Effects of antagonistic muscle contraction exercises on ankle joint range of motion.

The participants were healthy young adults, not patients with limited ankle motion, so the result may not apply to clinical populations. Only immediate range-of-motion changes were measured; the study did not report whether the effect lasted or improved function. Each group had 10 participants, and several range-of-motion measures were tested, so a significant result could be a chance finding. The paper does not report blinding of participants, exercise supervisors, or goniometer examiners. The results text says comparisons were made in the control, active, phasic, and isometric groups, while the table includes the resistance group; the analysis of the resistance group is unclear. The discussion describes the isometric increase as occurring with the knee flexed, but the results and table report the significant increase in active range of motion with the knee extended. No stretching comparison was included, so the study cannot show that isometric contraction is better than or a substitute for stretching.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The paper does not state who funded the study.

Do not use this to replace stretching for patients with limited ankle dorsiflexion. The study tested healthy young adults, measured only immediate range of motion, and found a significant increase in an active knee-extension measure, not a functional or long-term benefit.