Analysis of Ankle Strength and Its Correlation with Jump Performance

Abstract

Context: Improved ankle joint muscular strength decreases the risk of ankle injury; thus, ankle joint muscular strength plays an important role in the prevention of ankle injuries. Aims: To assess the relationship between the peak muscle strength of plantar flexors and dorsiflexors and power of single leg hop jump. Settings and Design: The study design was a cross-sectional observational study. Athletes of university, state, and national levels aged 18–25 years were recruited from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab for this study with mean ± standard deviation of age (20.08 ± 1.94 years), body weight (63.43 ± 10.23 kg), and height (170.67 ± 9.25 cm). Methods and Materials: Isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex Medical System Inc., Shirley, NY, USA) was used to determine ankle concentric isokinetic strength. The isokinetic strength of plantarflexors and dorsiflexors at speeds of 30° and 120°/s was measured for both legs and afterward single-leg hop jump performance was measured on the Kinematic Measurement System. Statistical analysis used: Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between isokinetic muscle strength and jump performance. Results: The results showed a high correlation (0.6< | r |<0.8) between the strength of plantarflexors and power of single-leg hop jump and a moderate correlation (0.4< | r |<0.6) between the strength of dorsiflexors and power of single-leg hop jump. Conclusions: The measurement of peak plantarflexors muscle strength and peak dorsiflexors muscle strength is useful in clinical practice to improve jump performance in athletes training for sports such as volleyball and basketball.