The immediate effect of triceps surae myofascial trigger point therapy on restricted active ankle joint dorsiflexion in recreational runners: A crossover randomised controlled trial

Grieve, Rob; Grieve, Robert; Cranston, Amy; Henderson, Andrew; John, Rachel; Malone, George; Mayall, Christopher

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the immediate effect on restricted active ankle joint dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM), after a single intervention of myofascial trigger point (MTrP) therapy on latent triceps surae MTrPs in recreational runners. Design: A crossover randomised controlled trial. Participants: Twenty-two recreational runners (11 men and 11 women; mean age 24.57; ±8.7 years) with a restricted active ankle joint dorsiflexion and presence of latent MTrPs. Intervention: Participants were screened for a restriction in active ankle dorsiflexion in either knee flexion (soleus) or knee extension (gastrocnemius) and the presence of latent MTrPs. Participants were randomly allocated a week apart to both the intervention (combined pressure release and 10s passive stretch) and the control condition. Results: A clinically meaningful (large effect size) and statistically significant increase in ankle ROM in the intervention compared to the control group was achieved, for the soleus (p=0.004) and the gastrocnemius (p=0.026). Conclusion: Apart from the statistical significance (p

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Oct 1, 2013
• Journal: Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies
• Print ISSN: 1360-8592
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 453-461
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2013.02.001
• Keywords: recreational running, restricted ankle joint dorsiflexion, triceps surae myofascial trigger point therapy
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/927159
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2013.02.001