CompletedNot Applicable

Effectiveness of Dorsal Glide Mobilization on Ankle Mobility and Basketball Performance

Greece38 participantsStarted 2025-03-11

Plain-language summary

Background: Ankle dorsiflexion is a crucial factor for functional lower limb performance, particularly in sports like basketball, where dynamic movements, direction changes, jumps, and landings are essential for athletic success. Eccentric exercise has been shown to improve dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM), enhancing muscle strength, flexibility, and athletic performance. Additionally, ankle joint mobilization, specifically posterior talocrural glide, has demonstrated promising results in improving mobility, restoring ROM, and reducing compensatory movement strategies. However, the combined effects of eccentric exercise and joint mobilization on increasing ankle dorsiflexion ROM and improving athletic performance in young basketball athletes have not yet been sufficiently investigated. Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of combining eccentric exercise and posterior talocrural glide mobilization in improving ankle dorsiflexion ROM and enhancing athletic performance in young basketball athletes. Methods: A randomized controlled trial will be conducted, including 38 young basketball athletes with confirmed restricted ankle dorsiflexion ROM. Participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention group and a control group. Both groups will follow a five-week training program consisting of eccentric exercises and stretching, performed two times per week, to improve athletic performance. The intervention group, in addition to the exercise program, will undergo ankle joint mobilization sessions for the same duration. Ankle dorsiflexion ROM, maximum isometric strength of the ankle muscles, fatigue resistance through specific endurance tests, and performance via functional tests will be assessed at baseline, at the end of the five-week program, and three months after the intervention. Statistical analysis will be conducted using a two-way repeated-measures ANOVA, with the significance level set at p \< 0.05.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 25 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Participants healthy and actively engaged in basketball training at the time of the study. * No presence of ankle pain or use of medication for musculoskeletal injuries or pain management at the time of the study. * Participation in regular training for at least one month prior to the study. * A restriction in ankle dorsiflexion of at least 2 cm in one foot compared to the other, as measured using the Weight-Bearing Lunge Test (WBLT). * Written informed consent must be provided before participation in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * History of lower extremity surgery. * Musculoskeletal injury to the lower extremity within the past six months. * Presence of neurological, vestibular, or balance disorders, or diagnosed connective tissue disease. * Inability to comply with the intervention or assessment procedures.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Active Range of Motion of Ankle Dorsiflexion using a Digital Goniometer

Timeframe: Baseline, end of 5th week, 3-moth follow-up

Dorsiflexion Range of Motion in a Closed Kinetic Chain using the Weight-Bearing Lunge Test (WBLT)

Timeframe: Baseline, end of 5th week, 3-moth follow-up

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06828744

SponsorInternational Hellenic University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-11-30

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Unilateral Restricted Ankle Dorsiflexion trials