Effect of pelvic, hip, and knee position on ankle joint range of motion.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if pelvic posture, hip, and knee positions influence range of motion about the ankle joint.


METHODS
Quasi-experimental repeated measures.


METHODS
Biomechanics laboratory in a university setting.


METHODS
Eleven men and six women free of ankle joint trauma.


METHODS
Range of motion about the ankle joint.


RESULTS
ANOVA revealed a significant difference for position main effect on ankle joint range of motion (p=0.01). Post-hoc tests revealed that ankle joint range of motion significantly decreased as participants moved from flexion (i.e., 90 degrees hip and 90 degrees knee), to supine, and to long sitting (47.3 degrees , 38.8 degrees , and 16.4 degrees ; p<0.05). No significant differences were revealed for pelvic posture (p=0.64).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that pelvic posture may not influence ankle joint range of motion regardless of hip and knee joint positions. However, the combination of hip flexion and knee extension (i.e., long sitting) produces the greatest deficits in ankle joint range of motion.
Mitchell
Brad
B
Utah State University Biomechanics Laboratory, Logan, UT, USA.
Bressel
Eadric
E
McNair
Peter J
PJ
Bressel
Megan E
ME
D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult