The Comparison of the onset of the activity of selected ankle muscles in athletes with and without ankle dorsiflexion range of motion limitations during single-leg jump landing

Limitation of ankle dorsiflexion range of motion as the most important risk factors for ankle sprain injury can cause disorder in neuromuscular control of muscles around the ankle. The aim of this study was to compare the onset of the activity of selected muscles around the ankle joint of those athletes with ankle dorsiflexion range of motion limitations with healthy Athletes during the single-leg jump landing. 15 male athletes with ankle dorsiflexion range of motion limitations were categorized as the group with limitation and the same number of male athletes without limitation in ankle dorsiflexion range of motion as the healthy group. Universal goniometer was used to measure range of motion of the ankle. The onset of the activity of selected muscles of the ankle during single-leg jump landing task was recorded. A multivariate analysis of variance was used to compare the beginning of the activity of the muscles between groups. The significance level for all analyzes was set as lower than 0/05. The results showed that Peroneus Longus، Lateral Gastrocnemius and Soleus muscles in the athletes with motion limitation had significantly delays in the beginning of their activity than control group. But the Tibialis Anterior muscle delays was not significantly different between the two groups. Delays in the beginning of the activity of muscles that observed in the group with motion limitation can be attributed to changes in preplanned programs of the motor control of nervous system and proprioceptive afferent messages disorder of ankle joint.