Does the Addition of Manual Therapy Techniques Increase Gastrocnemius/Soleus Length More Than Stretching Alone?
Does the Addition of Manual Therapy Techniques Increase Gastrocnemius/Soleus Length More Than Stretching Alone?
This study will examine the short term effects of adding manual therapy techniques to static
 stretching in Dorsiflexion (DF) Range of Motion (ROM). The investigators will be studying 2
 forms of manual therapy, a rear-foot thrust joint mobilization (TJM), and Instrument assisted
 soft tissue mobilization (IASTM). By comparing 3 groups: TJM+static stretching versus IASTM +
 static stretching versus static stretching alone the investigators wish to see if there are
 any short term benefits in DF ROM by adding either of these interventions to static
 stretching.

 The manual therapy treatment will occur over 2 sessions and DF ROM measurements will be taken
 4 times over a 2 week period.

 The population that the investigators wish to examine are subjects with healthy feet and
 ankles, but with limited DF ROM.

 The primary objective of this study is to see if subjects with decreased dorsiflexion motion
 will experience greater increases in dorsiflexion motion with the addition of manual therapy
 of static stretching alone.

 Our hypothesis is subjects who receive manual therapy therapy and static stretching will
 experience a significant increase in DF ROM as compared to subjects who receive static
 stretching alone. More specifically subjects who are treated with the IASTM will experience
 greater results than subjects who are treated with the rear-foot thrust mobilization.
Inclusion Criteria:

 healthy feet and ankles must have limited dorsiflexion ROM. Limited dorsiflexion will be
 judged by patient having <12 degrees of DF PROM with knee extended, or <50 degrees of
 weight bearing DF ROM with the knee flexed.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  inability to fully weight bear through their lower extremities

 -  have <0-90 degrees of ROM in their knees

 -  inability to follow directions

 -  presence of a Lower Extremity fracture

 -  pregnant or nursing