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

• Published in: Physical therapy in sport Vol. 7; no. 2; pp. 93 - 100
• Main Authors: Johanson, Marie A., Wooden, Michael, Catlin, Pamela A., Hemard, Leanne, Lott, Kristina, Romalino, Robert, Stillman, Tamara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2006; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Ankle; Ankle dorsiflexion; Gait; Gait analysis; Gastrocnemius muscle stretching; Injuries; Physical therapy; Plantar fasciitis; Range of motion; Sports medicine; Stretching; Ankle dorsiflexion; Gastrocnemius muscle stretching; Gait analysis
• ISSN: 1466-853X; 1873-1600
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2006.02.002

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.
This study was a randomized-control trial design.
The study was conducted in a biomechanical laboratory setting.
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).
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.
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.
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).
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.