Comparison of Alternative Methods to Improve Weight-Bearing Sagittal Plane Anterior Leg Rotation

Abstract

vonGaza, GL, and Chiu, LZF. Comparison of alternative methods to improve weight-bearing sagittal plane anterior leg rotation. J Strength Cond Res 35(12): 3315–3321, 2021—Promoting rearfoot plantar flexion may permit greater sagittal plane anterior leg rotation in weight-bearing tasks. Anterior leg rotation, where the proximal tibia translates forward, is required for tasks such as squatting and landing from a jump. Twenty-eight individuals with less than 25° anterior leg rotation during a weight-bearing lunge test were enrolled and randomly assigned to self-massage and stretching only (n = 15; 14 subjects retained) or self-massage and stretching plus gastrocnemius exercise (n = 13). Anterior leg rotation was assessed during a weight-bearing lunge test and a partial squat; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of the change score and Cohen's d effect size were calculated. Anterior leg rotation in the weight-bearing lunge increased in the self-massage and stretching only (left: 95% CI [2.1°–5.4°], d = 1.14; right: 95% CI [2.3°–6.0°], d = 1.22) and self-massage and stretching plus gastrocnemius exercise (left: 95% CI [2.3°–7.5°], d = 1.71; right: 95% CI [4.2°–8.6°], d = 1.48) groups. There were no changes in anterior leg rotation in the partial squat for self-massage and stretching only (left: 95% CI [–1.2° to 2.5°], d = 0.15; right: 95% CI [–0.5° to 2.6°], d = 0.24) or self-massage and stretching plus gastrocnemius exercise (left: 95% CI [–0.2° to 4.8°], d = 0.55; right: 95% CI [–0.2° to 4.0°], d = 0.59) groups. Increases in anterior leg rotation in the weight-bearing lunge may be due to decreased passive stiffness in the plantar structures.