Combined effect of gastrocnemius stretching with self-stabilising talus during subtalar supination on ankle kinematics in subjects with limited ankle dorsiflexion
Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Therapy, Baekseok University, Korea | [b] Applied Kinesiology and Ergonomic Technology Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, Korea
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Heonseock Cynn, Applied Kinesiology and Ergonomic Technology Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, 1 Yonseidae-gil, Wonju, Kangwon-do, Korea. Tel.: +82 33 760 2427; Fax: +82 33 760 2496; E-mail: cynn@yonsei.ac.kr.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Exercises that stretch the gastrocnemius (GCM) lead to greater ankle dorsiflexion (DF). GCM stretching combined with talar self-stabilisation has been reported to increase ankle DF range of motion (ROM). However, excessive subtalar and midtarsal pronation during GCM stretching may compensate for reduced ankle DF. Thus, this study examined the combined immediate effect of stretching GCM and stabilising talus and subtalar supination on limited ankle DF. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the immediate effect of GCM stretching alone, GCM stretching with talar self-stabilisation and GCM stretching with talar self-stabilisation and subtalar supination on ankle kinematics in subjects with limited ankle DF. METHODS: Fifteen subjects with limited ankle DF were recruited. The subjects performed the three abovementioned methods. RESULTS: GCM stretching with talar self-stabilisation and subtalar supination significantly increased open-chain and closed-ankle DF ROM compared with GCM stretching alone. Moreover, GCM stretching combined with talar self-stabilisation and subtalar supination significantly increased open-chain ankle DF ROM with knee straight compared with pre-intervention (P< 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: The preferred method to increase ankle DF ROM is GCM stretching combined with talar self-stabilisation and subtalar supination.
