Association between range of dorsiflexion of the ankle and lower limb kinematics during running

• Grant number: 15/07176-2
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: October 26, 2015
• End date: November 15, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Fábio Viadanna Serrão
• Grantee: Fábio Viadanna Serrão
• Visiting researcher: Deborah A. Nawoczenski
• Visiting researcher institution: University of Rochester (UR), United States
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The decreased range of ankle dorsiflexion has been linked to the presence of pattern movements of the hip and knee potentially harmful to patellofemoral joint. Previous studies found that decreased range of ankle dorsiflexion, measured by clinical assessments, was associated with increased dynamic knee valgus (movement constituted by the adduction and medial rotation of the hip and knee abduction). Furthermore, the increased dynamic knee valgus results in increased patellofemoral stress. However, in the literature, no studies have evaluated the association between the amplitude of ankle dorsiflexion, obtained through clinical assessments, and the three-dimensional kinematics of the hip, knee and ankle during the running were found. The objective of the study is to evaluate the association between the amplitude of ankle dorsiflexion, obtained through clinical assessments with and without the weight-bearing, and the kinematics of the hip, knee and ankle at the time of peak dorsiflexion ankle (stance phase), as well as the peaks of these movements during the stance phase of running on a treadmill. Furthermore, the study is aimed to determine what degree the amplitude of ankle dorsiflexion measured clinically predicts the kinematics of the lower limb. Will participate in this study 36 healthy runners of both gender. The measurement of the amplitude of ankle dorsiflexion is performed without and with weight-bearing, and with the knee in full extension (0 degrees) and 90° flexion. To measure the amplitude of ankle dorsiflexion we will use analogic inclinometer and goniometer. Then the kinematic assessment of the running will be held on treadmill using Qualisys Motion Capture System (Qualisys Medical AB, Sweden). The dependent variables in the study are the angles of flexion, abduction and internal rotation of the hip, flexion and abduction of the knee and rearfoot eversion at the time of peak dorsiflexion ankle (stance phase), and the peaks of these movements during the stance phase. Depending on the data distribution, the Pearson correlation coefficient (if normal distribution) or Spearman to assess the association between the amplitude of ankle dorsiflexion measured with and without weight-bearing (independent variables) and the angles of hip, knee and ankle (dependent variables). All independent variables found to be significantly correlated with the dependent variables will used in a stepwise multiple regression model to determine the best combination of predictive variables. For all statistical tests will be adopted a significance level of 0.05. (AU)