plantar flexion.