Original Article

Spinal Cord (2009) 47, 62–66; doi:10.1038/sc.2008.71; published online 24 June 2008

Effects of 6 months of regular passive movements on ankle joint mobility in people with spinal cord injury: a randomized controlled trial

L A Harvey1, R D Herbert2, J Glinsky1, A M Moseley2 and J Bowden1

  1. 1Rehabilitation Studies Unit, Northern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  2. 2Musculoskeletal Division, The George Institute for International Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Correspondence: Dr LA Harvey, Rehabilitation Studies Unit, Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney, PO Box 6, Ryde, New South Wales 1680, Australia. E-mail: l.harvey@usyd.edu.au

Received 9 April 2008; Revised 5 May 2008; Accepted 11 May 2008; Published online 24 June 2008.

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Abstract

Study design:

 

Assessor-blinded within-subject randomized controlled trial.

Objective:

 

To determine the effects of 6 months of regular passive movements on ankle joint mobility in people with spinal cord injury.

Setting:

 

Community, Australia.

Methods:

 

A total of 20 people with tetraplegia living in the community had one ankle randomized to a control group and the other to an experimental group. Carers administered passive movements to participants' experimental ankles for 10 min, 10 times a week for 6 months. The control ankles were left untreated. The primary outcome was passive ankle dorsiflexion range of motion.

Results:

 

Adherence was high (mean adherence rate of 96%). Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion decreased by a mean (s.d.) of 2° (4) in control ankles and increased by 2° (4) in experimental ankles. The mean (95% confidence interval, CI) effect on ankle dorsiflexion range of motion was 4° (95% CI, 2–6°).

Conclusion:

 

Regular passive movements have small effects on ankle joint mobility. It is unclear if these effects are clinically worthwhile.

Keywords:

ankle, stiffness, spinal cord injury, rehabilitation

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