Peri‐ankle muscles architecture and performance changes in patients with chronic ankle instability: A retrospective cross‐sectional study

• Published in: Journal of foot and ankle research Vol. 17; no. 3; pp. e12035 - n/a
• Main Authors: Yu, Heeju, Yeo, Seungmi, Lim, Ji Young, Kim, Inah, Hwang, Jihye, Lee, Wan‐hee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley 01.09.2024
• Subjects: Adult; Ankle Injuries - diagnostic imaging; Ankle Injuries - physiopathology; Ankle Joint - diagnostic imaging; Ankle Joint - physiopathology; chronic ankle instability; Chronic Disease; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Joint Instability - diagnostic imaging; Joint Instability - physiopathology; Male; Muscle Contraction - physiology; Muscle Strength - physiology; muscle thickness; Muscle, Skeletal - diagnostic imaging; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; pennation angle; Retrospective Studies; Ultrasonography; ultrasound; Young Adult; muscle thickness; pennation angle; chronic ankle instability; ultrasound
• ISSN: 1757-1146; 1757-1146
• DOI: 10.1002/jfa2.12035

This study aimed to identify changes in the architecture and performance of the peri‐ankle muscles in patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI) and investigate the relationship between them. In total, 17 subjects were evaluated retrospectively. Each subject underwent anthropometric and isokinetic test, and peroneus longus (PL) and brevis (PB), medial gastrocnemius (MGCM), and tibialis anterior (TA) ultrasound imaging were performed at rest and maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) conditions. Regarding muscle architectural variables, the pennation angle (PA) of the MGCM at rest and the PA of the TA, MGCM, and PL in MVC were significantly reduced on the injured side compared to the intact side. There were no significant differences in muscle thickness of PL, PB, MGCM, and TA observed between intact and injured side during both rest and MVC. Regarding muscle performance parameters, significant decreased were observed in the muscle strength for both limbs in all four directions under the two different conditions. A secondary finding was that the relative PA ratio of the TA showed moderate correlation with the relative dorsiflexion ratio at 30°/s. These findings can provide opportunities to better understand how injuries in patients with CAI may be related to changes in ankle and foot function.