BackgroundIdiopathic Toe Walking (ITW) is present in children older than 3 years of age still walking on their toes without signs of neurological, orthopaedic or psychiatric diseases. ITW has been estimated to occur in 7% to 24% of the childhood population. To study associations between Idiopathic Toe Walking (ITW) and decrease in range of joint motion of the ankle joint. To study associations between ITW (with stiff ankles) and stiffness in other joints, muscle strength and bone density.MethodsIn a cross-sectional study, 362 healthy children, adolescents and young adults (mean age (sd): 14.2 (3.9) years) participated. Range of joint motion (ROM), muscle strength, anthropometrics sport activities and bone density were measured.ResultsA prevalence of 12% of ITW was found. Nine percent had ITW and severely restricted ROM of the ankle joint. Children with ITW had three times higher chance of severe ROM restriction of the ankle joint. Participants with ITW and stiff ankle joints had a decreased ROM in other joints, whereas bone density and muscle strength were comparable.ConclusionITW and a decrease in ankle joint ROM might be due to local stiffness. Differential etiological diagnosis should be considered.
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OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether dynamic balance, measured with the anterior component of the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT-ANT), is a risk factor for ankle injuries in physical education teacher education (PETE) students.DESIGN AND SETTING: A prospective monocentre study in first-year PETE students.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 196 subjects, of which 137 men (70%) and 59 women (30%).OUTCOME MEASURES: This study consisted of measures of the SEBT-ANT at baseline (September 2015) and an injury registration procedure during a follow-up period (September 2015-June 2016). The association between the SEBT-ANT score and subsequent ankle injury was analysed with generalised estimating equations analysis at the leg level.RESULTS: Men and women had an average SEBT-ANT score of, respectively, 65.1% and 67.7% of leg length. In 20 (15%) subjects, the first injured body site involved the ankle. Across all participants, a below average SEBT-ANT score was not associated with increased ankle injury odds (OR OR=2.43, 95% CI: 0.94 to 6.29, p=0.07). In men, a below average SEBT-ANT score indicated sevenfold increased odds for ankle injury (OR=7.06, 95% CI: 1.43 to 34.92, p=0.02). In women, this relationship was not significant (OR=0.72, 95% CI: 0.19 to 2.71, p=0.62).CONCLUSIONS: Below average normalised SEBT-ANT scores were associated with sevenfold likelihood for ankle injuries in men. In contrast, no relationship was found for the SEBT-ANT score and ankle injuries in woman. These results may provide directions for the implementation of screening tools, as part of an injury prevention programme, to identify male PETE students with an increased likelihood for ankle injuries.
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Objectives: The strategy for dynamic postural stability might be different for male and female players. Additionally, dynamic and challenging tasks are recommended to measure differences in postural stability between injured and non-injured players. Therefore, the dynamic stability index (DSI) was developed which measures the ability of a player to maintain static balance after a dynamic task. The first aim of this study was to evaluate DSI differences between males and females for different jump directions. The second aim was to examine both preseason DSI differences between players with and without a history of ankle sprain, and between players with and without an ankle sprain during the subsequent season.Design: Prospective cohort design. Setting: Laboratory. Participants: 47 male (22.9 ± 3.9 y, 193.5 ± 7.9 cm, 87.1 ± 10.6) and 19 female (21.5 ± 2.9 y, 175.9 ± 7.3 cm, 69.0 ± 11.7 kg) sub-elite and elite basketball, volleyball and korfball players. Main outcome measures: Ankle sprain history was collected using a general injury history questionnaire. DSI on a single-leg hop-stabilization task measured preseason were calculated by using force plates and a Matlab program. Ankle sprains were reported during subsequent season. Results: Male players demonstrated larger DSI than female players on forward medial/lateral stability index (MLSI) (0.037± 0.007 vs 0.029 ± 0.005) and vertical stability index (VSI) (0.369 ± 0.056 vs 0.319 ± 0.034) (p < 0.001), diagonal VSI (0.363 ± 0.046 vs 0.311 ± 0.033) (p < 0.001), and lateral anterior/posterior stability index (APSI) (0.062 ± 0.015 vs 0.047 ± 0.011) and VSI (0.350 ± 0.054 vs 0.294 ± 0.037) (p < 0.001). Forward (0.384 ± 0.055 vs 0.335 ± 0.033), diagonal (0.379 ± 0.046 vs 0.328 ± 0.032) and lateral (0.368 ± 0.053 vs 0.313 ± 0.035) dynamic postural stability indices (DPSI) were larger for males (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found between players with and without a previous ankle sprain nor between players with and without an ankle sprain during subsequent season.
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