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Purpose

A mobilization technique used to improve ankle plantarflexion ROM.

Technique

Patient is positioned in quadruped with her ankle and foot off the plinth.

Clinician places a towel or pad under the patient’s proximal tibia so the patient is not completely kneeling on the surface the Clinician is mobilizing against.

Clinician uses the thenar eminence on his stabilizing hand to stabilize the posterior tibia.

Clinician uses his mobilization hand to palpate the fibular head being carefully not to compress the common fibular or peroneal nerve.

Clinician places the wide side of the thumb on his mobilization head onto the posterior aspect of the fibular head.

Clinician takes up the slack with his stabilizing hand then performs a gentle anterior (ventral) glide of the fibula with his mobilization hand.

References

1. Kaltenborn, F.M. (2007). Manual mobilization of the joints: The extremities volume I (6th ed.). Minneapolis, MN: OPTP.

Related videos:

1. Femur on Tibia – Posterior Glide
2. Tibia on Femur – Medial Glide
3. Tibia on Femur – Posterior Glide
4. Proximal Radioulnar Joint Mobilization
5. Shoulder – Anterior Glide