Authors
Xiaoxue Zhu, Zhaoyang Yan, Qiongqiu Zhao, Qi Wang, Simin Li, Daniel T P Fong, Qipeng Song
Published in
Journal of science and medicine in sport. Aug 07, 2026. Epub Aug 07, 2026.
Abstract
This study aimed to compare lower-limb landing kinematics and modeled anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) and calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) strains between athletes with and without chronic ankle instability (CAI) during a dynamic inversion-plantarflexion perturbation, and to determine whether altered landing strategies in athletes with CAI were associated with increased or reduced ligament strain.
Cross-sectional study.
55 athletes with CAI and 55 without CAI were recruited. Each participant performed a 30-cm drop landing on a simulated sprain apparatus. The unaffected limb was placed on a support pedal, while the affected limb landed on a tilt pedal that was set to 24° of inversion and 15° of plantarflexion to simulate the condition of lateral ankle sprains. Kinematic data were obtained using a 12-camera motion analysis system, and ATFL and CFL strains were calculated with a 3D rigid-body foot model. Independent sample t-tests and Pearson's correlations were used to analyze data.
Athletes with CAI exhibited higher hip flexion (p < 0.001), hip abduction (p < 0.001), knee abduction (p = 0.043), ankle external rotation (p = 0.032), foot toe-out (p < 0.001) angles and lower ATFL strain (p = 0.002). ATFL strain was negatively correlated with ankle external rotation (r = -0.263, p = 0.006), and foot toe-out (r = -0.286, p = 0.002) angles.
Athletes with CAI adopt a protective landing strategy compared to those without CAI. This strategy was associated with reduction in ATFL strain, which may help mitigate the risk of lateral ankle sprain during challenging landings.
PMID:
42618352
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 20 Aug 2026.
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