Prevention Of Lateral Ankle Sprains Research Articles

Copers adopt an altered dynamic postural control compared to individuals with chronic ankle instability and controls in unanticipated single-leg landing

BackgroundSeveral prior studies involving “expected” single-leg landings have not succeeded in establishing a difference between copers and a control group. Research questionDoes expected and unanticipated single-leg landing affect dynamic postural stability in lateral ankle sprain individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI), copers, and controls? MethodsIn this prospective cross-sectional study, physically active adults with CAI (n = 12), copers (n = 12), and controls (n = 12) were included. Participants performed expected single-leg landing by stepping off a 30-cm box. They also performed unanticipated landings including side-step cutting, side-step cutting at 60°, single-leg landing, and forward stepping. The expected and unanticipated conditions of each groups were compared in terms of time to stabilization (TTS) and center of pressure (COP) for the anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) conditions. To analyze the data, a mixed-model one-way analysis of variance and a Tukey-Kramer post hoc test were performed. ResultsA significant condition × group interaction was observed in only TTS ML, with the CAI group demonstrating a significantly longer TTS ML than the coper (p < 0.001) and control (p < 0.001) groups during unanticipated trials. In addition, group interaction effects were observed for COP AP and TTS AP. The coper group demonstrated significantly longer COP AP and TTS AP than the control group (p < 0.001). SignificanceThe CAI group demonstrated a significantly longer TTS ML than the coper and control groups during the unanticipated condition, and the coper group demonstrated significantly longer TTS AP and COP AP than the control group. Thus, longer COP AP and TTS AP sway time in the coper group may be a protection mechanism, allowing greater freedom in the AP plane while quickly controlling ML sway and preventing lateral ankle sprains. These findings can help in the prevention of lateral ankle sprains and assessment of dynamic postural control.

A lateral ankle sprain during a lateral backward step in badminton: A case report of a televised injury incident

BackgroundThis study presents a kinematic analysis of an acute lateral ankle sprain incurred during a televised badminton match. The kinematics of this injury were compared to those of 19 previously reported cases in the published literature. MethodsFour camera views of an acute lateral ankle sprain incurred during a televised badminton match were synchronized and rendered in 3-dimensional animation software. A badminton court with known dimensions was built in a virtual environment, and a skeletal model scaled to the injured athlete's height was used for skeletal matching. The ankle joint angle and angular velocity profiles of this acute injury were compared to the summarized findings from 19 previously reported cases in the published literature. ResultsAt foot strike, the ankle joint was 2° everted, 33° plantarflexed, and 18° internally rotated. Maximum inversion of 114° and internal rotation of 69° was achieved at 0.24 s and 0.20 s after foot strike, respectively. After the foot strike, the ankle joint moved from an initial position of plantarflexion to dorsiflexion—from 33° plantarflexion to 53° dorsiflexion (range = 86°). Maximum inversion, dorsiflexion, and internal rotation angular velocity were 1262°/s, 961°/s, and 677°/s, respectively, at 0.12 s after foot strike. ConclusionA forefoot landing posture with a plantarflexed and internally rotated ankle joint configuration could incite an acute lateral ankle sprain injury in badminton. Prevention of lateral ankle sprains in badminton should focus on the control and stability of the ankle joint angle during forefoot landings, especially when the athletes perform a combined lateral and backward step.

Prevention of Lateral Ankle Sprains.

Given the frequency of ankle sprains, especially in the athletic population, prevention is a primary task of athletic trainers and other sports health care professionals. To discuss the current evidence as it relates to prophylactic programs for the prevention of ankle sprains and to provide critical interpretation of the evidence supporting and refuting the implementation of preventive programs. External prophylactic supports and preventive exercise programs are effective for reducing the risk of ankle sprains in both uninjured and previously injured populations. Ankle bracing appears to offer the best outcomes in terms of cost and risk reduction. However, there remains a paucity of well-designed, prospective randomized controlled trials relevant to the primary prevention of lateral ankle sprains, especially across a range of sport settings.

Immediate effects of shoes inducing ankle-destabilization around Henke's axis during challenging walking gaits: Gait kinematics and peroneal muscles activities

Due to its high frequency of occurrence, as well as possible residual symptoms, proper treatment of lateral ankle sprains (LAS) is important. From a physiological point of view, increasing the quantity of electromyographic (EMG) activity in the peroneal muscles will mechanically improve the functional stability of the ankle joint. The present study investigated the immediate effects of an ankle destabilization device (ADD) specifically designed to induce imbalances along the Henke’s axis during 3 challenging walking tasks. As the effects of such a device have to be tested on healthy participants before being implemented in rehabilitation programs, 12 healthy participants performed 3 different types of walking (normal, aligned, and jumping walking) while the EMG activities in four peroneal muscles and the main gait kinematics parameters were recorded. Our results clearly demonstrated that wearing the ADD during these different walking tasks significantly increased EMG activities in the four peroneal muscles (increases from 9 to 33% on average depending on the muscle and the walking condition) while maintaining previous gait kinematic patterns. Our study shows that an ADD coupled with walking or jumping tasks is able to improve neuromuscular activity. It should therefore be useful for ankle rehabilitation therapy and the prevention of LAS.

