Immediate effects of bilateral grade III mobilization of the talocrural joint on the balance of elderly women.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immediate effects of a single treatment session of bilateral grade III mobilization of the talocrural joint on the balance of elderly women.


METHODS
Thirty-two elderly women (age, 65-80 years) with low physical activity levels completed balance evaluation using baropodometry, the Functional Reach Test and the Timed Up and Go Test, and plantar flexion and dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM), before and immediately after the mobilization (n = 16) or sham (n = 16). Each subject was submitted to a total of twelve 30-second grade III mobilizations, 6 for each ankle, in a single treatment session.


RESULTS
No significant difference was found for intragroup and intergroup comparisons in the balance of elderly women during the following evaluations: Functional Reach Test (P = .851), Timed Up and Go Test (P = .653), anteroposterior oscillation with eyes opened (P = .333) and with eyes closed (P = .652), and mediolateral oscillation with eyes opened (P = .486) and with eyes closed (P = .602). In addition, no significant difference was observed in right (P = .881) and left (P = .060) plantar flexion ROM and in right (P = .540) and left (P = .341) dorsiflexion ROM.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that a single session of bilateral grade III mobilization of the talocrural joint does not immediately improve balance and ROM in elderly women with low physical activity levels.
Laboratory of Neuromuscular Plasticity, Postgraduate Physical Therapy Program, Methodist University of Piracicaba, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. apertille@unimep.br
Adriana
A
Pertille
Aline Barbosa
AB
Macedo
Almir Vieira
AV
Dibai Filho
Elvyna Melo
EM
Rêgo
Lara Duarte de Figueiredo
LD
Arrais
Julia Raquel
JR
Negri
Rosana Macher
RM
Teodori
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D026201:Musculoskeletal Manipulations / Q000379:methods*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors