Background and Objectives: Lumbar disk herniation with radiculopathy (LDHR) is a prevalent neuromusculoskeletal condition characterized by nociceptive and neuropathic pain components. Manual therapy (MT) is commonly used in its management, whereas Functional Magnetic Stimulation (FMS) represents an emerging modality with limited evidence in radiculopathy. The aim of this study was to examine the short-term effects of combining MT with FMS compared with MT alone on pain intensity, neuropathic pain features, neural mechanosensitivity, and functional disability in individuals with chronic LDHR. Materials and Methods: Forty adults with MRI-confirmed unilateral LDHR were randomly allocated to an MT + FMS group or an MT-only group. Both groups received ten treatment sessions over three weeks. Outcomes included lumbar and leg pain intensity (NPRS), functional disability (RMDQ), neuropathic pain symptoms (S-LANSS), and straight leg raise (SLR) range of motion. Measurements were obtained at baseline and at week 3. Group and time effects were examined using a two-way mixed ANOVA with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Significant group × time interactions were observed for all outcomes (p < 0.01), indicating greater improvements in the MT + FMS group. Reductions in lumbar and leg pain, disability, and S-LANSS scores exceeded established MCID thresholds, while SLR gains surpassed published MDC values, reflecting both statistical and clinical relevance. Only the MT + FMS group improved below the neuropathic pain diagnostic cutoff (S-LANSS < 12). Conclusions: The findings of this trial suggest that incorporating FMS into a manual therapy program may provide additional short-term clinical benefits for individuals with chronic LDHR. Further research with larger samples, longer follow-up periods, and mechanistic assessments is needed to confirm these preliminary results and to better understand the underlying mechanisms.

Background: Restricted ankle dorsiflexion is common in basketball athletes and has been associated with altered lower-limb mechanics and reduced athletic performance. Although ankle joint mobilization is widely used to improve mobility, its effects on athletic performance remain unclear. The aim of this study was to examine whether adding posterior ankle joint mobilization to a structured exercise-based program incorporating eccentric strengthening and stretching improves ankle mobility and athletic performance in basketball athletes with restricted dorsiflexion. Primary outcomes were dorsiflexion range of motion (DF-ROM) and the Weight-Bearing Lunge Test (WBLT); secondary outcomes included jump performance, hop tests, Reactive Strength Index, Fatigue Index, and maximal isometric strength. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 38 basketball athletes (mean age 21.26 ± 2.52 years) with unilateral restricted ankle dorsiflexion were randomly allocated to an exercise-only group (n = 19) or to an exercise plus talocrural mobilization group (n = 19). The intervention lasted 5 weeks, with assessments performed at baseline, post-intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up. Results: Both groups improved ankle dorsiflexion; however, greater gains were observed in the intervention group for both dorsiflexion range of motion (DF-ROM; interaction p < 0.001; mean difference [MD] = 3.52° post-intervention and MD = 5.17° at follow-up) and the Weight-Bearing Lunge Test (WBLT; interaction p < 0.001; MD = 1.39 cm and MD = 1.34 cm, respectively). The intervention group showed superior improvements in countermovement jump and Triple Hop Test performance (both p < 0.001), as well as a small but statistically significant advantage in the Single Hop Test (p = 0.015). No between-group differences were found for the 6 m timed hop test, Reactive Strength Index, Fatigue Index, or maximal isometric strength (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Adding ankle joint mobilization to an eccentric strengthening and stretching program produced greater improvements in dorsiflexion and jump performance than exercise alone, without affecting speed, reactive ability, or maximal strength. Ankle mobilization may be a useful adjunct for improving functional mobility and selected performance outcomes in basketball athletes.

Study aim: This cross-sectional study aimed to compare inter-limb differences in isokinetic peak torque (PT), hop performance, and dynamic balance in soccer players 24 months post-ACLR, and secondarily to examine associations between PT and functional test performance. Methods: Twenty-four soccer players who had undergone ACLR 24 months prior were assessed. Isokinetic PT of the knee extensors and flexors was measured at 60, 180, and 300°/s. Functional performance was evaluated using the single hop for distance, the 30 s side hop (SH), and the Y-balance test (YBT). Paired-samples t -tests assessed inter-limb differences; Pearson correlation analysis SHD examined associations between PT and functional outcomes. Results: Significant inter-limb differences were found in knee extensor PT at all velocities and in flexor PT at 60°/s. Mean inter-limb differences ranged from 10.25 to 17.08 Nm for knee extensors and were 7.54 Nm for knee flexors at 60°/s (Cohen’s d = 0.45–0.65). No differences were found in hop or YBT scores. A substantial portion of participants did not meet the symmetry threshold for isokinetic strength or SH performance. SH performance was significantly associated with extensor and flexor PT at specific velocities, while extensor PT was also associated with selected YBT directions and the composite score. Conclusions: In this sample of male soccer players, strength asymmetries may persist 24 months post-ACLR, although group-level differences in hop and YBT performance were not observed. SH and selected YBT outcomes may complement, but not replace, isokinetic evaluation.

