Abstract
Limited ankle dorsiflexion increases the risk for mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy in infantry recruits: a prospective cohort study
Highlights
Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is a prevalent condition among runners and military personnel
The flexibility of the gastrocnemius has been previously associated with AT [10,11], the kinematics of running suggest it is the flexibility of the soleus that may be more relevant to the pathogenesis of this condition
The purpose of this study was to examine whether ankle DF as measured with the knee bent, as well as the quality of movement as measured by the lateral step down (LSD) can predict the development of AT in male military recruits undergoing army basic training (ABT)
Summary
Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is a prevalent condition among runners and military personnel. The purpose of this study was to further explore the role of ankle DF ROM as measured with the knee bent and that of lower extremity movement pattern as risk factors for mid-portion AT. The simultaneous ankle DF and knee flexion that occur during the first half of the running cycle, are controlled eccentrically by the ankle plantarflexors and serve to absorb the impact of the upper body [12,14] This shock-absorbing mechanism is likely to strain the soleus more than the gastrocnemius as its origin on the tibia makes it suitable for controlling knee flexion under weight-bearing conditions. As it has been shown that a more limited flexibility of the gastrocnemius increases absorption work by the plantarflexors during walking [16], it is possible, that a more limited flexibility of the soleus would likewise increase absorption work by the plantarflexors during running, which may lead to increased strain on the Achilles tendon
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