Effects of Body Mass Index on Ankle Joint Muscle Function and Dynamic Proprioceptive Control

Abstract

PURPOSE Increased body mass index (BMI) increases ankle instability and adversely affects human movement. This study aims to compare and analyze the muscle function and proprioception of the ankle joint based on Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine potential differences.METHODS Twenty-eight healthy male and female college students were categorized into overweight (≥ BMI 23) and normal (< BMI 23) groups. Measurements included BMI, isokinetic strength of dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, eversion, inversion, ankle joint range of motion, and ankle joint proprioception.RESULTS In dorsiflexion, right 30°/sec (p=.035), left 30°/sec (p=.009) and right 120°/sec (p=.011); in plantarflexion, left 30°/sec (p<.001), right 120°/sec (p=.007) and left 120°/sec (p=.006) in ankle inversion, left 30°/sec (p=.001), right 120°/sec (p=.021) and left 120°/sec (p=.007), left 30°/sec (p=.014), 120°/sec (p=.001) in ankle inversion-eversion ratio, right (p=.003) and left (p=.003) in ankle joint range of motion, right (p<.001) and left (p=.022) in total proprioception, and left (p<.001) in left-right proprioception were significantly different between the normal and overweight groups.CONCLUSIONS It was found that the overweight group had lower muscle strength, joint range of motion, and proprioceptive control function of the ankle joint than the normal group according to BMI. Therefore, exercise programs should be provided to strengthen the periarticular muscles involved in ankle movement, such as the tibialis anterior, soleus, and peroneus longus, and to control dynamic proprioception to prevent ankle injuries and function of the ankle joint according to BMI.