title: A narrow bimalleolar width is a risk factor for ankle inversion injury in male military recruits: A prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ankle inversion injuries are one of the most common and burdensome injuries in athletic populations. Research that prospectively identifies characteristics associated with this injury is lacking. This prospective study compared baseline anthropometric and biomechanical gait characteristics of military recruits who sustained an ankle inversion injury during training, with those who remained injury-free.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bilateral plantar pressure and three-dimensional lower limb kinematics were recorded in 1065 male, injury-free military recruits, during barefoot running. Injuries that occurred during the 32-week recruit training programme were subsequently recorded. Data were compared between recruits who sustained an ankle inversion injury during training (n=27) and a sample (n=120) of those who completed training injury-free. A logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for this injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A narrower bimalleolar width and an earlier peak pressure under the fifth metatarsal were predictors of ankle inversion injury. Those who sustained an ankle inversion injury also had a lower body mass, body mass index, and a smaller calf girth than those who completed training injury-free.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anthropometric and dynamic gait characteristics have been identified that may predispose recruits to an ankle inversion injury during Royal Marine recruit training, allowing identification of recruits at higher risk at the start of training.
authors.affiliation: Sport and Health Sciences, Heavitree Road, University of Exeter, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK.. Electronic address: H.Rice@exeter.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.affiliation: Sport and Health Sciences, Heavitree Road, University of Exeter, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK.. Electronic address: M.P.Nunns@exeter.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nunns
authors.affiliation: Institute of Naval Medicine, Alverstoke, Gosport PO12, UK. Electronic address: NAVYINM-EMSSTMCLINPHYS@mod.uk.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: House
authors.affiliation: Institute of Naval Medicine, Alverstoke, Gosport PO12, UK. Electronic address: navyinm-emsaphead@MOD.UK.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fallowfield
authors.affiliation: Institute of Naval Medicine, Alverstoke, Gosport PO12, UK. Electronic address: NAVYINM-EMSHEAD@mod.uk.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allsopp
authors.affiliation: Sport and Health Sciences, Heavitree Road, University of Exeter, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK.. Electronic address: S.J.Dixon@exeter.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dixon
mesh_terms: D000842:Ankle / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000886:Anthropometry; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008682:Metatarsal Bones / Q000502:physiology; D008889:Military Personnel; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012420:Running / Q000293:injuries; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ankle inversion injury; Bimalleolar width; Prospective; Risk