The Effect of Fatigue and Ankle Dorsiflexion Restriction on Center of Pressure Parameters in Female Athletes with Dynamic Knee Valgus: A Cross-Sectional Study

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Sports Injuries and Corrective Exercises, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Arak University, Arak, Iran

2 Department of Exercises Rehabilitation, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

10.22084/rsr.2025.30719.1770

Abstract

Background and Aim: Various variables can put an athlete at risk of injury. This study aimed to investigate the simultaneous effects of fatigue, visual information, and ankle dorsiflexion restriction on center of pressure (COP) fluctuations in female athletes with DKV
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 40 female athletes with DKV participated and were divided into two groups based on the ankle dorsiflexion restriction. COP fluctuations were evaluated before and after fatigue using a Pedoscan device under both open-eye and closed-eye conditions while maintaining a single-leg stance on the dominant foot. The fatigue protocol involved performing a series of plyometric exercises. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA (p ≤ 0.05).
Results: The effect of fatigue (except for the medial-lateral sway) and vision was significant for all variables (P<0.005), and with eyes closed, the percentage of changes in the group without restriction increased compared to the group with restriction. The average speed, anterior-posterior sway, and total CoP trace between groups showed significant differences in fatigued conditions with eyes closed (P<0.005). Additionally, before fatigue with eyes open, medial-lateral sway was significantly greater in the group with restriction (P=0.048).
Conclusion: Using the hip strategy in situations where the primary balance strategy should be the ankle can increase the mechanical load on the knee joint and ligaments, especially in athletes who have limited ankle dorsiflexion. Therefore, it is crucial to pay attention to the range of ankle dorsiflexion to help reduce the risk of knee injuries.

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Journal for Research in Sport Rehabilitation
Volume 12, Issue 24
February 2025
Pages 61-74

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