Abstract Information 
Abstract ID
20260029
Category
Foot & Ankle
Preferable Presentation
Oral Presentation
Title
INCREASING THE FOOT TOE-OUT ANGLE DURING DROP-LANDING REDUCES STRAIN ON THE ANTERIOR TALOFIBULAR LIGAMENT AND THE CALCANEOFIBULAR LIGAMENT IN PEOPLE WITH HIGH ATHLETIC DEMANDS
Author
  • Full Name: XIAOXUE ZHU
  • Affiliation/Institution: Shanghai University of Sport
  • Country: China
Presenter
xiaoxue zhu
Abstract
Background
    Ankle inversion sprains are one of the most common sports injuries that predispose to tearing of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) and the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL).

Objectives
    The aim of this study was to investigate whether increasing the foot toe-out angle decreases strain on the ATFL and the CFL during drop-landing in a high athletic demand population.

Study design
    A total of thirty five high athletic demand participants (15 males, 20 females; age: 21.0 ± 0.9 years; height: 176.2 ± 8.8 cm; weight: 71.6 ± 12.8 kg) were recruited to perform a drop-landing test using a trapdoor device to simulate ankle inversion sprains. Each participant landed with both legs simultaneously on a trap-door device with the tested leg on a movable platform, which could be flipped 24° inward and 15° forward to mimic an ankle inversion sprain. Two landing conditions were tested, i.e., natural landing (NL, with natural toe-out angle at landing) and toe-out landing (TL, increased the toe-out angle to over 150% of that during NL condition). Kinematic data were captured using a twelve-camera motion analysis system, the strain of ATFL and CFL were calculated using a three-dimensional rigid-body foot model. Data were analyzed using paired-samples t-tests and Pearson correlation analysis.

Results
    Compared to NL conditions, the ATFL strain decreased (NL = 3.57 ± 1.92 %, TL = 0.36 ± 1.18 %, p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 2.01), as was the CFL strain (NL = 1.38 ± 1.80 %, TL = -0.28 ± 2.29 %, p = 0.003, Cohen’s d = 0.81) under TL conditions. The toe-out angle was strongly negatively correlated with the ATFL strain (r = -0.564, p < 0.001) and weakly negatively correlated with the CFL strain (r = -0.237, p = 0.024).

Conclusions
   Toe-out landing may reduce the ATFL strain and the CFL strain in high athletic demand population, thereby reducing the potential of ankle inversion sprains.