Abstract
Background
Despite much research, the reasons behind the development of chronic ankle instability
in individuals post ankle inversion sprain are unknown. Chronic ankle instability
has not previously been investigated dynamically using 3D motion analysis during walking.
We hypothesised that chronic ankle instability subjects would exhibit a different
kinematic and kinetic pattern during normal walking when compared with a control group.
Methods
Gait analysis was carried out on fifty subjects (25 chronic ankle instability, and
25 age, gender, activity, and gait velocity matched controls) during walking. Kinematic
and kinetic pattern differences using the 3D motion analysis system combined with
a force plate were established during 100 ms pre-heel strike and 200 ms post-heel strike, between the chronic ankle instability subjects and controls during
normal walking.
Findings
Chronic ankle instability subjects were significantly (P < 0.01) more inverted in the frontal plane compared to controls from 100 ms pre-heel strike to 200 ms post-heel strike. The joint angular velocity was significantly (P < 0.05) higher at heel strike in the chronic ankle instability group. During the early
stance phase of gait chronic ankle instability subjects appear to be controlled by
an evertor muscle moment working concentrically compared to an invertor muscle moment
working eccentrically in the controls.
Interpretation
These changes in kinematics and kinetics which arise are likely to result in increased
stress being applied to ankle joint structures during the heel strike and loading
response phases of the gait cycle. This could result in repeated injury and consequent
damage to ankle joint structures.
Keywords
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to Clinical BiomechanicsAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Local sensation changes and altered hip muscle function following severe ankle sprain.Phys. Therapy. 1994; 74: 17-31
- Functional instability of the ankle: differences in patterns of ankle and knee movement prior to and post landing in a single leg jump.Int. J. Sports Med. 2002; 23: 64-68
- Changes in ground reaction force during jump landing in subjects with functional instability of the ankle joint.Clini. Biomech. 2004; 19: 617-621
CODA mpx30 User guide, 2004. Contents, Charnwood Dynamics Ltd., Victiria Mills, Fowke Street, Rothley, Leicestershire, LE7 7PJ, England. Available from: <http://www.codamotion.com>.
- Chronic ankle instability does not affect lower extremity functional performance.J. Athletic Training. 2002; 37: 507-511
- Prediction preceded control in motor learning.Curr. Biol. 2003; 13: 146-150
- The etiology and prevention of functional instability of the foot.J. Bone Joint Surg. 1965; 47B: 678-685
- Sensorimotor control is impaired in dancers with functional ankle instability.Am. J. Sports Med. 2004; 32: 216-223
- Arthrogenic muscle inhibition: a limiting factor in joint rehabilitation.J. Sport Rehabil. 2000; 9: 135-159
- Effect of strength and proprioception training on eversion to inversion strength ratios in subjects with unilateral functional ankle instability.Br. J. Sports Med. 2003; 37: 410-415
- Ankle sensorimotor control and eversion strength after acute ankle inversion injuries.Am. J. Sports Med. 1998; 26: 72-77
- Ankle inversion injuries. The role of the dynamic defence mechanism.Am. J. Sports Med. 1997; 25: 54-58
- Varying body mass index cutoff points to describe overweight prevalence among US adults: NHANES III 1988–1994..Obes. Res. 1997; 5: 542-548
- Examination of the sprained ankle: anterior drawer test or arthrography?.Eur. J. Radiol. 1988; 8: 255-257
- A note on modulation of gait in man: effect of constraining stride length and frequency.Hum. Mov. Sci. 1986; 5: 333-343
Lentell, G., Baas, B., Lopez, D., McGuire, L., Sarrels, M., Snyder, P., 1995. The contributions of proprioceptive deficits, muscle function and anatomic laxity to functional instability of the ankle joint, J.O.S.P.T., vol. 21, pp. 206–215.
- Prolonged reaction time in patients with chronic lateral instability of the ankle.Am. J. Sports Med. 1995; 23: 414-417
- Spatial–temporal parameters of gait: reference data and a statistical method for normality assessment.Gait Posture. 1999; 10: 171-181
- Comparison of free and fast walking patterns of normal man.Am. J. Phys. Med. 1966; 45: 8-24
- Effect of foot orthoses on the kinematics and kinetics of normal walking gait.Gait Posture. 2003; 17: 180-187
- Ground reaction forces at different speeds of human walking and running.Acta Physiol. Scand. 1989; 136: 217-227
- The Unstable Ankle.Human Kinetics Inc., 2002
- Basic gait parameters: reference data for normal subjects, 10–79 years of age.J. Rehabil. Res. Dev. 1993; 30: 210-223
Peri, H., 1992. Recurrent ankle sprains: mechanical stability vs. functional stability M.D. thesis. Directed by Mann G, Finsterbush A. Presented to the Hadassah Hebrew University medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
- Human Walking.Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore1994
- Mechanical stability, muscle strength and proprioception in the functionally unstable ankle.Australian J. Physiotherapy. 1994; 40: 41-47
Sang-Hyun Cho, M.D., 2001. Gender differences in 3D gait analysis data from 98 normal adults. GCMA (Abstract).
- Stabilometry recordings in functional and mechanical instability of the ankle joint.Int. J. Sports Med. 1985; 6: 180-182
- Gait Analysis—An Introduction.Butterworth-Heinemann, 2003
- Dynamic ankle stability: mechanical and neuromuscular interrelationships.J. Sports Rehabil. 1994; 3: 43-57
- Invertor vs. evertor peak torque and power deficiencies associated with lateral ankle ligament injury.J.O.S.P.T. 1997; 26: 78-86
- The neurology of joints.Ann. R. Col. Surg. Engl. 1967; 41: 25-50
Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 08, 2005
Accepted:
September 15,
2005
Received:
May 3,
2005
Identification
Copyright
© 2005 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
