title: Effects of Anteroposterior Talus Mobilization on Range of Motion, Pain, and Functional Capacity in Participants With Subacute and Chronic Ankle Injuries: A Controlled Trial.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to measure the acute (1 session) and chronic effects (6 sessions) and the follow-up (2 weeks) of anteroposterior articular mobilization of the talus, grade III of Maitland, on the dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM), pain, and functional capacity of individuals with subacute and chronic traumatic injuries of the ankle.
  
  
  
  Thirty-eight volunteers, men and women, with a mean age of 40.8 years, with subacute and chronic ankle injuries participated. The volunteers were blinded to the study purpose and were allocated into the experimental group (EG) or sham group (SG). Dorsiflexion ROM, pain, and functional capacity were measured using the universal goniometer, visual analog scale, and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure, respectively. Measurements were taken on 4 different occasions: (1) baseline, (2) after the first session, (3) after the sixth session, and (4) at follow-up. Articular anteroposterior mobilization of the talus grade III of Maitland was applied to the EG, whereas manual contact was applied to the SG. Three series of 30 seconds each with a 30-second rest interval between the series were conducted.
  
  
  
  Significant increases in ankle dorsiflexion ROM were observed only for the EG after the first (EG: 9.5 ± 1.1; SG: 7.6 ± 1.1) and sixth (EG: 12.8 ± 1.2; SG: 8.4 ± 1.2) sessions and were maintained at follow-up (EG: 13.2 ± 1.1; SG: 9.3 ± 1.3). Decreases in pain and improvements in functional capacity (FC) were identified for both groups after the first and sixth sessions (Pain, EG: 1.3 ± 0.5; SG: 1.8 ± 0.6 and EG: 0.7 ± 0.3; SG: 0.7 ± 0.3; FC, EG: 64.6 ± 3.5; SG: 67.4 ± 4.4 and EG: 79.9 ± 3.3; SG: 86.2 ± 3.3) and remained at follow-up (Pain, EG: 0.3 ± 0.2; SG: 0.5 ± 0.3; FC, EG: 86.8 ± 2.7; SG: 89.8 ± 3.7).
  
  
  
  Articular grade III mobilization improved ankle dorsiflexion ROM, when compared with the SG. Changes in pain and functional capacity were similar in both groups.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Physical Therapy Department, School of Physical Education, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael Duarte
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Physical Therapy Department, School of Physical Education, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana Mundim
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Physical Therapy Department, School of Physical Education, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tarcísio Santos
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Department, School of Physical Education, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luci Fuscaldi
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Teixeira-Salmela
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Department, School of Physical Education, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: mresende@eeffto.ufmg.br.
authors.forename: Marcos Antônio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: de Resende
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D053587:Arthrometry, Articular; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026201:Musculoskeletal Manipulations / Q000379:methods*; D010146:Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013628:Talus
keywords: Ankle; Joint Range of Motion; Manual Therapy; Mobilization