Efficacy of the ‘Still technique’ on dorsiflexion at the talocrural joint in patients with a history of ankle injury

Abstract

Background and Objectives: To determine the efficacy of an osteopathic technique (‘Still Technique’) on range of motion at the talocrural joint in individuals with a history of ankle injury. This dissertation has two sections. Section I contains a review the literature regarding investigation on range of motion at the talocrural joint. Section II consists of a manuscript of a study investigating the ‘Still Technique’ on talocrural joint range of motion.

Design: A randomised, controlled, blinded, experimental study.

Subjects: Thirty-two volunteers (19 males, 13 females; mean age=28.3 SD= 8.4) with a history of ankle injury from a university population, aged between 18 and 47 years.

Methods: Subjects with a history of ankle injury were randomly allocated to control and experimental groups. Subjects in the experimental group received three consecutive applications of ‘the Still Technique’ at the talocrural joint within a single session. Those in the control group received a sham intervention designed to mimic the ‘Still Technique’. Pre-test and post-test measures of passive dorsiflexion ROM were collected using a magnetometer.

Results: A comparison of the pre and post intervention control group (n=16) means revealed a mean change of 1.5º (p= 0.163; d= 0.10) (95% CI= -0.6 to 3.6º). A comparison of the pre and post intervention experimental group (n=16) means revealed a mean change of 3.8º (p= 0.18; d=0.34) (95% CI= 0.75 to 6.8º). The observed changes in ROM for both the experimental and control groups did not exceed the smallest detectable difference (SDD=5.9°).

Conclusion: The application of the Still technique did not substantially alter ROM at the talocrural joint in all subjects. Rather there was a range of responses, some subjects did respond to the single treatment and further investigation into the characteristics of these responsive patients could be warranted.