Subtalar Joint Position

In this article, different subtalar joint positioning during gastrocnemius stretching was investigated to conclude wether or not the position of the subtalar joint had significant effect on dorsiflexion ROM. . Patients with ankle oversee injuries, and patients with limited dorsiflexion ROM, are often prescribed stretches for the gastrocnemius calf muscle as part of their rehab program. (JAT, NATA). The idea behind this is that the tight calf muscles may have an negative effect on reaching adequate dorsiflexion, and some clinicians even go as far as monitoring and correct subtalar positioning while doing these exercises and stretches, believing that joint positioning will have an effect on the ROM. The positions of either pronation or supination( ankles rolled in or rolled out), change the way the ankle joint is aligned and how the muscles may contract and correct morion to keep a safe neutral ankle position. Considering the talus is the gliding bone within the ankle joint that allows for both dorsi and plantar flexion, …show more content…
I would be afraid that then, after doing so repeatedly, I would change the persons natural movement patterns and cause them to ONLY be able to reach certain ranges of motion in that poor positioning, and then the patient would adopt that poor alignment and use it consistently, wrongly thinking their injury is healed and corrected, then causing other injuries/ issues in the future. Essentially, if you deviate one point from normal, that will travel up and through the entire bodies kinetic chain and alter the functions and efficiency of others sites. The idea of diverting from neutral ankle position in theory could make sense, but it isn't a tactic I would have ever thought to use, because of my knowledge of optimal joint positioning and the negative and both acute and chronic effects of working the body in forced non neutral