Technique Highlight: IASTM and Functional Release of the Fibular Head

Having problems restoring a patient's ankle dorsiflexion? The problem may be higher than the talocrural and subtalar joints! The fibular head should glide antero-laterally when performing dorsiflexion whether it's open or closed chain. I had a request on the EDGE Facebook page for this technique. Ask and you shall receive!

IASTM:
Pt: hooklying or sitting
PT:

behind the patient, start along the bony contours of the fibular head
use the sharp side of the EDGE and the 2nd smallest convexity to release around the fibular head
screen superficially around the circumference, starting posteriorly and finishing anteriorly
find a direction of restriction and release it with repeated strokes in that direction
There are also common restrictions along the lateral gastroc superiorly almost in the shape of a large oval. This is one of the lower quarter patterns of tissue dysfunction I find

Release this pattern area in proximal to distal or distal to proximal strokes starting superficially with the sharp EDGE and then progressing in depth with the flat EDGE

perform this for 5-10 minutes around this area and recheck dorsiflexion/function

Functional Release

Pt: lunge position involved LE forward or standing ready to squat

PT:

half kneel in front of the pt
mob hand on posterior fibular head, careful with pressure as you may impinge the fibular nerve
if it's sharp, readjust your hand placement, or perform some STM to release the tissues posteriorly first

Tech

pt squats or if in lunge position, does a mini lunge with involved LE forward
lightly pull the fibular head anterolaterally as the pt lunges or squats to improve the glide
assisting hand may pull the guide the distal tibia properly so the the knee tracks over the 2nd metatarsal
perform 3-4 sets of 10 then recheck dorsiflexion/function