Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2018; 39(11): 846-852
DOI: 10.1055/a-0637-2126
Orthopedics & Biomechanics
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Step-Down Task Identifies Differences in Ankle Biomechanics Across Functional Activities

Luke Donovan
1   Kinesiology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, United States
,
Tyler M. Miklovic
2   School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, United States
,
Mark A. Feger
2   School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted 20 May 2018

Publication Date:
19 July 2018 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Currently, there is no clinical exam to evaluate ankle frontal plane kinematics. The purpose of this study was to determine whether individuals identified as “lateral” landing during a video-recorded step-down task have differences in ankle inversion as measured with 3-dimensional motion capture during walking, step-down, and jump-landing tasks compared to individuals identified as “non-lateral”. Fifty-seven recreationally active adults completed the descriptive laboratory study. During walking, step-down, and jump-landing tasks, participants had their ankle frontal plane kinematics measured using a 3-dimensional motion capture system. In addition, during the step-down task, participants had a posterior view video of their foot recorded using a commercial camera. Following testing, a blinded-investigator scored the step-down video of all participants by classifying them as ”lateral” landing or ”non-lateral” landing. Ankle frontal plane kinematics during the walking, step-down, and jump-landing tasks were compared between the two groups (lateral (N=24) and non-lateral (N=33) using a binary logistic regression and time-series confidence interval analysis. During walking, stepping-down, and jump-landing, the lateral group had significantly more inversion at initial contact and during various other phases specific to each task. This study found that a clinical screening tool could identify individuals who have significantly more inversion during three tasks.

