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Ankle SprainNCT00601471

Effects of Proximal and Distal Tibiofibular Joint Manipulation on Lower Extremity Muscle Activation, Ankle Range of Motion, and Functional Outcome Scores in Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability

A study testing proximal tibiofibular manipulation and distal tibiofibular manipulation in people with Ankle Sprain and Ankle Injuries, run by University of Virginia at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The overall aim of this project is to determine the effect of a tibiofibular joint manipulation on the neuromuscular response of the fibularis longus and soleus muscles in individuals with chronic ankle instability. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 50 years
Conditions the study is for
Ankle Sprain, Ankle Injuries, Sprain
What is being tested?
proximal tibiofibular manipulation and distal tibiofibular manipulation
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
61 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Apr 2007to Jan 2010
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 50 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • History of more than one ankle sprain
  • unilateral or bilateral
  • Complaint of chronic ankle instability (CAI) and qualified according to
  • 4 "YES" responses on the Ankle Instability Instrument (AII)
  • Scoring at least an 85 on the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM)

Who cannot join

  • Lower extremity injury in the past 6 months (including lateral ankle sprain)
  • Currently receiving physical therapy for a lower extremity injury
  • Have a previous history of lower extremity surgery
  • Have diagnosed ankle osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis
  • Currently pregnant or breast feeding
  • History of connective tissue disorders (like Marfan's Syndrome or Ehlers Danlos Disease)

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • University of Virginia

    Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908

Other trials in United States

About this study

The overall aim of this project is to determine the effect of a tibiofibular joint manipulation on the neuromuscular response of the fibularis longus and soleus muscles in individuals with chronic ankle instability. Another aim of this study is to determine the long term effects of a tibiofibular joint manipulation on range of motion and self-reported function.

We hypothesize that a manipulation applied at the distal tibiofibular joint will result in greater muscle activation, improved functional dorsiflexion ROM, and increases in FAAM scores compared to a tibiofibular joint manipulation applied at the proximal joint. We further hypothesize that both distal and proximal tibiofibular joint manipulations will result in greater muscle activation, improved functional dorsiflexion ROM, and increases in FAAM scores than no treatment at all.

Read the detailed description

Muscle weakness is a common impairment following injury to a joint. Individuals with lateral ankle sprains have been shown to demonstrate weakness and inhibition of the fibularis longus and soleus muscles. Recently, changes in the positional alignment of the talus, tibia, and fibula have been implicated in a subpopulation of individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Clinically this manifests as a decrease in the posterior glide of the talus and decreased dorsiflexion ROM. Another positional fault has been noted to occur between the distal tibiofibular joint. A subpopulation of individuals with a history of CAI have demonstrated a slight anterior displacement of the fibula relative to the tibia. The cause of the malpositioning is unknown, but manual therapeutic interventions may offer the ability to restore normal joint arthrokinematics and muscle function. It is unknown if the correction of this positional fault will have an effect on muscle inhibition about the ankle.

Since muscle inhibition is a neurological reflexive reaction, it is thought that traditional strengthening treatment techniques may not fully address this dysfunction. Manual therapeutic interventions can have dual effects on the neuromuscular system and restore normal joint arthrokinematics. Evidence suggests a joint manipulation is able to disinhibit or even facilitate local and distant muscles. This likely occurs due to the afferent response from the structures in and around the manipulated joint. Comprehensive treatment interventions which restore normal joint function, optimal motoneuron pool excitability, strength, and pain-free previous level of function need to be developed to prevent future dysfunction and osteoarthritis.

Currently no study has examined the effects of tibiofibular joint manipulation on the neuromuscular response of ankle musculature or the effects on range of motion and function. The purpose of this study is to examine the acute effects of a tibiofibular joint manipulation on the neuromuscular response of the fibularis longus and soleus muscles and to determine the long term effects on range of motion and function in individuals with CAI.

The first research question will address how a tibiofibular joint manipulation immediately affects the activation of the fibularis longus and soleus muscles. The second question will address how this joint manipulation affects range of motion and functional outcomes over a three week period. Changes in ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM), navicular drop, Step Down Test, Balance Error Scoring System, and the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) will be used to determine if clinically significant changes occurred during the intervention period.

Being tested
proximal tibiofibular manipulation, distal tibiofibular manipulation, no intervention
Keywords
ankle sprain, ankle injuries, sprains and strains
Medical subject headings
Ankle Injuries, Sprains and Strains

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • proximal tibiofibular manipulationOther

    proximal tibiofibular manipulation

  • distal tibiofibular manipulationOther

    distal tibiofibular manipulation

  • no interventionOther

    no intervention / control

Study groups in NCT00601471
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
1Experimentalproximal tibiofibular manipulation
Receives: Other: proximal tibiofibular manipulation
2Experimentaldistal tibiofibular manipulation
Receives: Other: distal tibiofibular manipulation
3No interventionno treatment
Receives: Other: no intervention

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Changes in muscle activation

    Measured: over a three week period

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. changes in functional range of motion

    Measured: over a 3 week period

  2. changes in function

    Measured: over a three week period

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted28 Jan 2008 (estimated)
  2. Study startApr 2007
  3. Primary completionJan 2010
  4. Study completionJan 2010

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
61 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00601471
Sponsor's protocol ID
12966
Status last verified
Jun 2010
First submitted
14 Jan 2008
Last updated
24 Jun 2010
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing proximal tibiofibular manipulation and distal tibiofibular manipulation in people with Ankle Sprain and Ankle Injuries, run by University of Virginia at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Jun 2010. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Changes in muscle activation (time frame: over a three week period). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Jun 2010.

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