Flexibility and strength deficits in chronic ankle instability / Afaf Mohamed Omar ; Supervised Salwa Fadl Abdel Mageed , Waleed Mohamed Abdelbaky , Hamed Mohamed Elkhozamy

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Musculoskeletal Disorders

Background: Ankle sprains are among the most common musculoskeletal injuries and can lead to chronic ankle instability (CAI). CAI caused by sensorimotor deficits and mechanical impairment. Previous studies addressed invertors and evertors role with inconclusive results. Other studies referred to different proximal deficits associated with CAI, however, hamstring (HM) flexibility hasn{u2019}t been assessed before. Objective: To assess and compare between CAI and control non-injured group regarding strength of invertors and evertors and HM flexibility. Patients and methods: Twenty one patients with unilateral CAI and 21 subjects as non-injured control were included. Isometric testing for invertors and evertors at 3 different angles using handheld dynamometer was performed. HM flexibility was measured by passive knee extension test using digital inclinometer. Results: Peak torque (PT) and normalized PT of evertors were significantly affected at neutral and minimum range angles while at full range angle only normalized PT was affected. For invertors PT and normalized PT were significantly decreased at minimum range angle only. Hamstring flexibility was statistically and clinically significant decreased in CAI. Conclusion: CAI associated with invertors and evertors weakness but at specific angles that related to mechanical demands on these muscles during gait. In addition to HM tightness that may cause proximal malalignments and dysfunctions

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