Toe-in Landing Increases the Ankle Inversion Angle and Moment During Single-Leg Landing: Implications in the Prevention of Lateral Ankle Sprains.

Identifying the foot positions that are vulnerable to lateral ankle sprains is important for injury prevention. The effects of foot position in the transverse plane on ankle biomechanics during landing are unknown. To examine the effects of toe-in or toe-out positioning on ankle inversion motion and moment during single-leg landing. Repeated measures. Motion analysis laboratory. 18 healthy participants (9 men and 9 women). Participants performed single-leg landing trials from a 30-cm high box under 3 conditions: natural landing, foot internally rotated (toe-in), and foot externally rotated (toe-out). 4 toe-in or toe-out angles were calculated against 4 reference coordinates (laboratory, pelvis, thigh, and shank) in the transverse plane. Ankle inversion angle, angular velocity, and external moment in the 200 ms after initial foot-to-ground contact were compared between the 3 landing conditions. All toe-in or toe-out angles other than those calculated against the shank were significantly different between each of the 3 landing conditions (P < .001). Ankle inversion angle, angular velocity, and moment were highest during toe-in landings (P < .01), while eversion angle and moment were highest during toe-out landings (P < .001). The effect sizes of these differences were large. Vertical ground reaction forces were not different between the 3 landing conditions (P = .290). Toe-in or toe-out positioning during single-leg landings impacts on ankle inversion and eversion motion and moment. Athletes could train not to land with the toe-in positioning to prevent lateral ankle sprains.

Effects of previous lateral ankle sprain and taping on the latency of the peroneus longus

The latency of the peroneus longus may be a key factor in the prevention of lateral ankle sprains (LASs). In addition, ankle taping is often applied to help prevent LASs. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a previous LAS and ankle taping on the latency of the peroneus longus after an inversion perturbation. Twenty-six participants, including 13 participants with no previous history of a LAS and 13 participants with a history of a single LAS completed the testing. Ankle taping was applied in a closed basket weave technique on one of the two testing days. The latency of the peroneus longus was determined by the onset of muscle activity exceeding 10 SD from baseline activity, after initiation of the 25° inversion perturbation. A significant main effect (p < 0.05) was present for the ankle support condition, with ankle taping causing a significant reduction in latency of the peroneus longus (65.04 ± 10.81 to 57.70 ± 9.39 ms). There was no difference (p>0.05) in latency between the injury groups. Ankle taping, immediately after application, reduces the latency of the peroneus longus among participants with and without a history of a LAS.

Difference in Response Latency of the Peroneus Longus Between the Dominant and Nondominant Legs

The latency of the peroneus longus in response to an inversion perturbation is a key component in the prevention of lateral ankle sprains. In addition, the dominant ankle is sprained more frequently than the nondominant ankle, but the cause of this has not been examined. To investigate the combination of these 2 research-supported statements, the purpose of this study was to use an inversion perturbation that replicates the mechanism of a lateral ankle sprain to determine whether there is a difference in the latency of the peroneus longus between the dominant and nondominant legs. Repeated-measures single-group design. University laboratory. 15 physically active healthy volunteers with no previous history of an ankle sprain or lower extremity surgery or fracture. Outer sole with fulcrum was used to cause 25° of inversion at the subtalar joint on landing from a 27-cm step-down task. Participants performed 10 trials on both the dominant and nondominant leg. 2 latency measures of the peroneus longus of both the dominant and nondominant leg, calculated as the amount of time from the moment of touchdown of the fulcrum until muscle activity exceeded 5 and 10 SD above baseline muscle activity. The latency of the peroneus longus of the nondominant leg was significantly shorter when using both 5 SD (F1,14= 9.34, P = .009, d = .895) and 10 SD (F1,14= 18.56, P = .001, d = .920) above baseline muscle activity. This difference in latency may be a result of the different demands placed on the dominant and nondominant legs during activity and may predispose the dominant ankle to a greater number of ankle sprains than the nondominant ankle.

Efficacy of an ankle orthosis with a subtalar locking system in restricting ankle kinetics and kinematics in lateral cutting

The ankle joint is the most injured joint during sports participation [1]. Ankle orthoses have been shown to be effective in reducing ankle inversion injuries and are often prescribed for rehabilitation and prevention of lateral ankle sprains. Efficacy of ankle orthoses is often assessed by comparing reduction of passive inversion ROM as well as ankle kinematics between braced and unbraced movements [2,3]. However, joint kinetic responses in lateral cutting were rarely examined. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a new semi-rigid ankle orthosis with a subtalar joint locking mechanism in restricting ankle kinetics and kinematics during a lateral cutting movement.