Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 9, 2025
Diagnosis of Musculus Gastrocnemius Tightness - Key Factors for the Clinical Examination
Published on: July 7, 2016
Ankle laxity affects ankle kinematics during a side-cutting task in male collegiate soccer athletes without perceived
Shun Kunugi1, Takashi Koumura2, Ryota Myotsuzono3
1Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Chukyo University, 101-2 Yagoto Honmachi, Showa-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi, 466-8666, Japan.
Objectives:
To investigate whether ankle joint laxity alone influences lower limb kinematics during a side-cutting task.
Design:
A cross-sectional study.
Setting:
Sports medicine research laboratory.
Participants:
In total, 66 male collegiate soccer players with history of ankle sprains with no perceived ankle instability were categorised into three groups: no-laxity copers (n = 26), laxity copers (n = 23), and severe-laxity copers (n = 17).
Main Outcome Measures:
The hip, knee, ankle, rearfoot, midfoot, and forefoot kinematic data during the stance phase (0%-100% indicated initial contact to take-off) of a 45° side-cutting task were analysed using one-dimensional statistical parametric mapping.
Results:
The horizontal plane kinematics of the rearfoot differed significantly among the three groups during 30%-91% of the stance phase (P < .05). Severe-laxity copers exhibited a greater external rotation angle than no-laxity copers during 6%-14% and 32%-92% of the stance phase (P < .05).
Conclusion:
Our data suggest that severe ankle joint laxity affects rearfoot horizontal plane kinematics in individuals without perceived ankle instability performing a 45° side-cutting task. These findings could be used by clinicians in developing rehabilitation programs to prevent further ankle sprains in patients with severe ankle joint laxity.
