Does the Addition of Manual Therapy Techniques Increase Gastrocnemius/Soleus Length More Than Stretching Alone?

NCT ID: NCT01856972

Last Updated: 2014-06-11

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

20 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2013-05-31

Study Completion Date

2014-06-30

Brief Summary

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This study will examine the short term effects of adding manual therapy techniques to static stretching in Dorsiflexion (DF) Range of Motion (ROM). The investigators will be studying 2 forms of manual therapy, a rear-foot thrust joint mobilization (TJM), and Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM). By comparing 3 groups: TJM+static stretching versus IASTM + static stretching versus static stretching alone the investigators wish to see if there are any short term benefits in DF ROM by adding either of these interventions to static stretching.

The manual therapy treatment will occur over 2 sessions and DF ROM measurements will be taken 4 times over a 2 week period.

The population that the investigators wish to examine are subjects with healthy feet and ankles, but with limited DF ROM.

The primary objective of this study is to see if subjects with decreased dorsiflexion motion will experience greater increases in dorsiflexion motion with the addition of manual therapy of static stretching alone.

Our hypothesis is subjects who receive manual therapy therapy and static stretching will experience a significant increase in DF ROM as compared to subjects who receive static stretching alone. More specifically subjects who are treated with the IASTM will experience greater results than subjects who are treated with the rear-foot thrust mobilization.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Muscle Tightness

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization

Subjects randomized into this treatment arm will receive Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization to the Gastrocnemius/Soleus complex, as well as a standard stretching/ROM protocol

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

IASTM treatment: will be performed with the sound assisted soft tissue mobilization tool #5. Patient will be placed in the prone position with the ankle in a relaxed position. The treating therapist will perform 10 scanning strokes in the caudal, cephalic, medial, lateral directions for a total of 40 strokes over the Gastrocnemius/Soleus complex. The therapist can then perform more concentrated strokes in areas noted by the therapist as tight, with a maximum treatment time of 5 minutes.

Static stretching/ROM exercises

Intervention Type OTHER

Gastrocnemius stretch at wall 3 sets of 30 second holds. Soleus stretch at wall 3 sets of 30 second holds. Standing bilateral dorsiflexion on step x30 with full ROM. Standing bilateral plantar flexion on step x30 with full ROM.

Rearfoot joint mobilization

Subjects randomized into this treatment arm will receive a rear-foot joint mobilization as well as a standard stretching/ROM protocol

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Rearfoot joint mobilization

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

A high velocity-low amplitude distractive thrust is directed at the talocrural joint. The procedure is performed with the patient in the supine position. The therapist interlaces hands over the dorsum of the foot with 5th digit placed on talus. The therapist slightly pronates and dorsiflexes the foot. Tension is taken up in a caudal direction until the soft tissue barrier is engaged. A distractive thrust is then applied. This is performed up to 2 times. If the therapist notes a cavitation, the patient is progressed to ROM exercises. If there is no cavitation is noted by the therapist the thrust mobilization is reapplied.

Static stretching/ROM exercises

Intervention Type OTHER

Gastrocnemius stretch at wall 3 sets of 30 second holds. Soleus stretch at wall 3 sets of 30 second holds. Standing bilateral dorsiflexion on step x30 with full ROM. Standing bilateral plantar flexion on step x30 with full ROM.

Static stretching/ROM exercises

This is the control group consisting of Static stretching/ROM exercises. No manual intervention is performed with the group. The subjects will perform the standard stretching and ROM protocol

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Static stretching/ROM exercises

Intervention Type OTHER

Gastrocnemius stretch at wall 3 sets of 30 second holds. Soleus stretch at wall 3 sets of 30 second holds. Standing bilateral dorsiflexion on step x30 with full ROM. Standing bilateral plantar flexion on step x30 with full ROM.

