Gait kinematics in those with chronic ankle instability

The purpose of this dissertation was to compare lower extremity kinematics in those with and without chronic ankle instability (CAI) and to determine if: 1) there are knee or hip kinematic differences between groups; 2) there are differences in movement variability between groups; 3) any kinematic changes occur at the ankle or knee while wearing tape; and 4) any clinical measures are able to predict maximum inversion during the swing phase of gait.

A total of thirty-nine physically active participants volunteered for the first study, fifteen with self-reported CAI, 11 individuals with a history of one ankle sprain, and 13 healthy controls. The first study, conducted in a motion analysis laboratory, found that while jogging, compared to controls, subjects with CAI had greater knee flexion during the mid to late phase of swing. This study also found that during unloading and swing subjects with CAI presented with more movement variability than controls.

Fifteen physically active subjects with self-reported chronic ankle instability volunteered for the second study. Subjects reported to a motion analysis laboratory where they were fitted for shoes and randomly assigned a testing order of two conditions, un-taped and taped. Subjects walked then jogged on a treadmill while kinematic data was collected. CAI subjects exhibited different ankle sagittal and frontal plane kinematics during multiple aspects of the gait cycle while taped compared to the un-taped condition. No changes were noted at the knee.

Twenty-six subjects with a history of ankle sprain completed two visits for study three. The first consisted of measuring various clinical measures. The second visit occurred in a motion analysis system. Subjects jogged in shoes on a treadmill while maximum inversion during swing was recorded. Regression analyses were conducted to determine which clinical measures could best predict maximum inversion. While jogging, self-reported function and instrumented ligament laxity in the anterior direction were predictors of maximum inversion.

In conclusion, this study found that CAI subjects have different gait patterns compared to controls while in shoes. Identifying differences is the first step in establishing rehabilitation programs that may best prevent future ankle sprains.

Note: Abstract extracted from PDF file via OCR.