High- and low-ankle flexibility and motor task performance.

The effect of widely differing but normal passive ankle flexibility on function was investigated by using able-bodied males selected from the upper and lower tails of a group normally distributed for passive dorsiflexion (DF) flexibility. Ankle, knee and hip kinematics, and kinetics were quantified during stair descent, walking and standing up. The effect of DF flexibility was apparent during stair descent, but not in standing up or walking. Mean peak DF in stance phase of stair descent was 11.5 degrees lower for 'inflexible' compared with 'flexible' subjects, but the net moment about the ankle at peak DF and the timing of peak DF were comparable between groups.

[1]  N. Pratt,et al.  The effect of hamstring muscle stretching on standing posture and on lumbar and hip motions during forward bending. , 1996, Physical therapy.

[2]  J. Crosbie,et al.  Intersegmental dynamics of standing from sitting. , 1997, Clinical biomechanics.

[3]  J. P. Paul,et al.  Forces and impulses during aided gait. , 1987, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[4]  Brandell Br.  Functional roles of the calf and vastus muscles in locomotion. , 1977 .

[5]  B. Nigg,et al.  Range of Motion of the Foot as a Function of Age , 1992, Foot & ankle.

[6]  C Tabary,et al.  Toe-walking in children with cerebral palsy: contributions of contracture and excessive contraction of triceps surae muscle. , 1989, Physical therapy.

[7]  B. Bresler.  The Forces and Moments in the Leg During Level Walking , 1950, Journal of Fluids Engineering.

[8]  R. Brand,et al.  The biomechanics and motor control of human gait: Normal, elderly, and pathological , 1992 .

[9]  A. Moseley,et al.  Normative data for passive ankle plantarflexion--dorsiflexion flexibility. , 2001, Clinical biomechanics.

[10]  J. Harlaar,et al.  Passive stiffness characteristics of ankle plantar flexors in hemiplegia. , 2000, Clinical biomechanics.

[11]  Effect of maintained stretch on the range of motion of the human ankle joint. , 1995, Clinical biomechanics.

[12]  G. Moskowitz,et al.  Passive and active components of the internal moment developed about the ankle joint during human ambulation. , 1984, Journal of biomechanics.

[13]  S Moore,et al.  Observation and analysis of hemiplegic gait: stance phase. , 1993, The Australian journal of physiotherapy.

[14]  D. Winter,et al.  An integrated biomechanical analysis of normal stair ascent and descent. , 1988, Journal of biomechanics.

[15]  R. P. Fabio.  Reliability of computerized surface electromyography for determining the onset of muscle activity. , 1987 .

[16]  G. Yarkony,et al.  Contractures A Major Complication of Craniocerebral Trauma , 1987, Clinical orthopaedics and related research.

[17]  C. Richards,et al.  Contribution of passive stiffness to ankle plantarflexor moment during gait after stroke. , 2000, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[18]  D. Winter.  Biomechanics of Human Movement , 1980 .

[19]  Stefan Hesse,et al.  Standing-up in healthy subjects: symmetry of weight distribution and lateral displacement of the centre of mass as related to limb dominance , 1996 .