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.