Interventions

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Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization

IASTM treatment: will be performed with the sound assisted soft tissue mobilization tool #5. Patient will be placed in the prone position with the ankle in a relaxed position. The treating therapist will perform 10 scanning strokes in the caudal, cephalic, medial, lateral directions for a total of 40 strokes over the Gastrocnemius/Soleus complex. The therapist can then perform more concentrated strokes in areas noted by the therapist as tight, with a maximum treatment time of 5 minutes.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Rearfoot joint mobilization

A high velocity-low amplitude distractive thrust is directed at the talocrural joint. The procedure is performed with the patient in the supine position. The therapist interlaces hands over the dorsum of the foot with 5th digit placed on talus. The therapist slightly pronates and dorsiflexes the foot. Tension is taken up in a caudal direction until the soft tissue barrier is engaged. A distractive thrust is then applied. This is performed up to 2 times. If the therapist notes a cavitation, the patient is progressed to ROM exercises. If there is no cavitation is noted by the therapist the thrust mobilization is reapplied.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Static stretching/ROM exercises

Gastrocnemius stretch at wall 3 sets of 30 second holds. Soleus stretch at wall 3 sets of 30 second holds. Standing bilateral dorsiflexion on step x30 with full ROM. Standing bilateral plantar flexion on step x30 with full ROM.

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

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IASTM SASTM Talocrural caudal thrust mobilization Talocrural manipulation

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

healthy feet and ankles must have limited dorsiflexion ROM. Limited dorsiflexion will be judged by patient having \<12 degrees of DF PROM with knee extended, or \<50 degrees of weight bearing DF ROM with the knee flexed.

Exclusion Criteria

* inability to fully weight bear through their lower extremities
* have \<0-90 degrees of ROM in their knees
* inability to follow directions
* presence of a Lower Extremity fracture
* pregnant or nursing
Minimum Eligible Age

12 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Nationwide Children's Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Mitchell Selhorst

Physical Therapist

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Mitchell C Selhorst, MPT

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Nationwide Children's Hospital

Locations

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Nationwide Children's Hospital Sports and Orthopedic PT East Broad St location

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Konor MM, Morton S, Eckerson JM, Grindstaff TL. Reliability of three measures of ankle dorsiflexion range of motion. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2012 Jun;7(3):279-87.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22666642 (View on PubMed)

Fong CM, Blackburn JT, Norcross MF, McGrath M, Padua DA. Ankle-dorsiflexion range of motion and landing biomechanics. J Athl Train. 2011 Jan-Feb;46(1):5-10. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-46.1.5.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21214345 (View on PubMed)

Piva SR, Fitzgerald GK, Wisniewski S, Delitto A. Predictors of pain and function outcome after rehabilitation in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome. J Rehabil Med. 2009 Jul;41(8):604-12. doi: 10.2340/16501977-0372.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19565153 (View on PubMed)

Radford JA, Burns J, Buchbinder R, Landorf KB, Cook C. Does stretching increase ankle dorsiflexion range of motion? A systematic review. Br J Sports Med. 2006 Oct;40(10):870-5; discussion 875. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2006.029348. Epub 2006 Aug 22.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16926259 (View on PubMed)

Hammer WI. The effect of mechanical load on degenerated soft tissue. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2008 Jul;12(3):246-56. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2008.03.007. Epub 2008 Jun 3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19083680 (View on PubMed)

Schaefer JL, Sandrey MA. Effects of a 4-week dynamic-balance-training program supplemented with Graston instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization for chronic ankle instability. J Sport Rehabil. 2012 Nov;21(4):313-26. doi: 10.1123/jsr.21.4.313.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23118072 (View on PubMed)

Fryer GA, Mudge JM, McLaughlin PA. The effect of talocrural joint manipulation on range of motion at the ankle. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2002 Jul-Aug;25(6):384-90. doi: 10.1067/mmt.2002.126129.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12183696 (View on PubMed)

Bozymski EM, Isaacs KL. Special diagnostic and therapeutic considerations in elderly patients with upper gastrointestinal disease. J Clin Gastroenterol. 1991;13 Suppl 2:S65-75. doi: 10.1097/00004836-199112002-00009.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 1885904 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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IRB13-00096

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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