Clinical Scenario Approximately 3.1 million lateral ankle sprains (LASs) are diagnosed each year. 1 These seemingly innocuous injuries are significant as about 30% of all first-time patients with LAS develop chronic ankle instability (CAI). 2 CAI is a musculoskeletal condition characterized by
Search Results
Gait Biomechanics Following Taping and Bracing in Patients With Chronic Ankle Instability: A Critically Appraised Topic
Kimmery Migel and Erik Wikstrom
Greek Cross-Cultural Adaptation, Reliability, and Validity of the Quick Foot and Ankle Ability Measure Questionnaire
George A. Koumantakis, Anastasios Galazoulas, Marios Stefanakis, Eleftherios Paraskevopoulos, George Gioftsos, and Maria Papandreou
Evidence-based practice relies on accurate reporting of the health and functional status of patients, and toward this aim, a significant number of questionnaires assessing foot problems have been developed. 1 Among those, the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) is one of the more frequently used
A Novel Dynamic Ankle-Supinating Device
Gregory M. Gutierrez and Thomas Kaminski
Lateral ankle sprains (LAS) are among the most common joint injuries, and although most are resolved with conservative treatment, others develop chronic ankle instability (AI). Considerable attention has been directed toward understanding the underlying causes of this pathology; however, little is known concerning the neuromuscular mechanisms behind AI. A biomechanical analysis of the landing phase of a drop jump onto a device that simulates the mechanism of a LAS may give insight into the dynamic restraint mechanisms of the ankle by individuals with AI. Furthermore, work evaluating subjects who have a history of at least one lateral ankle sprain, yet did not develop AI, may help elucidate compensatory mechanisms following a LAS event. Identifying proper neuromuscular control strategies is crucial in reducing the incidence of AI.
Energetics and Passive Dynamics of the Ankle in Downhill Walking
Jonathan K. Holm, Jonas Contakos, Sang-Wook Lee, and John Jang
This study investigated the energetics of the human ankle during the stance phase of downhill walking with the goal of modeling ankle behavior with a passive spring and damper mechanism. Kinematic and kinetic data were collected on eight male participants while walking down a ramp with inclination varying from 0° to 8°. The ankle joint moment in the sagittal plane was calculated using inverse dynamics. Mechanical energy injected or dissipated at the ankle joint was computed by integrating the power across the duration of the stance phase. The net mechanical energy of the ankle was approximately zero for level walking and monotonically decreased (i.e., became increasingly negative) during downhill walking as the slope decreased. The indication is that the behavior of the ankle is energetically passive during downhill walking, playing a key role in dissipating energy from one step to the next. A passive mechanical model consisting of a pin joint coupled with a revolute spring and damper was fit to the ankle torque and its parameters were estimated for each downhill slope using linear regression. The passive model demonstrated good agreement with actual ankle dynamics as indicated by low root-mean-square error values. These results indicate the stance phase behavior of the human ankle during downhill walking may be effectively duplicated by a passive mechanism with appropriately selected spring and damping characteristics.
Ankle Dorsiflexion Displacement During Landing is Associated With Initial Contact Kinematics but not Joint Displacement
Rebecca L. Begalle, Meghan C. Walsh, Melanie L. McGrath, Michelle C. Boling, J. Troy Blackburn, and Darin A. Padua
The ankle, knee, and hip joints work together in the sagittal plane to absorb landing forces. Reduced sagittal plane motion at the ankle may alter landing strategies at the knee and hip, potentially increasing injury risk; however, no studies have examined the kinematic relationships between the joints during jump landings. Healthy adults (N = 30; 15 male, 15 female) performed jump landings onto a force plate while three-dimensional kinematic data were collected. Joint displacement values were calculated during the loading phase as the difference between peak and initial contact angles. No relationship existed between ankle dorsiflexion displacement during landing and three-dimensional knee and hip displacements. However, less ankle dorsiflexion displacement was associated with landing at initial ground contact with larger hip flexion, hip internal rotation, knee flexion, knee varus, and smaller plantar flexion angles. Findings of the current study suggest that restrictions in ankle motion during landing may contribute to contacting the ground in a more flexed position but continuing through little additional motion to absorb the landing. Transverse plane hip and frontal plane knee positioning may also occur, which are known to increase the risk of lower extremity injury.
