Effects of gastrocnemius stretching on ankle dorsiflexion and time-to heel-off during the stance phase of gait

Johanson, Marie A.; Wooden, Michael; Catlin, Pamela A.; Hemard, Leanne; Lott, Kristina; Romalino, Robert; Stillman, Tamara

doi:10.1016/j.ptsp.2006.02.002

« Previous Next »Physical Therapy in Sport
Volume 7, Issue 2 , Pages 93-100, May 2006

Effects of gastrocnemius stretching on ankle dorsiflexion and time-to heel-off during the stance phase of gait

Marie A. Johanson
- Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, USA
- Corresponding author. 1441 Clifton Rd, Suite #170, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, Tel.: +14047276581; fax: +14047124130.
Michael Wooden
- Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, USA
- Physiotherapy Associates, Tucker, GA, USA
Pamela A. Catlin
- Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, USA
Leanne Hemard
- Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, USA
Kristina Lott
- Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, USA
Robert Romalino
- Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, USA
Tamara Stillman
- Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, USA

Received 9 August 2005; received in revised form 26 January 2006; accepted 22 February 2006.

Abstract

Objectives

The purpose was to determine the effects of a gastrocnemius stretching program on passive ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and ankle dorsiflexion and time-to-heel-off during the stance phase of gait.

Design

This study was a randomized-control trial design.

Setting

The study was conducted in a biomechanical laboratory setting.

Participants

Nineteen volunteers (17 women and 2 men, mean age=30.3 years; SD=9.8 years), with less than 8° of passive ankle dorsiflexion range of motion bilaterally and a history of lower extremity overuse injury were randomly assigned to the experimental (n=11) or control group (n=8).

Intervention

The experimental group participated in a static gastrocnemius stretching program of five repetitions held for 30-s, two times daily, for 3 weeks. The control group received no intervention.

Main outcome measures

Passive ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and ankle dorsiflexion and time-to-heel-off during the stance phase of gait were measured before and after the intervention.

Results

The experimental group had significantly greater passive dorsiflexion range of motion at post-test than the control group on both the right (p=0.000) and left (p=0.002) sides. Ankle dorsiflexion and time-to-heel-off during the stance phase of gait were not different among group, time, or foot (p>0.05).

Conclusions

A gastrocnemius stretch performed two times daily, for 3 weeks increased passive ankle dorsiflexion, but did not alter ankle dorsiflexion or time-to-heel-off during the stance phase of gait. Thus, when an increase in ankle dorsiflexion or time-to-heel-off during the stance phase of ambulation is a clinical goal, it is unlikely to result from the stretching regimen used in this study.

Keywords: Gastrocnemius muscle stretching, Ankle dorsiflexion, Gait analysis