Altered ankle kinematics and shank-rear-foot coupling in those with chronic ankle instability.
BACKGROUND
Kinematic patterns during gait have not been extensively studied in relation to chronic ankle instability (CAI).


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether individuals with CAI demonstrate altered ankle kinematics and shank-rear-foot coupling compared with controls during walking and jogging.


METHODS
Case control.


METHODS
Motion-analysis laboratory.


METHODS
7 participants (3 men, 4 women) suffering from CAI (age 24.6 +/- 4.2 y, height 172.6 +/- 9.4 cm, mass 70.9 +/- 8.1 kg) and 7 (3 men, 4 women) healthy, matched controls (age 24.7 +/- 4.5 y, height 168.2 +/- 5.9 cm, mass 66.5 +/- 9.8 kg).


METHODS
Subjects walked and jogged on a treadmill while 3-dimensional kinematics of the lower extremities were captured.


METHODS
The positions of rear-foot inversion-eversion and shank rotation were calculated throughout the gait cycle. Continuous relative-phase angles between these segments were calculated to assess coupling.


RESULTS
The CAI group demonstrated more rear-foot inversion and shank external rotation during walking and jogging. There were differences between groups in shank-rear-foot coupling during terminal swing at both speeds.


CONCLUSIONS
Altered ankle kinematics and joint coupling during the terminal-swing phase of gait may predispose a population with CAI to ankle-inversion injuries. Less coordinated movement during gait may be an indication of altered neuromuscular recruitment of the musculature surrounding the ankle as the foot is being positioned for initial contact.
Drewes
Lindsay K
LK
Dept of Human Services, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
McKeon
Patrick O
PO
Paolini
Gabriele
G
Riley
Patrick
P
Kerrigan
D Casey
DC
Ingersoll
Christopher D
CD
Hertel
Jay
J
D000328:Adult; D000842:Ankle / Q000502:physiology; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000886:Anthropometry; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D013180:Sprains and Strains; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*