How does lower leg alignment differ between soccer players, other athletes, and non-athletic controls?

Colyn, William; Agricola, Rintje; Arnout, Nele; Verhaar, Jan A N; Bellemans, Johan

doi:10.1007/s00167-016-4348-y

Cited by 38 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…18 Within the literature there is some evidence suggesting that increased participation in high-impact sports during youth would be associated with increased varus alignment of the knee at the end of growth in males, mainly due to increased frequency of intense running and cutting maneuvers. 19 Furthermore, Norton et al have reported in a non-athletic population that a compensatory valgus of the hindfoot could be expected in the setting of a varus knee. 20 Whether the converse of this observation is true in professional players of high-impact sports with varus knees has yet to be investigated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Foot Alignment in Symptomatic National Football League (Nfl) Athletes: A Weightbearing Ct Analysis

et al. 2021

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Objective: Our aim was to describe the foot alignment in National Football League (NFL) players with different symptomatic foot and ankle pathologies using weightbearing cone-beam computed tomography (WBCBCT), comparing them to normally aligned feet as control group. Methods: 41 feet (36 active NFL players) were assessed using WBCBCT and compared to 20 normally aligned controls from a normal population. Measurements included: Foot and Ankle Offset (FAO); Calcaneal Offset (CO); Hindfoot Alignment Angle (HAA); angle between inferior and superior facets of the talus (Inftal-Suptal); angle between inferior facet of the talus and the horizontal/floor (Inftal-Hor); Forefoot Arch Angle (FAA); navicular- and medial cuneiform-to-floor distance. Results: NFL athletes showed a neutrally aligned hindfoot when compared to controls (FAO: 1% vs 0.5%; CO: 2.3 mm vs 0.8 mm; HAA: 2.9° vs 0.8° in two groups, with all p > 0.05) and a normal morphology of the subtalar joint (no difference in Inftal-Suptal and Inftal-Hor angles). Conversely, in athletes we found a decreased medial longitudinal arch (FAA: 15° vs 18.3°, p = 0.03) with smaller navicular (38.2 mm vs 42.2 mm, p = 0.03) and medial cuneiform (27 mm vs 31.3 mm, p = 0.01) mean distances to the floor when compared to controls. Conclusion: In our series, NFL players presented a lower medial longitudinal arch than controls but a neutrally aligned hindfoot. WBCBCT may help shed light on anatomical risk factors for injuries in professional players. Level of Evidence III, Retrospective comparative study.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Foot Alignment in Symptomatic National Football League (Nfl) Athletes: A Weightbearing Ct Analysis

et al. 2021

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“…Within the literature, there exists some evidence suggesting that increased participation in high-impact sports during youth is associated with increased varus alignment of the knee at the end of growth in male patients, mainly because of the increased frequency of intense running and cutting maneuvers. 8,34 In addition, Norton et al 25 reported in a nonathletic population that compensatory valgus of the hindfoot could be expected in the setting of a varus knee. Whether opposite findings would be true in professional players of high-impact sports with varus knees has yet to be investigated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Foot Alignment in Symptomatic National Basketball Association Players Using Weightbearing Cone Beam Computed Tomography

Bernasconi

Roberts

Pontin

et al. 2019

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine

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Background: Weightbearing cone beam computed tomography (WB CBCT) allows detailed 3-dimensional imaging of the foot and ankle in a weightbearing state and provides improved accuracy and reliability of foot alignment measures, especially when compared with conventional radiographic views. Purpose: To describe the foot alignment in National Basketball Association (NBA) players with different symptomatic foot and ankle injuries using WB CBCT and to determine if any predominant morphotype would be identified. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 45 active NBA players (mean age, 24.4 years [range, 20-34 years]; N = 54 feet [29 right, 25 left]) were assessed using WB CBCT. Measurements included the following: (1) foot and ankle offset (FAO), (2) calcaneal offset (CO), (3) hindfoot alignment angle (HAA), (4) angle between the inferior and superior facets of the talus (Inftal-Suptal), (5) angle between the inferior facet of the talus and the horizontal floor line (Inftal-Hor), (6) forefoot arch angle (FAA), (7) navicular-to-floor distance, and (8) medial cuneiform–to-floor distance. Measurements were then compared with values available in the literature for a “normal” foot morphotype. Results: Among the 54 feet, the mean FAO was 0.48% (95% CI, –0.25% to 1.21%), the mean CO was 1.18 mm (95% CI, –0.50 to 2.87 mm), and the mean HAA was 1.42° (95% CI, –0.80° to 3.65°). The mean Inftal-Suptal angle was 5.31° (95% CI, 3.50°-7.12°), while the mean Inftal-Hor angle was 4.04° (95% CI, 2.56°-5.51°). The mean FAA was 15.84° (95% CI, 14.73°-16.92°), the mean navicular-to-floor distance was 38.30 mm (95% CI, 36.19-40.42 mm), and the mean medial cuneiform–to-floor distance was 26.79 mm (95% CI, 25.30-28.28 mm). None of these values were found to be significantly different when comparing forwards, guards, and centers. Conclusion: NBA players presenting with symptomatic foot and ankle injuries had a fairly “normal” foot morphology, with a tendency toward a varus hindfoot and a high-arched morphotype. No significant differences were found between players based on their position on the court. WB CBCT may help to shed light on anatomic risk factors for common injuries in professional players and may aid in the planning of specific prevention programs.

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“…Researches investigating sports participation and genu varum mostly focused on football and high correlation was determined between genu varum and football participation (Thijs, Bellemans, Rombaut, & Witvrouw, 2012). It is reported that frequency and degree of genu varum is higher in football players than sedentary (Colyn, Arnout, Verhaar, & Bellemans, 2016). Regular football training exposes the knee joint to load and torque pressures that contribute to genu varum in lower extremity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Relationship Between Football Participation Level and Lower Leg Alignment in Youth Males: Genu Varum

Melekoğlu¹,

Işın²

2019

JETS

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The aim of this study was to determine the effects of football participation levels on genu varum ratings by using Q angle and intercondylar distance. Twenty male football players for each elite and amateur football teams and 20 sedentary young male volunteers participated in this study. The anthropometric variables (body height, body weight, body fat percentage, body mass index) and genu varum levels by evaluating the lower extremity alignment using intercondylar distance, and Q angles for both legs were measured. The intercondylar distance measurements were done by using caliper with the sensitivity of 0.01 mm and Q angle measurements were carried out by the examination of the photographs of participants. One Way ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey test were used to assess statistically intra-group differences. Cohen's Kappa coefficient were used to determine agreement among observers. SPSS v.25 program was used to analyse the data. Intercondylar distance values were found significantly higher in elite group than in amateur and sedentary groups (45.65 ± 13.54; 28.84 ± 14.61; 3.70 ± 5.19 mm, respectively, p<0.001). As a result of this study, it was determined that the participation level of football trainings lead an increase in intercondylar distance significantly. The highest Q-angle values were observed in amateur football players.

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How does lower leg alignment differ between soccer players, other athletes, and non-athletic controls?

Abstract: Diagnostic study, Level III.

Cited by 38 publications

References 27 publications

Foot Alignment in Symptomatic National Football League (Nfl) Athletes: A Weightbearing Ct Analysis

Foot Alignment in Symptomatic National Football League (Nfl) Athletes: A Weightbearing Ct Analysis

Foot Alignment in Symptomatic National Basketball Association Players Using Weightbearing Cone Beam Computed Tomography

The Relationship Between Football Participation Level and Lower Leg Alignment in Youth Males: Genu Varum

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