Amy D Sman1, Claire E Hiller2, Katherine Rae3, James Linklater4, John Morellato5, Nathan Trist6, Leslie L Nicholson2, Deborah A Black2, Kathryn M Refshauge2. 1. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: amy.sman@sydney.edu.au. 2. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia. 3. Sports Clinic, University of Sydney, Australia. 4. Castlereagh Imaging, Australia. 5. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Ottawa, Canada. 6. Department of Physiotherapy, North Shore Private Hospital, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Up to 25% of all ankle injuries involve the ankle syndesmosis and factors that increase risk have yet to be investigated prospectively. This study aimed to identify predictors of ankle syndesmosis injury in football players. DESIGN: A prospective study. METHODS: Rugby Union and Australian Football League players were recruited during 2010. Rugby League and different Rugby Union players were recruited during 2011. Baseline data collection included: age, body size, flexibility, strength and balance. Bivariate correlations were performed between all predictors. Variables with r ≥ 0.7 had only one variable entered in further analysis. Remaining predictor variables were analysed for association with the presence/absence of ankle syndesmosis injury. Variables with non-significant association with injury (p>0.2) were included in a backward step-wise Cox regression model. RESULTS: 202 male participants aged 21 ± 3.3 years (mean ± SD) were recruited of whom 12 (5.9%) sustained an ankle syndesmosis injury. The overall incidence rate was 0.59/1000 h sport participation for Rugby Union and Rugby League. Australian Football League training data was not available. No significant predictors were identified; however, participants who sustained an injury during the season performed a higher vertical jump (63.6 ± 8.2 cm) and greater Star Excursion Balance Test reach (80.5 ± 5.3 cm), than participants who did not sustain an injury: 59.1 ± 7.8 cm for Vertical Jump and 77.9 ± 6.1 cm for Star Excursion Balance Test. This was normalised for height. CONCLUSIONS: Variables such as age, body size, foot posture, flexibility and muscle strength did not increase risk of ankle syndesmosis injury. Jump height and balance performance may play a role in predicting ankle syndesmosis sprains.
OBJECTIVES: Up to 25% of all ankle injuries involve the ankle syndesmosis and factors that increase risk have yet to be investigated prospectively. This study aimed to identify predictors of ankle syndesmosis injury in football players. DESIGN: A prospective study. METHODS: Rugby Union and Australian Football League players were recruited during 2010. Rugby League and different Rugby Union players were recruited during 2011. Baseline data collection included: age, body size, flexibility, strength and balance. Bivariate correlations were performed between all predictors. Variables with r ≥ 0.7 had only one variable entered in further analysis. Remaining predictor variables were analysed for association with the presence/absence of ankle syndesmosis injury. Variables with non-significant association with injury (p>0.2) were included in a backward step-wise Cox regression model. RESULTS: 202 male participants aged 21 ± 3.3 years (mean ± SD) were recruited of whom 12 (5.9%) sustained an ankle syndesmosis injury. The overall incidence rate was 0.59/1000 h sport participation for Rugby Union and Rugby League. Australian Football League training data was not available. No significant predictors were identified; however, participants who sustained an injury during the season performed a higher vertical jump (63.6 ± 8.2 cm) and greater Star Excursion Balance Test reach (80.5 ± 5.3 cm), than participants who did not sustain an injury: 59.1 ± 7.8 cm for Vertical Jump and 77.9 ± 6.1 cm for Star Excursion Balance Test. This was normalised for height. CONCLUSIONS: Variables such as age, body size, foot posture, flexibility and muscle strength did not increase risk of ankle syndesmosis injury. Jump height and balance performance may play a role in predicting ankle syndesmosis sprains.
Authors: Motasem Salameh; Ashraf T Hantouly; Abdallah Rayyan; Jood Dabbas; Ahmad A Toubasi; Davis A Hartnett; Brad Blankenhorn Journal: Foot Ankle Orthop Date: 2022-05-16
Authors: David J Samra; Amy D Sman; Katherine Rae; James Linklater; Kathryn M Refshauge; Claire E Hiller Journal: BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med Date: 2015-09-10
Authors: Amy D Sman; Claire E Hiller; Adam Imer; Aldrin Ocsing; Joshua Burns; Kathryn M Refshauge Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2014-04-30 Impact factor: 3.411