| Body Region: Ankle |
| Technique Name: Subtalar/Talocrural Distraction Manipulation Indications: ankle sprain, plantar heel pain |
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| SUMMARY: |
| Manual therapy interventions for the foot and ankle have been associated with improvements in pain and function in individuals with ankle sprains, plantar heel pain (PHP), cuboid syndrome (CS), and symptomatic hallux abducto valgus (HAV) |
Ankle Sprain: |
| To date, there have no placebo-controlled trials that explore the long-term effectiveness of manual therapy interventions on disability and function for individuals status-post (s/p) lateral ankle sprain. Several studies have shown manual therapy to be effective in improving dorsiflexion range of motion, a common impairment found in individuals s/p ankle sprain. Green et al. investigated the effect of talo-crural posterior glide mobilizations on dorsiflexion range of motion and 3 gait variables in individuals s/p lateral ankle sprain. Patients receiving talocrural mobilizations in addition to a program of rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE) demonstrated greater improvements in stride speed and required fewer visits to achieve full, pain-free dorsiflexion range of motion than subjects receiving RICE alone. Whitman and colleagues developed a clinical prediction rule (CPR) to identify individuals s/p inversion ankle sprain likely to demonstrate a rapid and dramatic response to a management program that included manual therapy interventions and general mobility exercises. Five variables were identified as predictors and together formed the CPR. The variables were:
2. Patient report of symptoms worsening in the evening 3. A navicular drop test greater/equal to 5 mm 4. Distal tibiofibular joint hypomobility |
| Green, 2001, Phys Ther Collins, 2004, Man Ther Vicenzino, 2006, J Orthop Sports Phys Ther Whitman, 2009, J Orthop Sports Phys Ther |
Plantar Heel Pain (PHP): |
| Supportive evidence for the role of manual therapy in the management of PHP has been limited, but preliminary evidence has been promising. Cleland et al. compared the effectiveness of two distinct rehabilitative programs for individuals with a diagnosis of PHP. One group received six sessions of ultrasound and iontophoresis (with dexamethasone) treatment as well as a home exercise program of calf stretching and foot intrinsic muslce strengthening exercises. The second group received six sessions of manual therapy interventions directed primarily at the ankle and foot. Treating clinicians in the manual therapy group were also free to treat other joints in the spine and lower quarter as they deemed necessary based on a thorough clinical exam. Subjects receiving manual therapy also performed a home exercise program of calf stretching and soft tissue mobilization of the plantar fascia. At the four week follow up, both groups demonstrated improvements in clinical outcomes, however, individuals receiving manual therapy interventions showed greater improvements in pain, function and disability compared to the group receiving electrophysical agents. These differences were clinically meaningful and were largely maintained at the 6 month follow up. Young and colleagues reported clinical outcomes in a case series of four subjects with PHP following seven or fewer treatment sessions of manual therapy interventions to the ankle and foot combined with therapeutic exercise. All subjects demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in pain function. |
| Young, 2004, J Orthop Sports Phys Ther Cleland, 2009, J Orthop Sports Phys Ther |
Cuboid Syndrome (CS): |
| Cuboid syndrome is also known as “subluxed cuboid”, “dropped cuboid”, “cuboid fault syndrome” and “lateral plantar neuritis”. There have not been any controlled-trials comparing the relative effectiveness of interventions for CS to date. Jennings et al. conducted an observational case-series of seven subjects diagnosed with CS following lateral ankle sprain. All subjects were treated with a “cuboid-whip” manipulation followed by 1 minute of soft-tissue massage to the plantar aspect of the foot. Two of the subjects required repeat manipulations, while the other five subjects only required one treatment. All subjects had complete and long-term resolution of symptoms immediately following treatment. |
| Jennings, 2005, J Orthop Sports Phys Ther |
Symptomatic Hallux Abducto Valgus (HAV)): |
| In a pilot study by du Plessis et. al, 30 patients with complaints of greater toe pain from HAV were randomized to receive either a protocol of manual and manipulative therapy (MMT) or standard care involving the use of a night splint. The MMT consisted of 4 sessions over a two-week period. The outcomes of interest were pain on the visual analog scale, the Foot Function Index, and range of motion of the great toe. Outcomes at 1 week after treatment were significantly better in both groups, but out at one month subjects in the night splint group regressed back to baseline scores whereas the MMT group maintained the same scores they had at 1 week. This is low quality evidence. |
| du Plessis, 2011, Foot |
OTHER CLINICAL EVIDENCE: |
| van der Wees, 2006, Aust J Physiother Hoch, 2010, J Sport Rehabil Wong, 2010, N Am J Sports Phys Ther Hoch, 2010, J Sport Rehabil Hensley, 2011, Manual Therapy Hoch, 2011, J Orthop Res
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OTHER RELEVANT EVIDENCE: |
| Lopez-Rodriquez, 2007, J Manipulative Physiol Ther Landrum, 2008, J Man Manip Ther Fujii, 2010, Manual Therapy Grindstaff, 2011, J Electomyogr Kinesiol Yeo, 2011, Manual Therapy |
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