Ultrasonography assessments of talar cartilage and ATFL after running in chronically unstable, coper, and healthy ankles: a case-control study

• Published in: Physiotherapy theory and practice Vol. 41; no. 6; pp. 1228 - 1238
• Main Authors: Seo, Dongkyun, Park, Jihong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 03.06.2025
• Subjects: Adult; Ankle Injuries - diagnostic imaging; Ankle Injuries - physiopathology; Ankle Joint - diagnostic imaging; Ankle Joint - physiopathology; Cartilage, Articular - diagnostic imaging; Cartilage, Articular - physiopathology; Case-Control Studies; Chronic Disease; Humans; Joint Instability - diagnostic imaging; Joint Instability - physiopathology; Lateral Ligament, Ankle - diagnostic imaging; Lateral Ligament, Ankle - physiopathology; Male; Running; Talus - diagnostic imaging; Talus - physiopathology; Ultrasonography; Young Adult; anterior talofibular ligament; joint laxity; Ankle sprain; treadmill running; chronic ankle instability
• ISSN: 0959-3985; 1532-5040; 1532-5040
• DOI: 10.1080/09593985.2024.2412209

Comparisons of talar cartilage and the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) profiles in individuals with different levels of chronic ankle instability (CAI) provide insight into early adaptation of tissue morphology. This study compared morphologic response and recovery of the talar cartilage and ATFL before and after 30-min of self-paced treadmill running between individuals with CAI, coper (full recovery from a first-time ankle sprain), and healthy controls. Sixty young males (24.8 years, 176.9 cm, 75.7 kg) were allocated into the CAI, coper, and healthy control group by their number of ankle sprains and scores on the self-reported ankle instability questionnaires (Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool, and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-Activities of Daily Living). Ultrasonographic images in the cross-sectional area (CSA; overall, lateral, and medial) and ATFL length (unstressed and stressed and position) before and after treadmill running were recorded and analyzed. There were no group by time interactions in the talar cartilage CSA (F <1.09,  > .36 for all tests) and ATFL length (F < .69,  > .79 for all tests). Regardless of time, CAIs had the largest overall (F  = 42.68,  < .001), lateral (F  = 37.16,  < .001), and medial (F  = 36.57,  < .001) CSA of talar cartilage and the longest stressed-ATFL length (F  = 54.42,  < .001), followed by copers and healthy controls. Morphologic features of the talar cartilage and ATFL appear to depend on the level of ankle instability (e.g. a history of recurrent ankle sprain).