Altered Vertical Ground Reaction Forces in Participants With Chronic Ankle Instability While Running

Abstract

Context: Altered gait kinetics may increase the risk of longterm injuries in participants with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Vertical ground reaction forces (vGRFs) can provide insight into how body loading is altered.Objective: To compare the components of vGRFs while running in participants with or without CAI.Design: Cohort study. Setting: University biomechanics laboratory.Patients or Other Participants: Twenty-four experienced, college-aged runners. Groups were categorized by the presence (CAI group) or absence (control group) of CAI through selfreported questionnaires.Intervention(s): After a warm-up period, all participants ran on an instrumented treadmill for 5 minutes at 3.3 m/s. Data were collected during the last 30 seconds. Five continuous trials of heel-to-toe running were identified per participant and averaged for statistical analysis.Main Outcome Measure(s): The dependent variables were impact peak force (N/body weight [BW]), active peak force (N/ BW), time to impact peak force (milliseconds), time to active peak force (milliseconds), and average loading rate ([N/BW]/s).Results: A difference was found between groups (P ¼ .002). The CAI group had higher impact peak forces (P ¼ .001) and active peak forces (P ¼ .002) compared with the control group. The CAI group also had an increased loading rate (P ¼ .001) and a shorter time to reach the active peak force (P ¼ .001) compared with the control group. No difference was seen between groups in the time to reach the impact peak force (P ¼ .952).Conclusions: Participants with CAI produced altered vGRFs and loading rates while running. Altered loading rates could predispose individuals with CAI to stress-related injuries and repetitive sprains.Key Words: biomechanics, gait, kinetics, stress fractures Key PointsThe group with chronic ankle instability demonstrated greater vertical ground reaction forces and initial and active peak forces. Those with chronic ankle instability also had increased loading rates, which could make them vulnerable to stress injuries and sprains.

An Updated Model of Chronic Ankle Instability

“…This may be why patients with CAI produce greater impact force and a faster loading rate of the vertical ground reaction force during the loading response. 134 Alterations in the stride-to-stride variability of various gait factors have also been reported in patients with CAI. However, increases and decreases in variability have both been seen.…”

Ankle Instability Patients Exhibit Altered Muscle Activation of Lower Extremity and Ground Reaction Force during Landing: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…This may be the preactivation of the peroneal to overcome the reduced vertical foot-floor clearance in patients with AI owing to the damaged structural or decreased function. However, Bigouette et al (2016), who evaluated the difference in kinetic variables for AI patients, revealed that the side effects of CAI have increased GRF magnitude and timing.…”

Sportartspezifische Schuhe und Einlagen

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