Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2025
Evaluating Postural Control and Lower-extremity Muscle Activation in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability
Published on: September 18, 2020
The relationship between joint kinematic patterns during single-leg drop landing and perceived instability in
Kentaro Watanabe1, Yuta Koshino2, Kosumi Nakagawa2
1Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; Department of Rehabilitation, Hokkaido University Hospital, Sapporo, Japan.
Background:
Perceived instability is a primary symptom among individuals with chronic ankle instability. However, the relationship between joint kinematics during landing remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the relationships between landing kinematics and perceived instability in individuals with chronic ankle instability.
Methods:
In 32 individuals with chronic ankle instability, we recorded ankle, knee, and hip joint angles during a single-leg drop landing. Joint angle waveforms during 200 ms before and after initial contact were summarized into single values using two methods: peak joint angles and principal component scores via principal component analysis. Using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (ρ), we examined the relationships of peak joint angles and principal component scores with the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool score, with a lower score indicating a greater perceived instability (α = 0.05).
Findings:
The second principal component scores of ankle angle in the horizontal and sagittal planes significantly correlated with the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool score (Horizontal: ρ = 0.507, P = 0.003; Sagittal: ρ = -0.359, P = 0.044). These scores indicated the differences in the magnitude of angles before and after landing. Significant correlations indicated a greater perceived instability correlated with smaller internal rotation and plantarflexion before landing and smaller external rotation and dorsiflexion after landing. In contrast, no peak joint angles correlated with the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool score (P > 0.05).
Interpretation:
In individuals with chronic ankle instability, ankle movements during landing associated with perceived instability may be a protective strategy before landing and potentially cause ankle instability after landing.
