OBJECTIVES: The purpose was to determine the effects of a gastrocnemius stretching program on passive ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and ankle dorsiflexion and time-to-heel-off during the stance phase of gait. DESIGN: This study was a randomized-control trial design. SETTING: The study was conducted in a biomechanical laboratory setting. PARTICIPANTS: Nineteen volunteers (17 women and 2 men, mean age 30.3 years; SD 9.8 years), with less than 8 degrees of passive ankle dorsiflexion range of motion bilaterally and a history of lower extremity overuse injury were randomly assigned to the experimental (n = 11) or control group (n = 8). INTERVENTION: The experimental group participated in a static gastrocnemius stretching program of five repetitions held for 30-s, two times daily, for 3 weeks. The control group received no intervention. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Passive ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and ankle dorsiflexion and time-to-heel-off during the stance phase of gait were measured before and after the intervention. RESULTS: The experimental group had significantly greater passive dorsiflexion range of motion at post-test than the control group on both the right (p = 0.000) and left (p = 0.002) sides. Ankle dorsiflexion and time-to-heel-off during the stance phase of gait were not different among group, time, or foot (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A gastrocnemius stretch performed two times daily, for 3 weeks increased passive ankle dorsiflexion, but did not alter ankle dorsiflexion or time-to-heel-off during the stance phase of gait. Thus, when an increase in ankle dorsiflexion or time-to-heel-off during the stance phase of ambulation is a clinical goal, it is unlikely to result from the stretching regimen used in this study.

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