Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2000

Publication Title

Journal of Biomechanics

Abstract

The goal of this study was to examine the influence of changes in foot positioning at touch-down on ankle sprain occurrence. Muscle model driven computer simulations of 10 subjects performing the landing phase of a side-shuffle movement were performed. The relative subtalar joint and talocural joint angles at touchdown were varied, and each subject-specific simulation was exposed to a set of perturbed floor conditions. The touchdown subtalar joint angle was not found to have a considerable influence on sprain occurrence, while increased touchdown plantar flexion caused increased ankle sprain occurrences. Increased touchdown plantar flexion may be the mechanism which causes ankles with a history of ankle sprains to have an increased susceptibility to subsequent sprains. This finding may also reveal a mechanism by which taping of a sprained ankle or the application of an ankle brace leads to decreased ankle sprain susceptibility.

Comments

Financial support for this investigation was provided in part by each of the following organizations: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (Canada),
The Whitaker Foundation, Adidas International, and The University of Calgary.

DOI

10.1016/S0021-9290(99)00218-3

Version

Postprint

Volume

33

Issue

5

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