Collegiate Club Figure Skater Lower Extremity Performance Assessment Bilaterally In And Out Of Skates

Abstract

Prior research has demonstrated that the most prominent injury among all figure skaters involved the ankle. This finding is surprising in that the skate boot itself is quite stiff with lateral rigidity meant to offer medial-lateral support to the ankle joint. A clinical literature review suggested that there should be emphasis placed on properly fitting skate boots, intrinsic foot and ankle strengthening, and lower extremity flexibility. PURPOSE: To determine if the skate boot plays a role in ankle range of motion, balance or lower extremity power, all three of which may be linked to ankle injuries. METHODS: 20 members of the Merrimack Figure Skating Team participated in the study. Testing was conducted with skates on followed by skates off. Odd numbered participants started with their dominant leg, even numbered participants started with their non-dominant leg. Weight bearing dorsiflexion (DF), Y-balance test (YB), and single leg hop for distance (SL) were performed and measured bilaterally. RESULTS: No significant interaction was reported for DF, YB, or SL between skate type (no skate vs. skate) and leg dominance (dominant vs. non dominant), (p >.05). DF, YB, and SL were significantly higher when subjects were in no skates (MDF-NOSK = 28.8; MYB-NOSK = 93.61; MSL-NOSK = 123.45) compared to when in skates (MDF-SK = 11.15; MYB-SK = 85.89; MSL-SK = 101.51), (p = .00). SL was also higher on the dominant leg (MSL-DOM = 114.21) compared to the non-dominant leg (MDF-NONDOM =110.75) (p = .01). DF and YB were not statistically different between the dominant and non-dominant leg. CONCLUSION: The results suggest with lower extremity performance testing in collegiate figure skaters leg dominance does not impact ankle range of motion or balance. However, with lower extremity power, leg dominance does play a role. The findings that range of motion, balance, and power are greater without skates than with the skates, it is plausible to conclude that the skate boot does in fact play a role in these three measurements. Further research is needed in order to examine the specifics of how the skate boot affects each of these measurements.