title: Joint mobilization acutely improves landing kinematics in chronic ankle instability.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to examine the acute effect of ankle joint mobilizations akin to those performed in everyday clinical practice on sagittal plane ankle joint kinematics during a single-leg drop landing in participants with chronic ankle instability (CAI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen participants with self-reported CAI (defined as <24 on the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool) performed three single-leg drop landings under two different conditions: 1) premobilization and, 2) immediately, postmobilization. The mobilizations performed included Mulligan talocrural joint dorsiflexion mobilization with movement, Mulligan inferior tibiofibular joint mobilization, and Maitland anteroposterior talocrural joint mobilization. Three CODA cx1 units (Charnwood Dynamics Ltd., Leicestershire, UK) were used to provide information on ankle joint sagittal plane angular displacement. The dependent variable under investigation was the angle of ankle joint plantarflexion at the point of initial contact during the drop landing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant acute decrease in the angle of ankle joint plantarflexion from premobilization (34.89° ± 4.18°) to postmobilization (31.90° ± 5.89°), t(14) = 2.62, P < 0.05 (two-tailed). The mean decrease in the angle of ankle joint plantarflexion as a result of the ankle joint mobilization was 2.98° with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 0.54 to 5.43. The eta squared statistic (0.32) indicated a large effect size.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that mobilization acted to acutely reduce the angle of ankle joint plantarflexion at initial contact during a single-leg drop landing. Mobilization applied to participants with CAI has a mechanical effect on the ankle joint, thus facilitating a more favorable positioning of the ankle joint when landing from a jump.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. eamonn.delahunt@ucd.ie
authors.forename: Eamonn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Delahunt
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cusack
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Cailbhe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Doherty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000150:complications; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D026201:Musculoskeletal Manipulations; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000150:complications; D055815:Young Adult