Abstract
Background: Fascial layers may play an important role in locomotor mechanics. Recent researches have revealed an association between increases of fascia thickness and reduced joint flexibility in patients with chronic pain. The purpose of this study was to measure and compare, through the use of ultrasound imaging, the thickness of the deep/crural fascia in different points of the leg as well as the epimysial fascia thickness at level 2 of anterior compartment of leg, in male basketball players with history of recurrent ankle sprain and in healthy participants. Methods: A cross-sectional study has been performed using ultrasound imaging to measure deep/crural fascia thickness of anterior, lateral and posterior compartment of the leg at different levels with a new protocol in a sample of 30 subjects, 15 basketball players and 15 healthy participants. Results: Findings of fascial thickness revealed statistically significant differences (p < 0.01) in epimysial fascia thickness and in deep/crural fascia thickness between levels/compartments of the same group and between two groups. Moreover, Post 3 deep/crural fascia thicknesses (p < 0.001) were decreased showing statistically significant difference for the basketball players group respect the healthy participants group. Conclusions: These findings suggested that the posterior compartment was thicker than anterior compartment, probably due to a postural reason in both groups. Moreover, they showed an increase of thickness of the epimysial fascia in basketball players with previous ankle sprains. This variability underlines the importance to assess the fasciae and to make results comparable.
Highlights
Various studies investigated the value of Ultrasound (US) examination of fasciae [1,2,3,4,5] and demonstrated efficient assessment of the deep fasciae and measurement of the thickness of the subcutaneous and perimuscular connective tissue more economic than other noninvasive methods [4,6]
This study may be stated as the first study detailing the crural fascia US thickness at different compartments and levels, and the epimysial fascia US thickness in level at the point of best visualization in basketball players with recurrent ankle sprains compared with healthy individuals
To conclude, study results confirm that US imaging is an important tool for assessing the fascial layers of the leg, providing an excellent anatomical definition
Summary
Various studies investigated the value of Ultrasound (US) examination of fasciae [1,2,3,4,5] and demonstrated efficient assessment of the deep fasciae and measurement of the thickness of the subcutaneous and perimuscular connective tissue more economic than other noninvasive methods [4,6]. The purpose of this study was to measure and compare, through the use of ultrasound imaging, the thickness of the deep/crural fascia in different points of the leg as well as the epimysial fascia thickness at level 2 of anterior compartment of leg, in male basketball players with history of recurrent ankle sprain and in healthy participants. Methods: A cross-sectional study has been performed using ultrasound imaging to measure deep/crural fascia thickness of anterior, lateral and posterior compartment of the leg at different levels with a new protocol in a sample of 30 subjects, 15 basketball players and 15 healthy participants. Conclusions: These findings suggested that the posterior compartment was thicker than anterior compartment, probably due to a postural reason in both groups They showed an increase of thickness of the epimysial fascia in basketball players with previous ankle sprains. This variability underlines the importance to assess the fasciae and to make results comparable
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