The acute effects of ankle mobilisations on lower extremity joint kinematics

Previous investigations have identified compensatory movement strategies (CMS) within the lower extremity or lumbopelvic complex during closed chain exercises may be associated with a loss of ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM). The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of ankle mobilisations on proximal joint kinematics during a movement task that demands a high amount of ankle dorsiflexion ROM.

Eight healthy males (mean (SD) age 25 (4) years) demonstrating side-to-side asymmetry during the weight-bearing lunge test (WBLT) and CMS during the single-leg step-down exercise were accepted for this study. Participants completed five repetitions of a single-leg step-down, both before and after an ankle mobilisation intervention aimed at improving joint athrokinematics. A Vicon motion capture system recorded 3D joint and segment kinematics of the ankle, knee, hip and pelvis. A paired samples t-test was used to identify significant changes of lower extremity joint kinematics during the single-leg step-down, before and after mobilisation.

Following the mobilisation intervention, statistically significant gains in ankle dorsiflexion ROM were identified during the WBLT [mean difference 2.425 (0.9377) centimeters, t = -7.315, p < 0.01]. No evidence was found of altered joint kinematics during the single-leg step-down.

These findings indicate that increases in ankle dorsiflexion ROM do not automatically integrate into functional movement tasks.