The effect of subtalar joint position on dorsiflexion of the ankle/rearfoot versus midfoot/forefoot during gastrocnemius stretching.

Background: Limited ankle joint dorsiflexion passive range of motion (PROM) has been associated with common chronic lower extremity conditions, and clinicians often instruct patients in stretching exercises to increase dorsiflexion. However, little is known about how subtalar joint (STJ) position affects dorsiflexion at the midfoot/forefoot versus ankle/rearfoot during gastrocnemius stretching. The purpose of this study was to determine if more dorsiflexion occurs at the ankle/rearfoot and less at the midfoot/forefoot during gastrocnemius stretching with the STJ positioned in supination versus pronation.