J Sport Rehabil. 2020 Mar 1;29(3):287-293. doi: 10.1123/jsr.2018-0199.
Limited ankle dorsiflexion (DF) range of motion has been correlated with decreased flexibility of the gastrocnemius/soleus complex. Decreased ankle DF range of motion can lead to an increase in lower-extremity injuries, for example, acute ankle sprains, Achilles tendinopathy.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether a single application of the intervention to the gastrocnemius/soleus complex via multidirectional self-myofascial release using a foam roller, multiplanar dynamic stretch performed in downward dog, or a combination of both techniques acutely improved ankle DF.
Subjects were assigned to groups via random card selection. Investigators provided verbal cues as needed to yield correct performance of interventions. Both interventions were performed twice for 1 minute using a dynamic walking rest of 30.48 m at a self-selected pace between interventions. Statistical analyses were completed using a 1-way analysis of variance, at α level ≤ .05.
A convenience sample study.
A total of 42 asymptomatic physical therapy students (18 females and 24 males) with mean age of 26.12 (4.03) years volunteered to participate.
Multidirectional self-myofascial release using a foam roller, multiplanar dynamic stretch performed in downward dog, or a combination of both techniques.
Weight-bearing right ankle DF measurements were recorded in centimeters using a forward lunge technique (intraclass correlation coefficient = .98, .97, and .96).
Data analysis revealed no significant difference between the 3 groups in all pre-post measurements (P = .82). Mean (SD) measurements from pretest to posttest for myofascial release, dynamic stretching, and combination interventions were 0.479 (0.7) cm, 0.700 (0.7) cm, and 0.907 (1.4) cm, respectively.
Until further studies are conducted, the selection of technique to increase ankle DF range of motion should be based on each individual patient's ability, preference, and response to treatment.
踝关节背屈活动度（DF）受限与比目鱼肌/跟腱复合体的柔韧性降低有关。DF 活动度降低会导致下肢受伤的风险增加，例如急性踝关节扭伤、跟腱病。
本研究旨在确定通过多方向自我筋膜松解（使用泡沫轴）、下犬式多平面动态伸展或两者联合应用单次干预对腓肠肌/比目鱼肌复合体是否能即刻改善踝关节 DF。
通过随机卡片选择将受试者分配到组中。调查人员根据需要提供口头提示，以正确执行干预措施。两种干预措施均以自我选择的速度进行 30.48 米的动态行走休息，两次各进行 1 分钟。使用单向方差分析进行统计分析，α水平≤.05。
方便样本研究。
共有 42 名无症状的物理治疗学生（18 名女性和 24 名男性）自愿参加，平均年龄为 26.12（4.03）岁。
使用泡沫轴进行多方向自我筋膜松解、下犬式多平面动态伸展或两者联合应用。
使用前弓步技术以厘米为单位记录右侧承重踝关节 DF 测量值（组内相关系数=.98、.97 和.96）。
数据分析显示，3 组在所有前后测量值之间均无统计学差异（P =.82）。筋膜松解、动态伸展和联合干预的平均（SD）测量值分别为 0.479（0.7）cm、0.700（0.7）cm 和 0.907（1.4）cm。
在进一步研究之前，应根据每个患者的能力、偏好和对治疗的反应来选择增加踝关节 DF 活动度的技术。
