Date Available

12-12-2019

Year of Publication

2019

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Document Type

Master's Thesis

College

Education

Department/School/Program

Kinesiology and Health Promotion

First Advisor

Dr. Michael Samaan

Abstract

Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries within athletics in the United States with approximately one-million student athletes experiencing ankle sprains each year. Studies argue excessive or rapid ankle inversion occurring from jump landings may cause ankle sprains. Also, the effect of limb dominance on risk of ankle sprain is not well documented.

The aim of this study was to determine if there is an affect of leg dominance on landing mechanism of the ankle joint that predisposes either ankle joint to greater risk of ankle sprain.

Twelve recreationally active subjects were recruited and completed four maximal vertical jumps. Ground reaction force, marker position data and maximal vertical jump height were collected using two Bertec Force plates, a 10-camera motion capture system, and a Vertec Vertical Jump Trainer, respectively. Cortex and Visual3D software programs were used to process the motion capture data and to calculate peak vertical ground reaction forces(vGRF), loading rate, and ankle joint moments. There were no statistically significant differences in ankle joint moment or loading rate between limbs, but peak vGRF were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the non-dominant ankle. The results suggest the non-dominant ankle displays higher injury potential, as the non-dominant leg accumulates a larger peak landing force.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2019.451

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