Talus mobilization-based manual therapy is effective for restoring range of motion and enhancing balance in older adults with limited ankle mobility: A randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

BackgroundThe ankle plays a key role in balance, but ankle range of motion decreases with ageing. Research questionTo establish whether a talus mobilization-based manual therapy intervention may be effective for increasing range of motion and balance in older adults with limited ankle mobility due to the ageing process. MethodsRandomized clinical trial in which 42 community-dwelling older adults with limited ankle mobility were allocated to an experimental or a control group. The experimental intervention consisted of six sessions of anteroposterior talus mobilization, whereas the control intervention was a sham treatment. Baseline change in weight and non-weight bearing ankle range of motion (ROM), balance outcome in terms of the Timed up and go (mobility and dynamic balance), Single-leg stand (static balance and stability), Functional reach (margins of stability) and Romberg tests (static balance) were assessed. Analysis of variance based on a mixed-linear model of repeated measures looked for group interactions. ResultsForty participants completed the study. Participants who received six sessions of manual therapy showed greater improvements in the Timed up and go, Functional reach and Single-leg stand tests than participants who received a sham intervention (p < 0.001). Both groups presented similar performance in post-treatment static balance measures (p > 0.05). SignificanceAn anteroposterior talus mobilization-based manual therapy intervention is effective for increasing ankle ROM, with a positive effect on dynamic balance, mobility and stability in community-dwelling older adults with limited ankle mobility.