Ankle Dorsiflexion displacement is associated with hip and knee kinematics in females following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to examine associations between ankle dorsiflexion (ankle-DF) displacement and knee and hip kinematics and kinetics during a jump-landing task in females following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Females (n = 23) with a history of unilateral ACLR (≥ 6-months post-ACLR) underwent a three-dimensional lower extremity biomechanical evaluation. Pearson Product Moment (r) correlations assessed associations between ankle-DF displacement and knee and hip kinematic and kinetic variables. On the involved-limb, individuals with lesser ankle-DF displacement demonstrated greater knee abduction displacement during the loading phase (r = -0.645, p = 0.001). On the uninvolved-limb, individuals with greater ankle-DF displacement demonstrated greater hip flexion displacement (r = 0.599, p = 0.003) and knee flexion displacement (r = -0.545, p = 0.007). There were no other significant associations between ankle-DF displacement and ankle, knee, or hip biomechanical variables on either limb (p > 0.05). Our findings demonstrate that reduced ankle-DF motion appears to share a different relationship between the involved- and uninvolved-limbs in females post-ACLR.