The Effects of Gentle Movements at the Ankle in Individuals With Diminished Range of Motion

Sponsor

University of Virginia (Other)

Overall Status

Unknown status

CT.gov ID

NCT01119092

Collaborator

National Athletic Training Association Research & Education Foundation (Other)

Enrollment

Location

Arms

15.9

Duration (Months)

2.5

Patients Per Site Per Month

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is the examine the effects of gentle movements applied to the ankle joint and stretching on self-reported function, ankle motion and stiffness in individuals who have suffered from an ankle sprain within the last year and have decreased ankle motion.

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Lateral Ankle Sprain	Other: Sham ("laying of hands") intervention Other: Grade IV AP joint mobilizations	N/A

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is the examine the effects of a grade IV anterior to posterior joint mobilization and stretching on self-reported function, dorsiflexion range of motion, talar glide and stiffness in individuals who have suffered from an ankle sprain within the last year and have a 5° dorsiflexion range of motion deficit.

We will quantify range of motion with standard goniometric measures, stiffness with the use of an instrumented ankle arthrometer, talar glide with the use of the posterior talar glide test and self-reported function using the foot and ankle ability measure (FAAM) and FAAM-sport.

Study Design

Study Type:

Interventional

Anticipated Enrollment :

40 participants

Allocation:

Randomized

Intervention Model:

Parallel Assignment

Masking:

Single (Outcomes Assessor)

Primary Purpose:

Treatment

Official Title:

The Effects of Talocrural Joint Mobilizations in Individuals With Diminished Dorsiflexion Range of Motion After Ankle Sprain

Study Start Date :

Jan 1, 2010

Anticipated Primary Completion Date :

May 1, 2011

Anticipated Study Completion Date :

May 1, 2011

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/Treatment
Sham Comparator: Sham intervention plus standard treatment This group will receive a "laying of hands" treatment in addition to standard treatment. The clinician will place his/her hands in a position to perform the AP joint mobilizations but will not actually perform them. The sham treatment will be performed 3 times and each will last a period of 60 seconds with a one minute rest in between.	Other: Sham ("laying of hands") intervention The clinician will place his/her hands in a position to perform the AP joint mobilizations but will not actually perform them. The sham treatment will be performed 3 times and each will last a period of 60 seconds with a one minute rest in between.
No Intervention: Control Group This group will be individuals who suffer from the same injury but will be instructed to stretch at home 5 days a week for 2 weeks.
Experimental: Grade IV AP joint mobilization plus standard treatment This group will receive 3 60-second treatments of Grade IV AP joint mobilizations of the talus during each treatment session, with a one minute rest in between each treatment.	Other: Grade IV AP joint mobilizations 3 60-second treatments of Grade IV AP joint mobilizations of the talus during each treatment session, with a one minute rest in between each treatment.

Arm

Intervention/Treatment

Sham Comparator: Sham intervention plus standard treatment

This group will receive a "laying of hands" treatment in addition to standard treatment. The clinician will place his/her hands in a position to perform the AP joint mobilizations but will not actually perform them. The sham treatment will be performed 3 times and each will last a period of 60 seconds with a one minute rest in between.

Other: Sham ("laying of hands") intervention

The clinician will place his/her hands in a position to perform the AP joint mobilizations but will not actually perform them. The sham treatment will be performed 3 times and each will last a period of 60 seconds with a one minute rest in between.

No Intervention: Control Group

This group will be individuals who suffer from the same injury but will be instructed to stretch at home 5 days a week for 2 weeks.

Experimental: Grade IV AP joint mobilization plus standard treatment

This group will receive 3 60-second treatments of Grade IV AP joint mobilizations of the talus during each treatment session, with a one minute rest in between each treatment.

Other: Grade IV AP joint mobilizations

3 60-second treatments of Grade IV AP joint mobilizations of the talus during each treatment session, with a one minute rest in between each treatment.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

Change in dorsiflexion range of motion [Baseline and 4 weeks]
Change in posterior talar glide [Baseline and 4 weeks]
Change in posterior talar translation [Baseline and 4 weeks]

Secondary Outcome Measures

Change in self reported function [Baseline and 4 weeks]
Change in ankle stiffness [Baseline and 4 weeks]

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Inclusion Criteria:

History of a lateral ankle sprain within the last year
Dorsiflexion range of motion deficit of 5°
Return to full activity prior to participation in this study
Individuals with dorsiflexion range of motion that is less than degrees of dorsiflexion.

Exclusion Criteria:

A history of ankle surgery that involves intra-articular fixation
Syndesmotic ankle sprain (to be ruled out based on the attending certified athletic trainers diagnosis)
A history or signs of reflex sympathetic dystrophy
Suffer from an acute injury in the lower extremity within the last 6 weeks
Have received manual therapy for the ankle sprain prior to enrollment