ArticleJournal of foot and ankle research2013
Interventions for increasing ankle joint dorsiflexion: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Article in Journal of foot and ankle research, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 70 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effects of chronic static stretching interventions on jumping and sprinting performance-a systematic review with multilevel meta-analysis.Frontiers in physiology · 2024Pooled it
- Home-Based Digital Exercise Program for Patients After Open Repair of Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture: Noninferiority Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2026Trial
- Experiences of foot and ankle mobilisations combined with home stretches in people with diabetes: a qualitative study embedded in a proof-of-concept randomised controlled trial.Journal of foot and ankle research · 2022Trial
- The Achilles Tendon Response to a Bout of Running is not affected by Triceps Surae Stretch Training in Runners.Journal of sports science & medicine · 2020Trial
- Comparison of Compressive Myofascial Release and the Graston Technique for Improving Ankle-Dorsiflexion Range of Motion.Journal of athletic training · 2018Trial
- Acute Effects of Static and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Stretching on the Ankle's Range of Motion and Postural Stability.Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology · 2026Article
- The long-term effects of tissue flossing on ankle range of motion, strength, balance, and jump performance in athletes with limited ankle dorsiflexion: a randomized controlled trial.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2026Article
- Acute effects of tissue flossing on ankle range of motion in athletes with limited ankle dorsiflexion: a randomized controlled trial.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2025Article
- Static Plantar Pressure Distribution Measured Using PodoPrint Aluminum Platform in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Case-Control Study.Journal of foot and ankle research · 2025Article
- Restoring ankle dorsiflexion range of motion in athletes: an individualized clinical decision-making system.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2025Article
- Discussing Conflicting Explanatory Approaches in Flexibility Training Under Consideration of Physiology: A Narrative Review.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2024Review
- Passive Movements Do not Appear to Prevent or Reduce Joint Stiffness in Medium to Long-Stay ICU Patients: A Randomized, Controlled, Within-Participant Trial.Critical care explorations · 2023Article
- Physiology of Stretch-Mediated Hypertrophy and Strength Increases: A Narrative Review.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2023Review
- Characteristics of Pressure on the Apophysis in the Course of Paediatric Heel Pain-Preliminary Report.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
- Reliability and validity of lower limb joint range of motion measurements using a smartphone.Nagoya journal of medical science · 2022Article
- Influence of Long-Lasting Static Stretching on Maximal Strength, Muscle Thickness and Flexibility.Frontiers in physiology · 2022Article
- Botulinum toxin injection for Cockayne syndrome with muscle spasticity over bilateral lower limbs: A case report.World journal of clinical cases · 2021Article
- A novel manual therapy technique is effective for short-term increases in tibial internal rotation range of motion.Journal of exercise rehabilitation · 2021Article
- Reliability of isokinetic tests of velocity- and contraction intensity-dependent plantar flexor mechanical properties.Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports · 2021Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAnkle joint equinus, or restricted dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM), has been linked to a range of pathologies of relevance to clinical practitioners. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effects of conservative interventions on ankle joint ROM in healthy individuals and athletic populations.
methodsKeyword searches of Embase, Medline, Cochrane and CINAHL databases were performed with the final search being run in August 2013. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they assessed the effect of a non-surgical intervention on ankle joint dorsiflexion in healthy populations. Studies were quality rated using a standard quality assessment scale. Standardised mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated and results were pooled where study methods were homogenous.
resultsTwenty-three studies met eligibility criteria, with a total of 734 study participants. Results suggest that there is some evidence to support the efficacy of static stretching alone (SMDs: range 0.70 to 1.69) and static stretching in combination with ultrasound (SMDs: range 0.91 to 0.95), diathermy (SMD 1.12), diathermy and ice (SMD 1.16), heel raise exercises (SMDs: range 0.70 to 0.77), superficial moist heat (SMDs: range 0.65 to 0.84) and warm up (SMD 0.87) in improving ankle joint dorsiflexion ROM.
conclusionsSome evidence exists to support the efficacy of stretching alone and stretching in combination with other therapies in increasing ankle joint ROM in healthy individuals. There is a paucity of quality evidence to support the efficacy of other non-surgical interventions, thus further research in this area is warranted.
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.