title: The immediate effect of triceps surae myofascial trigger point therapy on restricted active ankle joint dorsiflexion in recreational runners: a crossover randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the immediate effect on restricted active ankle joint dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM), after a single intervention of myofascial trigger point (MTrP) therapy on latent triceps surae MTrPs in recreational runners.
  
  
  METHODS
  A crossover randomised controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two recreational runners (11 men and 11 women; mean age 24.57; ±8.7 years) with a restricted active ankle joint dorsiflexion and presence of latent MTrPs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were screened for a restriction in active ankle dorsiflexion in either knee flexion (soleus) or knee extension (gastrocnemius) and the presence of latent MTrPs. Participants were randomly allocated a week apart to both the intervention (combined pressure release and 10 s passive stretch) and the control condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A clinically meaningful (large effect size) and statistically significant increase in ankle ROM in the intervention compared to the control group was achieved, for the soleus (p = 0.004) and the gastrocnemius (p = 0.026).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Apart from the statistical significance (p < 0.05), these results are clinically relevant due to the immediate increase in ankle dorsiflexion. These results must be viewed in caution due to the carry-over effect in the RCT crossover design and the combined MTrP therapy approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allied Health Professions, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Glenside Campus, University of the West of England (UWE), Blackberry Hill, Bristol BS16 1DD, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Rob.Grieve@uwe.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grieve
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cranston
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Malone
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mayall
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012420:Running; D061028:Trigger Points / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Goniometry; Latent trigger points; Myofascial pain syndrome; Myofascial trigger points; Range of motion