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Int J Sports Med 1999; 20(3): 173-178
DOI: 10.1055/s-1999-970285
Training and Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Isokinetic Muscle Performance After Surgery of the Lateral Ligaments of the Ankle

A. Kaikkonen1 , A. Natri3 , M. Pasanen4 , K. Latvala2 , P. Kannus4 , M. Järvinen1 , 2 , 3
  • 1Medical School, University of Tampere, and the Sectiion of Orthopedics, Department of Surgery, Tampere University Hospital
  • 2Department of Physical Therapy, Tampere University Hospital
  • 3Tampere Research Center of Sports Medicine,
  • 4Accident and Trauma Research Ceniter, Urho Kaleva Kekkonen Institute, Tampere, Finland
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Publication History

Publication Date:
03 August 2007 (online)

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In this study, we assessed the isokinetic strength and power profile of 138 patients with a surgically treated lateral ligament injury of an ankle. In addition, the outcome predicting factors were analyzed. The measurements were done 6.2 ± 0.8 years after the surgery using the Cybex II isokinetic dynamometer. The general strength status of the patients was good, the isokinetic testing showing no or only moderate (always ≤ 18 %) average strength deficits in the peak torque values of doirsiflexor and plantar flexor muscles of the injured ankle. Of tfne outcome predicting variables, only the age of the patient in the group with surgery for chronic ankle instability correlated significantly with the isokinetic peak torque deficits: the older the subject, the greater the peak torque deficit in the injured ankle (rs = - 0.388 with p = 0.015) in ankle dorsiflexion at the sp>eed of 60 /s. In conclusion, patients having surgery for ankle ligiament insufficiency, either in acute or chronic phase of the injury, seem to recover well showing no remarkable deficiencies in thee isokinetic ankle muscle strengths several years after the repaiir.

Key words

Ankle ligament surgery - isokinetic testingi - muscle performance - rehabilitation