Local sensation changes and altered hip muscle function following severe ankle sprain

Area of Science:

• Neuromuscular Function
• Biomechanics
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Sensory information changes can locally influence muscle function.
• Clinicians hypothesize that sensory changes may have broader effects on muscle function.
• This study investigates the link between ankle sprain, local sensation, and proximal muscle function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess local sensation changes in individuals with severe ankle sprain.
• To evaluate proximal hip and back muscle function in relation to ankle injury.
• To explore the potential widespread effects of ankle sprains on neuromuscular control.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 20 men with severe unilateral ankle sprains and 11 healthy controls participated.
• Vibration sensation in the ankle was measured to assess local sensory changes.
• Surface electromyography (EMG) recorded muscle recruitment patterns of the biceps femoris, gluteus maximus, and lumbar erector spinae during hip extension.

Main Results:

• Individuals with ankle sprains exhibited significantly reduced vibration perception in the affected ankle.
• Delayed gluteus maximus muscle recruitment was observed during hip extension in the injured group.
• These findings suggest a connection between local sensory deficits and altered proximal muscle activation.

Conclusions:

• Unilateral severe ankle sprain is associated with both local sensory impairments and changes in proximal muscle function.
• The study supports the clinical concept that ankle injuries can have distal effects on neuromuscular control.
• Further research may elucidate the mechanisms underlying these sensory-motor alterations and inform rehabilitation strategies.