Introduction: Ankle dorsiflexion is essential for efficient movement, athletic performance, and injury prevention. Restricted dorsiflexion alters lower-limb biomechanics and increases injury risk. Therapeutic approaches such as stretching, eccentric training, and joint mobilisation are commonly applied to restore function. This systematic narrative review synthesises current evidence on the effectiveness of ankle joint mobilisation for improving dorsiflexion range of motion (DF-ROM) and explores its potential impact on athletic performance. Methods: In August 2025, a structured and systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and selected grey literature databases. Studies eligible for inclusion comprised randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and pilot RCTs investigating manual therapy interventions directed at the ankle joint. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Results: Eleven studies involving 423 participants met the inclusion criteria. Manual therapy interventions were generally associated with improvements in DF-ROM and functional outcomes across trials, despite considerable heterogeneity in intervention dosage, participant characteristics, comparator conditions, and outcome measures. In contrast, evidence linking DF-ROM improvements to direct athletic performance outcomes (e.g., jumping, agility, return-to-sport) was more limited and inconsistent across studies. The magnitude and consistency of effects varied across studies, with some evidence suggesting a dose–response relationship favouring longer treatment durations. Combined protocols integrating manual therapy with strengthening or balance training tended to demonstrate superior outcomes compared with exercise alone. Conclusions: Manual therapy may contribute to improvements in ankle dorsiflexion and selected functional outcomes, particularly when integrated with exercise-based rehabilitation; however, conclusions should be interpreted with caution due to between-study variability. Future large-scale, sport-specific RCTs with long-term follow-up are needed to establish optimal treatment protocols and confirm the long-term effectiveness of these interventions.

Background: Non-Specific Neck Pain (NSNP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder with a multifactorial etiology. Manual therapy techniques, including Mulligan and Maitland mobilisations, are widely used for pain management and functional improvement in NSNP. However, their comparative effectiveness remains insufficiently investigated. Objective: To compare the short-term effectiveness of Mulligan and Maitland mobilisation techniques when combined with a home-based Therapeutic Exercise (TE) program. Methods: A total of 43 adults with NSNP were randomly assigned to three groups: Mulligan $+$ TE ($n=14$ ), Maitland $+$ TE ($n=14$ ), and a control group receiving TE alone ($n=15$ ). The TE program was performed daily at home for two weeks, while manual therapy interventions were administered twice per week for a total of four sessions. Pain intensity, functional ability, pain pressure threshold, Range of Motion (ROM), pain catastrophising, and kinesiophobia were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: All three groups demonstrated significant improvements in all outcome measures by the second week. However, no statistically significant differences were found between groups ($p>0.05$ ). These findings reflect short-term outcomes only and should be interpreted with caution given the limited two-week intervention period. Conclusion: Neither mobilisation technique demonstrated superiority over the other. The combination of Mulligan or Maitland mobilisation with TE did not provide greater benefits than TE alone. The short intervention duration and absence of long-term follow-up represent key study limitations. Further high-quality randomised controlled trials are needed to establish more definitive conclusions.

Background: Tibial bone stress injury (TBSI) with associated bone marrow edema (BME) is a common and clinically challenging condition in athletes, often requiring prolonged load restriction and delayed return to sport. Evidence for adjunctive interventions that improve both symptoms and MRI-derived recovery remains limited. The aim of this study was to investigate whether adding Functional Magnetic Stimulation (FMS) to standardized rehabilitation improves pain, function, and MRI-derived outcomes over 16 weeks in athletes with MRI-confirmed TBSI. Materials and Methods: Forty athletes with Fredericson grade 2–3 TBSI were randomized to FMS plus rehabilitation (n = 20) or rehabilitation alone (n = 20). Both groups completed a 4-week load-based rehabilitation program, while the FMS group additionally received eight 30 min FMS sessions at 40 Hz. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 4 weeks, and 16 weeks. The primary outcome was activity-related pain (NPRS), while secondary outcomes included lower-limb function (LEFS-GR), BME extent, and Fredericson grade. Continuous outcomes were analyzed using two-way mixed ANOVA, whereas Fredericson grade was analyzed using an ordinal generalized estimating equation model. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Groups were comparable at baseline. Significant group × time interactions favored FMS for NPRS, F(2, 76) = 12.46, p < 0.001, η²p = 0.247; LEFS-GR, F(1.08, 41.09) = 81.56, p < 0.001, η²p = 0.682; and BME extent, F(1.44, 54.85) = 49.33, p < 0.001, η²p = 0.565. At 16 weeks, the FMS group showed lower NPRS scores, higher LEFS-GR scores, and lower BME extent than controls. Fredericson grade also showed a significant group × time effect, Wald χ²(2) = 20.38, p < 0.001. The FMS group had significantly lower cumulative odds of classification in a higher Fredericson grade at 4 weeks (OR = 0.045, 95% CI: 0.012–0.163, p < 0.001), whereas the corresponding difference at 16 weeks remained directionally favorable but did not reach statistical significance (OR = 0.033, 95% CI: 0.001–1.029, p = 0.052). Conclusions: The addition of FMS to load-based rehabilitation was associated with greater clinical and functional improvements, greater reductions in BME extent, and a more favorable longitudinal trajectory in MRI severity classification than rehabilitation alone in athletes with TBSI. However, because the study did not include a sham-FMS condition and participants could not be blinded, the self-reported pain and functional outcomes should be interpreted cautiously. FMS may represent a useful adjunct to structured rehabilitation, although sham-controlled and longer-term studies should determine its effects on return-to-sport progression and recurrence risk.