Differences in Ankle ROM Between Young Men and Women With a History of Ankle Sprain

Abstract

Background Ankle injuries are the most common injuries in sports. However, very little is known about sex differences in ankle range of motion (ROM) between ankle joints with an episode of ankle sprain (ASE) and those without an episode of ankle sprain (non-ASE). This study aimed to investigate the differences of ankle ROM between men and women with and without ASE.

Methods 26 ASE had at least one episode of ankle injury in the last 6 to 12 months. 35 non-ASE served as a control group. All subjects were examined in supine position and the ankle ROM was calculated by the sum of inversion (IV), eversion (EV), plantar flexion (PF) and dorsiflexion (DF) in both ankles.

Results Subjects with ASE had a significantly smaller ROM regarding EV than non-ASE subjects in both ankles. The male subjects with ASE had a significantly higher EV and IV compared with the female subjects. However, ROM in PF was significantly lower among men compared with women who had ASE.

Conclusions Our findings suggest that the ROM after ASE affects PF in male and EV in female patients. This could point to sex-based prevention and rehabilitation after ankle injury.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund Sprunggelenksverletzungen sind die häufigsten Verletzungen im Sport. Allerdings ist sehr wenig bekannt über geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede der Beweglichkeit des Fußgelenks (ROM) zwischen Sprunggelenken mit einer Episode einer Sprunggelenksverletzung (ASE) und einer ohne Sprunggelenksverletzung (non-ASE). Ziel dieser Untersuchung war die Untersuchung der Unterschiede der Sprunggelenksbeweglichkeit zwischen Männern und Frauen mit und ohne einer ASE.

Methoden 26 ASE hatten in den letzten 6 bis 12 Monaten mindestens eine Episode einer Sprunggelenksverletzung. 35 non-ASE dienten als Kontrollgruppe. Die Probanden wurden in Rückenlage untersucht und der ROM des Sprunggelenks wurde durch die Summe von Inversion (IV), Eversion (EV), Plantar-Flexion (PF) und Dorsal-Flexion (DF) in beiden Sprunggelenken berechnet.

Ergebnisse Probanden mit ASE hatte eine deutlich kleinere ROM in der EV als non-ASE in beiden Sprunggelenken. Die männlichen Probanden mit ASE hatten eine deutlich größere EV und IV als Frauen. Allerdings war die ROM in der PF bei den Männern deutlich geringer als bei Frauen, die eine ASE hatten.

Schlussfolgerungen Unsere Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass die ROM des Sprunggelenks nach ASE insbesondere die PF bei den Männern und die EV bei den Frauen betrifft. Dies könnte auf eine geschlechtsspezifische Prävention und Rehabilitation nach einer Sprunggelenksverletzung hinweisen.

Key word

ankle - sex - range of motion - sprains

Schlüsselwörter

Sprunggelenk - Geschlecht - Beweglichkeit - Sprunggelenksverletzung

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