Use of Relative Phase as a Measure of Motor Control at the Ankle in Persons with Cerebral Palsy: A Preliminary Study
Jack R. Engsberg, Richard E. A. Van Emmerik, Sandy A. Ross, and David R. Collins
This investigation developed a measure of motor control at the ankle for persons with CP using relative phase. Twenty-nine subjects, 14 with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy (CP group) and 15 without disability (WD group) were tested once. Video data were collected as a seated subject performed four full range of ankle plantar and dorsiflexion movement tasks (right ankle, left ankle, ankles in-phase with each other, and ankles antiphase to each other) at four different frequencies (self-paced, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 Hz). The relative phase measure was able to discern the differences between the two groups of children. The CP group had poorer motor control than the WD group, based upon the measure. Both groups had more difficulty performing the antiphase than the in-phase movements. The investigation adds to the body of knowledge in that the concept of relative phase was used as a measure of motor control at the ankle in persons with CP. Results indicated that the measure was adequately sensitive to quantify differences between a group with CP and a group without disability. Clinically the measure could eventually be used as both an assessment and outcome tool.
Alterations in Gait Initiation Are Present in Those With Posttraumatic Ankle Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Study
Erik A. Wikstrom and Robert B. Anderson
The purpose of this investigation was to determine if stereotypical patterns of gait initiation are altered in those with posttraumatic ankle osteoarthritis. Ten subjects, five with unilateral ankle osteoarthritis and five uninjured controls, participated. Subjects completed the SF-36 and Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale to quantify self-reported disability as well as 10 dual-limb static stance trials and 10 gait initiation trials with each leg. Center of pressure outcomes were calculated for static balance trials while the peak center of pressure excursions were calculated for each phase of gait initiation. The results indicate greater self-reported disability (P < .05) and worse static postural control (P < .05) in the ankle osteoarthritis group. Nonstereotypical patterns were also observed during the first and third phases of gait initiation in those with ankle osteoarthritis. The results of this pilot study suggest that supraspinal motor control mechanisms may have changed in those with posttraumatic ankle osteoarthritis.
Effects of 1 Week of Unilateral Ankle Immobilization on Plantar-Flexor Strength, Balance, and Walking Speed: A Pilot Study in Asymptomatic Volunteers
Nick Caplan, Andrew Forbes, Sarkhell Radha, Su Stewart, Alistair Ewen, Alan St Clair Gibson, and Deiary Kader
Context:
Ankle immobilization is often used after ankle injury.
Objective:
To determine the influence of 1 week’s unilateral ankle immobilization on plantar-flexor strength, balance, and walking gait in asymptomatic volunteers.
Design:
Repeated-measures laboratory study.
Setting:
University laboratory.
Participants:
6 physically active male participants with no recent history of lower-limb injury.
Interventions:
Participants completed a 1-wk period of ankle immobilization achieved through wearing a below-knee ankle cast. Before the cast was applied, as well as immediately, 24 h, and 48 h after cast removal, their plantar-flexor strength was assessed isokinetically, and they completed a single-leg balance task as a measure of proprioceptive function. An analysis of their walking gait was also completed
Main Outcome Measures:
Peak plantar-flexor torque and balance were used to determine any effect on muscle strength and proprioception after cast removal. Ranges of motion (3D) of the ankle, knee, and hip, as well as walking speed, were used to assess any influence on walking gait.
Results:
After cast removal, plantar-flexor strength was reduced for the majority of participants (P = .063, CI = −33.98 to 1.31) and balance performance was reduced in the immobilized limb (P < .05, CI = 0.84−5.16). Both strength and balance were not significantly different from baseline levels by 48 h. Walking speed was not significantly different immediately after cast removal but increased progressively above baseline walking speed over the following 48 h. Joint ranges of motion were not significantly different at any time point.
Conclusions:
The reduction in strength and balance after such a short period of immobilization suggested compromised central and peripheral neural mechanisms. This suggestion appeared consistent with the delayed increase in walking speed that could occur as a result of the excitability of the neural pathways increasing toward baseline levels.
Association of Proximal and Distal Factors With Lower Limb Kinematics During a Classical Ballet Jump
Anelise Moreti Cabral, Adalberto Felipe Martinez, Vitor Leme, Bruna Calazans Luz, and Fábio Viadanna Serrão
ballet dancers. 7 Proximal (hip) and distal (ankle–foot complex) factors may contribute to impaired dynamic lower limb kinematics. 17 Proximally, an excessive movement of hip adduction may increase dynamic lower limb valgus during weight-bearing activities, 17 and it may occur as a consequence of hip
The Influence of Motion Control, Neutral, and Cushioned Running Shoes on Lower Limb Kinematics
Ben Langley, Mary Cramp, and Stewart C. Morrison
running shoes; (2) motion control running shoes will reduce the magnitude of ankle joint eversion compared with neutral and cushioned running shoes; and (3) cushioned running shoes will increase the magnitude of ankle joint eversion compared with neutral and motion control running shoes. Methods Based
