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Does ipsilateral chronic ankle instability alter kinematics of the other joints of the lower extremities: a biomechanical study

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Abstract

Purpose

We evaluated and compared kinematics of bilateral ankle, knee, and hip joints in patients with chronic unilateral ankle instability (CAI) with healthy controls.

Methods

Fifteen individuals diagnosed with CAI and a control group of 16 individuals were matched. Different peaks within the gait cycle (at different intervals) for the dorsiplantar, inversion/eversion, and abduction/adduction axis were compared between injured and uninjured sides of patients with CAI with a control group.

Results

Comparison of the uninjured ankle in CAI with the control group showed higher dorsiflexion in one peak of the stance phase (p = 0.003), higher inversion in one peak of the stance phase (p = 0.022), and the swing phase (p = 0.004). The hip joint of the uninjured side showed higher extension in one peak of the stance phase (p < 0.001), and two peaks of the swing phase (p < 0.05). Furthermore, it showed higher adduction in one peak of the foot flat to mid-stance phase (p = 0.001), higher abduction in one peak of the late swing phase (p = 0.047), and the swing phase (p = 0.032). The knee joint of the uninjured side showed higher flexion in all measured peaks of the gait cycle (p < 0.05) (except for one peak in the late swing phase) compared to the control group.

Conclusion

Chronic ankle instability results in altered biomechanics of the ipsilateral knee as well as the contralateral ankle, knee, and hip joints. The alterations caused by CAI may predispose patients to overuse and/or acute injuries of other joints of lower extremities during routine and sporting activity.

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Data will be accessible for authors and institutional by directly contacting the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the patients and their families for kindly taking part in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Foot & Ankle Research and Innovation Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Elaheh Ziaei Ziabari, Bart Lubberts & Christopher W. DiGiovanni

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Elaheh Ziaei Ziabari & Mohammad Razi

  3. School of Mechanical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Narmak, 16846-13114, Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad Haghpanahi

  4. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Arman Hospital, Tehran, Iran

    Bijan Valiollahi

  5. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Faezeh Khazaee & Hossein Taghadosi

  6. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Foot & Ankle Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Christopher W. DiGiovanni

  7. Harvard Medical School, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Christopher W. DiGiovanni

Authors
  1. Elaheh Ziaei Ziabari
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  2. Mohammad Razi
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  3. Mohammad Haghpanahi
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  4. Bart Lubberts
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  5. Bijan Valiollahi
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  6. Faezeh Khazaee
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  7. Hossein Taghadosi
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  8. Christopher W. DiGiovanni
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elaheh Ziaei Ziabari.

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This study was approved by the Iran University of Science and Technology.

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All participants gave the written and informed consent to enter the study.

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All participants gave their consent for their data to be published.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Ziabari, E.Z., Razi, M., Haghpanahi, M. et al. Does ipsilateral chronic ankle instability alter kinematics of the other joints of the lower extremities: a biomechanical study. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 46, 241–248 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-021-05139-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-021-05139-6

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