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Ankle dorsiflexion among healthy men with different qualities of lower extremity movement.

CONTEXT
Lower extremity movement patterns have been implicated as a risk factor for various knee disorders. Ankle-dorsiflexion (DF) range of motion (ROM) has previously been associated with a faulty movement pattern among healthy female participants.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the association between ankle DF ROM and the quality of lower extremity movement during the lateral step-down test among healthy male participants.


DESIGN
Cross-sectional study.


SETTING
Training facility of the Israel Defense Forces.


PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS
Fifty-five healthy male Israeli military recruits (age = 19.7 ± 1.1 years, height = 175.4 ± 6.4 cm, mass = 72.0 ± 7.6 kg).


INTERVENTION(S)
Dorsiflexion ROM was measured in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing conditions using a fluid-filled inclinometer and a universal goniometer, respectively. Lower extremity movement pattern was assessed visually using the lateral step-down test and classified categorically as good or moderate. All measurements were performed bilaterally.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
Weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing DF ROM were more limited among participants with moderate quality of movement than in those with good quality of movement on the dominant side (P = .01 and P = .02 for weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing DF, respectively). Non-weight-bearing DF demonstrated a trend toward a decreased range among participants with moderate compared with participants with good quality of movement on the nondominant side (P = .03 [adjusted P = .025]). Weight-bearing DF was not different between participants with good and moderate movement patterns on the nondominant side (P = .10). Weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing ankle DF ROM correlated significantly with the quality of movement on both sides (P < .01 and P < .05 on the dominant and nondominant side, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Ankle DF ROM was associated with quality of movement among healthy male participants. The association seemed weaker in males than in females.