Key words

biomechanics - chronic ankle instability - gait - rehabilitation
 

  • References

  • 1 Attenborough AS, Hiller CE, Smith RM, Stuelcken M, Greene A, Sinclair PJ. Chronic ankle instability in sporting populations. Sports Med 2014; 44: 1545-1556
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Attenborough AS, Sinclair PJ, Sharp T, Greene A, Stuelcken M, Smith RM, Hiller CE. A snapshot of chronic ankle instability in a cohort of netball players. J Sci Med Sport 2016; 19: 379-383
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Brown C. Foot clearance in walking and running in individuals with ankle instability. Am J Sports Med 2011; 39: 1769-1776
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Brown C, Padua D, Marshall SW, Guskiewicz K. Individuals with mechanical ankle instability exhibit different motion patterns than those with functional ankle instability and ankle sprain copers. Clin Biomech 2008; 23: 822-831
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Chinn L, Dicharry J, Hertel J. Ankle kinematics of individuals with chronic ankle instability while walking and jogging on a treadmill in shoes. Phys Ther Sport 2013; 14: 232-239
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Delahunt E, Monaghan K, Caulfield B. Altered neuromuscular control and ankle joint kinematics during walking in subjects with functional instability of the ankle joint. Am J Sports Med 2006; 34: 1970-1976
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Delahunt E, Monaghan K, Caulfield B. Changes in lower limb kinematics, kinetics, and muscle activity in subjects with functional instability of the ankle joint during a single leg drop jump. J Orthop Res 2006; 24: 1991-2000
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Doherty C, Bleakley C, Hertel J, Caulfield B, Ryan J, Delahunt E. Lower extremity function during gait in participants with first time acute lateral ankle sprain compared to controls. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2015; 25: 182-192
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Doherty C, Bleakley C, Hertel J, Caulfield B, Ryan J, Delahunt E. Single-leg drop landing movement strategies 6 months following first-time acute lateral ankle sprain injury. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2015; 25: 806-817
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Doherty C, Bleakley C, Hertel J, Caulfield B, Ryan J, Sweeney K, Patterson MR, Delahunt E. Coordination and Symmetry Patterns During the Drop Vertical Jump in People With Chronic Ankle Instability and Lateral Ankle Sprain Copers. Phys Ther 2016; 96: 1152-1161
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Doherty C, Delahunt E, Caulfield B, Hertel J, Ryan J, Bleakley C. The incidence and prevalence of ankle sprain injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective epidemiological studies. Sports Med 2014; 44: 123-140
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Donovan L, Feger MA. Relationship between ankle frontal plane kinematics during different functional tasks. Gait Posture 2017; 54: 214-220
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Donovan L, Hart JM, Saliba S, Park J, Feger MA, Herb CC, Hertel J. Effects of ankle destabilization devices and rehabilitation on gait biomechanics in chronic ankle instability patients: A randomized controlled trial. Phys Ther Sport 2016; 21: 46-56
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Donovan L, Hart JM, Saliba SA, Park J, Feger MA, Herb CC, Hertel J. Rehabilitation for chronic ankle instability with or without destabilization devices: a randomized controlled trial. J Athl Train 2016; 51: 233-251
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Donovan L, Hertel J. A new paradigm for rehabilitation of patients with chronic ankle instability. Phys Sportsmed 2012; 40: 41-51
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Drewes LK, McKeon PO, Kerrigan DC, Hertel J. Dorsiflexion deficit during jogging with chronic ankle instability. J Sci Med Sport 2009; 12: 685-687
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Feger M, Hart J, Saliba S, Abel M, Hertel J. Gait training for chronic ankle instability improves neuromechanics duing walking. J Orthop Res 2018; 36: 515-524
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Feger MA, Glaviano NR, Donovan L, Hart JM, Saliba SA, Park JS, Hertel J. Current trends in the management of lateral ankle sprain in the united states. Clin J Sport Med 2017; 27: 145-152
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Godin G, Shephard R. Godin leisure-time exercise questionnaire. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1997; 29: 36-38
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Gribble PA, Bleakley CM, Caulfield BM, Docherty CL, Fourchet F, Fong DT, Hertel J, Hiller CE, Kaminski TW, McKeon PO, Refshauge KM, Verhagen EA, Vicenzino BT, Wikstrom EA, Delahunt E. Evidence review for the 2016 International Ankle Consortium consensus statement on the prevalence, impact and long-term consequences of lateral ankle sprains. Br J Sports Med 2016; 50: 1496-1505
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Harriss DJ, Macsween A, Atkinson G. Standards for ethics in sport and exercise science research: 2018 update. Int J Sports Med 2017; 38: 1126-1131
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Herb CC, Chinn L, Dicharry J, McKeon PO, Hart JM, Hertel J. Shank-rearfoot joint coupling with chronic ankle instability. J Appl Biomech 2014; 30: 366-372
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Herb CC, Grossman K, Feger M, Donovan L, Hertel J. Lower-extremity biomechanics during a drop-vertical jump in chronic ankle instability and healthy controls. J Athl Training 2018; 53: 364-371
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Hertel J. Functional Anatomy, Pathomechanics, and Pathophysiology of Lateral Ankle Instability. J Athl Train 2002; 37: 364-375
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Hertel J. Sensorimotor deficits with ankle sprains and chronic ankle instability. Clin Sports Med 2008; 27: 353-370
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Hertel J, Miller SJ, Denegar CR. Intratester and intertester reliability during the star excursion balance tests. J Sport Rehabil 2000; 9: 104-116
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Hiller CE, Nightingale EJ, Raymond J, Kilbreath SL, Burns J, Black DA, Refshauge KM. Prevalence and impact of chronic musculoskeletal ankle disorders in the community. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2012; 93: 1801-1807
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Hootman JM, Dick R, Agel J. Epidemiology of collegiate injuries for 15 sports: Summary and recommendations for injury prevention initiatives. J Athl Train 2007; 42: 311-319
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Houston MN, Van Lunen BL, Hoch MC. Health-related quality of life in individuals with chronic ankle instability. J Athl Train 2014; 49: 758-763
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Hubbard TJ. Physical activity levels in college students with chronic ankle instability. J Athl Training 2015; 50: 742
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Jasiewicz JM, Allum JHJ, Middleton JW, Barriskill A, Condie P, Purcell B, Li RCT. Gait event detection using linear accelerometers or angular velocity transducers in able-bodied and spinal-cord injured individuals. Gait Posture 2006; 24: 502-509
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Jones PA, Herrington LC, Munro AG, Graham-Smith P. Is there a relationship between landing, cutting, and pivoting tasks in terms of the characteristics of dynamic valgus?. Am J Sports Med 2014; 42: 2095-2102
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Konradsen L, Olesen S, Hansen HM. Ankle sensorimotor control and eversion strength after acute ankle inversion injuries. Am J Sports Med 1998; 26: 72-77
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Lofvenberg R, Karrholm J, Sundelin G, Ahlgren O. Prolonged reaction time in patients with chronic lateral instability of the ankle. Am J Sports Med 1995; 23: 414-417
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 35 McKeon PO, Ingersoll CD, Kerrigan DC, Saliba E, Bennett BC, Hertel J. Balance training improves function and postural control in those with chronic ankle instability. Med Sci Sport Exer 2008; 40: 1810-1819
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 36 McKeon PO, Paolini G, Ingersoll CD, Kerrigan DC, Saliba EN, Bennett BC, Hertel J. Effects of balance training on gait parameters in patients with chronic ankle instability: A randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil 2009; 23: 609-621
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 37 Monaghan K, Delahunt E, Caulfield B. Ankle function during gait in patients with chronic ankle instability compared to controls. Clin Biomech 2006; 21: 168-174
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 38 Padua DA, Marshall SW, Boling MC, Thigpen CA, Garrett WE, Beutler AI. The landing error scoring system (LESS) is a valid and reliable clinical assessment tool of jump-landing biomechanics the JUMP-ACL Study. Am J Sports Med 2009; 37: 1996-2002
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 39 Roos KG, Kerr ZY, Mauntel TC, Djoko A, Dompier TP, Wickstrom EA. The epidemiology of lateral ligament complex ankle sprains in National Collegiate Athletic Association Sports. Am J Sports Med 2017; 45: 201-209
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 40 Schmidt H, Sauer LD, Lee SY, Saliba S, Hertel J. Increased in-shoe lateral plantar pressures with chronic ankle instability. Foot Ankle Int 2011; 32: 1075-1080
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 41 Simon J, Hall E, Docherty C. Prevalence of chronic ankle instability and associated symptoms in university dance majors: An exploratory study. J Dance Med Sci 2014; 18: 178-184
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 42 Valderrabano V, Hintermann B, Horisberger M, Fung TS. Ligamentous posttraumatic ankle osteoarthritis. Am J Sports Med 2006; 34: 612-620
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 43 Waterman BR, Owens BD, Davey S, Zacchilli MA, Belmont Jr. PJ. The epidemiology of ankle sprains in the United States. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2010; 92: 2279-2284
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 44 Willems T, Witvrouw E, Delbaere K, De Cock A, De Clercq D. Relationship between gait biomechanics and inversion sprains: A prospective study of risk factors. Gait Posture 2005; 21: 379-387
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar