title: Gait Biomechanics in Participants, Six Months after First-time Lateral Ankle Sprain.
abstract: No research currently exists predicating a link between the injury-affiliated sensorimotor deficits of acute ankle sprain and those of chronic ankle instability during gait. This analysis evaluates participants with a 6-month history of ankle sprain injury to affirm this link. 69 participants with a 6-month history of acute first-time lateral ankle sprain were divided into subgroups ('chronic ankle instability' and 'coper') based on their self-reported disability and compared to 20 non-injured participants during a gait task. Lower extremity kinematic and kinetic data were collected from 200 ms pre- to 200 ms post-heel strike (period 1) and from 200 ms pre- to 200 ms post-toe off (period 2). The 'chronic ankle instability' subgroup (who reported greater disability) displayed increased knee flexion during period 1. During period 2, this subgroup exhibited greater total displacement at their ankle joint and greater extensor dominance at their knee. That many of these features are present, both in individuals with acute ankle sprain and those with chronic ankle instability may advocate a link between acute deficits and long-term outcome. Clinicians must be aware that the sensorimotor deficits of ankle sprain may persevere beyond the acute stage of injury and be cognizant of the capacity for impairments to pervade proximally.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sport Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.affiliation: Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Institute, University of Ulster, Belfast, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bleakley
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Charlottesville, University of Virginia, Virginia, United States.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hertel
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sport and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Caulfield
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, St Vincents University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sport and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Delahunt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D055815:Young Adult