Manual Ankle Therapy on Fear of Falls, Range of Motion, and Functionality and Stability in Geriatric Patients

The range of movement of the ankle decreases with age and the plantar arch decreases, adopting a more pronated position of the foot. The main objective is to analyze the effectiveness of manual therapy using ankle joint techniques in geriatric patients. Randomized, double-blind clinical trial with follow-up period. Subjects will be assigned to control and experimental groups using a data analysis tool (Excel). The dependent variable will be the fear of falls. The secondary variables will be the range of movement in dorsiflexion of the ankle, and the functionality and stability of the lower limbs. Three evaluations will be carried out. A baseline measurement before the start of the study (T0), after the intervention (T1) and after a 3-week follow-up period (T2). A manual therapy protocol will be carried out, lasting 3 weeks with 1 weekly session. Each session will last 10 minutes. The patients included in the experimental group will undergo the following manual therapy techniques: talus dorsal sliding technique and joint technique in "8" on the Lisfranc and Chopart joints. The patients included in the control group underwent the same techniques as those indicated for the experimental group, but without sliding or placing joint tension. The periodicity and times of administration will be the same