Pre-assessment of active and passive range of motion in the paretic ankle, and five strides of gait assessment on a pressure-sensitive mat. Intervention will be moderate grade III anterior-to-posterior directed ankle mobilization for 2 minutes while supine, ankle muscle stretch for 75 seconds in standing, ankle muscle training for 3 minutes while seated. Post-assessment is repeated in the same sequence and content as pre-assessment.

Grade III manual joint mobilization as standard-of-care physical therapy intervention

ankle (talocrural) joint dorsiflexion movement of the foot away from plantarflexion end-range, measured by goniometry in seated position, by a physical therapist with 25 years' experience. Normal ankle ranges are 0 to 45 degrees from neutral for plantarflexion and 0-25 degrees from neutral for dorsiflexion. 0 to 15 degrees of dorsiflexion is needed for functionally efficient gait. Both passive and active ankle dorsiflexion range of motion are expected to increase, but be less than normal.

distance and time measurement captured as participant walks over a pressure-sensing mat. Data is processed with ProtoKinetics software. Velocity in meters per second is determined, and compared to normative values for non-stroke males (1.37 m/sec) and females (1.30 m/sec), and in relation to meaningful change in walking speed in in-patient stroke (0.13 m/sec). Velocity is anticipated to increase from pre- to post-intervention, but still be less than normal.

distance from foot contact to same foot contact measurement in meters captured as participant walks over a pressure-sensing mat. Data is processed with ProtoKinetics software. Findings will be compared to normative values for non-stroke males (1.51m) and females (1.32 m). Distance is hypothesized to increase post-intervention, but not approximate normal distance.

Time measurement of the second occurrence when both feet are in contact with the ground, with reference to the paretic lower extremity. This will be compared to the normative value in adults of 0.12 second, and is hypothesized to be of lower duration post-intervention compared to pre-intervention, but still longer than normal.

Participant marks on paper self-perception of walking ability, responding to the instruction: 'please circle a point on the scale that shows level of confidence in walking a few steps unassisted on any household surface at this time. Where 0 = not at all confident and 10 = very confident'