Dose-response of Anteroposterior Mobilizations in Weight Bearing Talus Dorsiflexion

University of Valencia62 enrolled

Overview

Ankle mobility limitations are common in older adults. A possible treatment to restore joint mobility is manual therapy based on mobilization techniques, in this case, applied on the ankle joint. Previous research had proposed different treatment volumes (one to twelve sessions), but shown a different and non-consistent degree of effectiveness according to such factor. Therefore, this work aims to determine the dose-response relationship of manual therapy (talus mobilizations) on ankle range of motion in the older adult.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Aging Problems

Interventions

Posteriorization of the talus.PROCEDURE

Three sets of a 30-s grade IV anteroposterior mobilization.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 60 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Community-dwelling older adults. * Limited ankle mobility (\< 35 degrees). * Over 60 years. Exclusion Criteria: * Not willing to participate or signing a consent form * Lower limb injury in the three months prior to the study (ex. sprain) * Diagnosed condition that may influence mobility assessments (i.e. stroke)

Locations (1)

Universidad de Valencia

Valencia, Spain

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Treatment dose

Number of sessions of experimental intervention needed to induce a clinically important gain in ankle mobility after the intervention. A baseline progression over 4.6º in the Lunge test will be considered clinically important (Powden, 2015), so that the number of sessions will be established when this threshold is exceeded (see secondary outcome) .

Time frame: Change from baseline to end of intervention (2 weeks) and follow-up (10 weeks)

Secondary Outcomes

The Lunge test

Weight bearing ankle dorsiflexion range of motion. This test will measure the maximum tilt of the tibia that a subject can perform while standing and bearing the weight on the limb without lifting the heel from the floor. A Baseline® Digital Inclinometer (Fabrication Enterprises Inc) will be used to assessed this outcome. Values below 35º indicate limited mobility. A baseline progression over 4.6º will be considered clinically important (Powden, 2015). This mobility gain will be used to determine the dose-response relationship: number of sessions of talus mobilizations needed to induce a clinically important gain in ankle mobility after the intervention (see primary outcome measure)

Time frame: Change from baseline, to end of intervention (2 weeks) and follow-up (10 weeks)

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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