Immediate Effects of Anterior-to-Posterior Talocrural Joint Mobilization after Prolonged Ankle Immobilization: A Preliminary Study

Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion ( ROM) typically decreases aft er prolonged immobilization. Anterior-to-posterior talocrural joint mobilizations are purported to increase dorsifl exion ROM and decrease joint stiffness aft er immobilization. The purpose of this study was to determine if a single bout of Grade III anterior-to-posterior talocrural joint mobilizations immediately affected measures of dorsifl exion ROM, posterior ankle joint stiffness, and posterior talartranslation in ankles of patients who had been immobilized at least 14 days. Ten physically active patients ( 5 males, 5 females; age=21.4+3.3 years) participated. Each had the ankle immobilized following a lower extremity injury for at least 14 days and presented with at least a 5 degrees dorsifl exion ROM deficit compared to the contralateral ankle. A crossover design was employed so that half of the subjects received joint mobilizations first and half of the subjects received the control intervention ( no treatment) first. All subjects ultimately received both treatments. Active dorsifl exion ROM was assessed with a bubble inclinometer, and posterior ankle stiffness and talar translation were assessed with an instrumented ankle arthrometer. Aft er a single application of grade III anterior- to-posterior talocrural joint mobilization, dorsifl exion ROM and posterior ankle joint stiffness were significantly increased. There was also a trend toward less posterior talar translation immediately aft er mobilization. The trend toward decreased posterior talar translation and increased posterior ankle joint stiffness supports the positional fault theory. Correction of an anterior talar positional fault offers a possible explanation for these results.