PURPOSE This study aimed to identify movement pattern differences in the running of youth soccer players with and without lateral ankle sprain (LAS) histories. METHODS A total of 12 participants were recruited and assigned to the LAS group or the control group. All participants were assessed for anthropometric data, and they filled in the subjective ankle function questionnaires. Then, reflective markers were attached to their bodies, and they were instructed to run at the preferred speed on the 9-m runway thrice. 3D joint angles for ankle, knee, and hip joints were exported, and their mean values and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Ensemble curve analysis was conducted to compare running kinematics between the groups. RESULTS The LAS group exhibited fewer dorsiflexion angles and more inversion angles compared to the control group. Excluding the dorsiflexion deficits and more inverted ankles, there were no significant differences between the groups. CONCLUSIONS Although the ankle kinematic patterns found in this paper are not considered LAS risk factors, it will be able to identify precise LAS risk factors with prospective design (e.g., lower extremity movement patterns) as well as intrinsic risk factors.
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to compare the dynamic postural control of youth athletes with and without a history of lateral ankle sprains. METHODS Twenty-eight youth athletes (14 lateral ankle sprain, 14 healthy control) participated in this study. All participants answered the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure questionnaire and were subject to the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) for dynamic postural control evaluation to collect the joint angles of the lower extremity, a center of pressure (COP) path, and COP velocity. Independent sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test were performed to analyze the difference between the groups. RESULTS The lateral ankle sprain group (LAS) was found to have a long experience in participating in sports, and low Foot and Ankle Ability Measure scores were identified when compared to the healthy control (CON; p<0.05). LAS was observed with a short reach distance, less hip flexion, and dorsiflexion angles during the anterior direction of SEBT when compared to CON (p<0.05). Furthermore, LAS showed a slower anteroposterior and mediolateral center of pressure velocities in the posteromedial aspect of SEBT and a slower anteroposterior COP velocity in the posterolateral aspect of SEBT when compared to that of CON (p<0.05). There were no differences between the groups with respect to the other variables (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Based on these results, decreased anterior reach distance of SEBT may be affected by changing the dynamic posture control strategy of the lower extremity joint on the sagittal plane in LAS.
PURPOSE The aims of this study were to prospectively investigate the seasonal incidence and epidemiological characteristics of sports injuries according to peak height velocity (PHV) status among Korean male adolescent soccer players and to examine the interaction effect between maturity and activity type on detailed injury patterns. METHODS A total of 70 middle-school soccer players participated in this prospective cohort study. Based on 6-month height velocity, players were categorized into Circa-PHV (n=43) and Post-PHV (n=27) groups. Details regarding anthropometrics, exposure hours, and all musculoskeletal injuries were collected using the IOC Injury and Illness Surveillance Guidelines. Injury incidence (per 1000 athlete-exposures, AE) and relative risk were analyzed using Poisson regression and descriptive statistics. RESULTS A total of 125 injuries were recorded. Poisson regression revealed no significant main effect of maturation on overall injury incidence (p=.944). However, a significant interaction effect was detected between maturation and activity type for noncontact injuries (p=.020), with the Circa-PHV group exhibiting the highest incidence during matches (84.39/1000 AE). Matches posed a 15.6-fold higher injury risk than training (IRR=15.59, 95% CI: 10.49–23.18, p<.001). Regarding injury types, the Post-PHV group showed a 2.5-fold greater risk of muscle strains than the Circa-PHV group (IRR=2.46, 95% CI: 1.09–5.53, p=.029). CONCLUSIONS PHV is a critical determinant of injury risk and patterns in adolescent soccer players. Circa-PHV represents a vulnerable window for noncontact injuries under high-intensity match demands, and Post-PHV is characterized by a transition toward increased muscle strain risks. These results emphasize the need for maturation-informed load management and individualized prevention strategies to ensure athlete safety and long-term performance.
