Joint Coordination and Stiffness During Landing in Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of chronic ankle instability (CAI) on lower-extremity joint coordination and stiffness during landing. A total of 21 female participants with CAI and 21 pair-matched healthy controls participated in the study. Lower-extremity joint kinematics were collected using a 7-camera motion capture system, and ground reaction forces were collected using 2 force plates during drop landings. Coupling angles were computed based on the vector coding method to assess joint coordination. Coupling angles were compared between the CAI and control groups using circular Watson–Williams tests. Joint stiffness was compared between the groups using independent t tests. Participants with CAI exhibited strategies involving altered joint coordination including a knee flexion dominant pattern during 30% and 70% of their landing phase and a more in-phase motion pattern between the knee and hip joints during 30% and 40% and 90% and 100% of the landing phase. In addition, increased ankle inversion and knee flexion stiffness were observed in the CAI group. These altered joint coordination and stiffness could be considered as a protective strategy utilized to effectively absorb energy, stabilize the body and ankle, and prevent excessive ankle inversion. However, this strategy could result in greater mechanical demands on the knee joint.

Effects of mental fatigue on biomechanical characteristics of lower extremities in patients with functional ankle instability during unanticipated side-step cutting

“…During the anticipated MS, humans can prepare enough to adjust the physical characteristics of soft tissues by actively activating muscles, the neuromuscular system will adjust muscle tuning according to the MS ( Nigg and Wakeling, 2001 ), and the stiffness and motion of joints will also be adjusted accordingly to activate the joint soft tissue and reduce the risk of injury ( Nigg and Liu, 1999 ). Increased ankle stiffness can be used to stabilize the body and prevent excessive joint motion ( Brughelli and Cronin, 2008 ; Li et al, 2021 ). In this study, MF had no significant influence on ankle stiffness of the injured side when patients with FAI performed anticipated side-step cutting.…”

Leg and Joint Stiffness of the Supporting Leg during Side-Foot Kicking in Soccer Players with Chronic Ankle Instability

“…The ankle, as the joint that absorbs the load after landing, plays a significant role in energy absorption [33][34][35], and therefore ankle instability causes poor alignment of the lower extremities during landing [36,37]. Li et al reported that participants with CAI exhibit knee stiffness owing to ankle joint instability as a result of a protective strategy utilized to effectively absorb energy during landing [21], meaning that the stiffness and stability of the entire lower extremity may be maintained in legs with CAI. Using a similar mechanism, the soccer players with CAI in this study also had greater knee stiffness in the frontal plane during the kicking cycle and could compensate for ankle joint instability.…”

“…Previous studies have suggested that CAI in soccer players is associated with poor dynamic balance of the supporting leg [8] and foot eversion during foot strikes [17], indicating potential difficulties in withstanding the impact during foot strike. However, individuals with CAI have greater knee stiffness during jump landings than those without, suggesting a possible compensatory mechanism for poor ankle joint stability and knee stiffness [21]. In addition, efficient kicking requires the transfer of energy from the ankle to the hip of the supporting leg, and then to the proximal-to-distal of the kicking-leg [14,15].…”

Effects of perceptual-cognitive tasks on inter-joint coordination of soccer players and ordinary college students

“…The indicators of joint stiffness and coordination of the dominant lower extremity of the participants were analyzed in this study. Inter-joint coordination during landing mainly reflects joint stiffness, and reduction of joint stiffness is a potential risk factor for soft tissue injury ( Li et al, 2021 ). Coordination-related parameters in this study included continuous relative phase (CRP), mean absolute relative phase (MARP), and deviation phase (DP), which were recorded using Vicon infrared motion capture system during ST and DT.…”

“…Inter-joint coordination mode of the lower extremity is a major indicator for evaluating lower extremity load and sports injury during dynamic movement ( Schoner and Kelso, 1988 ; Kim et al, 2019 ; Sinsurin et al, 2020 ; Zhang et al, 2021 ). Joint coordination during landing is mainly reflected through joint stiffness, and joint stiffness can be used to evaluate soft tissue injury in the lower extremity ( Li et al, 2021 ). These findings imply that inter-joint significantly affects the performance of players.…”