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Journal of Foot and Ankle Research
Published in: Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Review

Interventions for increasing ankle joint dorsiflexion: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors: Rebekah Young, Sheree Nix, Aaron Wholohan, Rachael Bradhurst, Lloyd Reed

Published in: Journal of Foot and Ankle Research | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

Ankle joint equinus, or restricted dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM), has been linked to a range of pathologies of relevance to clinical practitioners. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effects of conservative interventions on ankle joint ROM in healthy individuals and athletic populations.

Methods

Keyword searches of Embase, Medline, Cochrane and CINAHL databases were performed with the final search being run in August 2013. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they assessed the effect of a non-surgical intervention on ankle joint dorsiflexion in healthy populations. Studies were quality rated using a standard quality assessment scale. Standardised mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated and results were pooled where study methods were homogenous.

Results

Twenty-three studies met eligibility criteria, with a total of 734 study participants. Results suggest that there is some evidence to support the efficacy of static stretching alone (SMDs: range 0.70 to 1.69) and static stretching in combination with ultrasound (SMDs: range 0.91 to 0.95), diathermy (SMD 1.12), diathermy and ice (SMD 1.16), heel raise exercises (SMDs: range 0.70 to 0.77), superficial moist heat (SMDs: range 0.65 to 0.84) and warm up (SMD 0.87) in improving ankle joint dorsiflexion ROM.

Conclusions

Some evidence exists to support the efficacy of stretching alone and stretching in combination with other therapies in increasing ankle joint ROM in healthy individuals. There is a paucity of quality evidence to support the efficacy of other non-surgical interventions, thus further research in this area is warranted.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Interventions for increasing ankle joint dorsiflexion: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors
Rebekah Young
Sheree Nix
Aaron Wholohan
Rachael Bradhurst
Lloyd Reed
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Foot and Ankle Research / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1757-1146
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-1146-6-46

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