Postural Control and Functional Ankle Stability in Professional and Amateur Skateboarders.

Yang-Kun Ou,Chien-Nan Yeh,Zhi-Wei Chen

doi:10.3390/healthcare9081009

Yang-Kun Ou, Chien-Nan Yeh + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9081009

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Abstract

Basic maneuvers in skateboarding, such as the ollie, put the player at high risk for ankle injuries because of the position of the feet required to perform the maneuvers. This study investigated ankle stability and reaction time for the tibialis anterior, fibularis longus, and fibularis brevis in professional and amateur skateboarders. In total, 16 professional and 16 amateur skateboarders were recruited as participants and underwent range of motion assessments, balance testing, and muscle reaction time measurements. The results revealed that professional skateboarders had a significantly smaller inversion angle compared to amateur players, which suggested better joint control and hence greater safety in the former. Balance testing results indicated better balance in professional skateboarders, and healthy skateboarders had better balance than did injured professional and amateur skateboarders. No significant difference in muscle reaction time was observed between amateur and professional skateboarders.

Highlights

To perform various combinations of skateboarding tricks, both ankles must be in simultaneous plantarflexion and inversion, which can cause strain on the lateral ligaments, thereby making the ligaments vulnerable to injury and the ankle joint susceptible to repeated sprains
Inadequate care of injuries may compromise the stability of the joint, which can lead to repeated sprains
A comparison between healthy and injured professional skateboarders revealed no significant difference in the reaction time of the tibialis anterior, fibularis longus, or fibularis brevis

Summary

Introduction

Skateboarding has recently been included at the Olympic Games, representing one of five new sport programs to be introduced in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo [1]. To perform various combinations of skateboarding tricks, both ankles must be in simultaneous plantarflexion and inversion, which can cause strain on the lateral ligaments, thereby making the ligaments vulnerable to injury and the ankle joint susceptible to repeated sprains. 85% of ankle sprains involve injuries to the lateral ligaments such as, in order of increasing severity, slight or more severe swelling, tears, or massive laceration. Inadequate care of injuries may compromise the stability of the joint, which can lead to repeated sprains. The reinjury rate of lateral ligaments can reach as high as 80% [2]

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