ORIGINAL ARTICLE  SPORT INJURIES AND REHABILITATION 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2020 June;60(6):895-902

DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.20.10619-4

Copyright © 2020 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Effects of lateral ankle sprain on range of motion, strength and postural balance in competitive basketball players: a cross-sectional study

Wern L. CHENG, Zulkarnain JAAFAR ✉

Department of Sports Medicine, University of Malaya Medical Center, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

BACKGROUND: Lateral ankle sprain is the most common injury in basketball, and many of these sprains resulted in residual functional deficits. This study aimed to compare ankle strength and range of motion, and postural balance between competitive basketball players with and without lateral ankle sprain.
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving 42 male competitive basketball players. Subjects were divided into the injured and uninjured groups based on self-reported questionnaires. Ankle range of motion (ROM) was measured using a goniometer, ankle isokinetic strength testing performed using Biodex System 4 PRO, and single-leg stability tests performed using Biodex Balance System SD.
RESULTS: Between the injured and uninjured ankles, there was a decrease in plantarflexion ROM (44.89±6.85 vs. 50.75±9.31, P<0.05) and an increase in eversion ROM (14.50±5.63 vs. 11.74±4.53, P<0.05). There was a reduction in inversion and plantarflexion strength at 30°/s peak torque and 120 °/s peak torque (P<0.05). However, no significant difference observed in the postural stability indexes between the two groups.
CONCLUSIONS: This study proves that there are residual ROM and strength deficits after an ankle sprain, however, these deficits do not affect their balance ability.

KEY WORDS: Ankle joint; Basketball; Muscle strength; Postural balance; Range of motion