Comparison of 3 ankle braces in reducing ankle inversion in a basketball rebounding task.

Lateral ankle injury incidence rates are very high in the sport of basketball, with a significant proportion occurring during rebounding. Ankle braces are often used as preventative and rehabilitative techniques in the hope of minimizing the likelihood of experiencing excessive ankle inversion. This study aims to evaluate the effect of different ankle braces in preventing ankle inversion during a basketball rebounding task. Sixteen subjects participated in the study (11 males, 5 females; mean age = 26.94 years, SD = 5.32; mean height 1.72 m, SD = 0.08; mean weight 73.95 kg, SD = 13.68). Participants performed a simulated rebounding task in multiple braced conditions: unbraced (UB), Ossur Formfit (OF), Talarmade Ankleguard Air/Gel Stirrup (TAG) and Bauerfeind Malleoloc (BF). Ankle and foot inversion angles, ankle inversion moments and peroneus longus EMG activity were recorded and analysed to determine the effectiveness of each condition to resist inversion. All braced conditions reduced ankle and foot inversion angles compared to UB. In the non-dominant limb, OF showed reduced maximum ankle inversion compared to BF (non-dominant mean difference = 0.630°, p < 0.001) and reduced foot inversion compared to TAG (non-dominant mean difference = 0.966°, p = 0.035). Compared to UB, OF and TAG increased ankle inversion moments in the dominant ankle and showed decreases in the non-dominant ankle. BF reduced mean peak peroneus longus EMG activity compared to all other trials. Whilst statistically significant differences that were demonstrated between several braced conditions are relatively small, they are clinically significant knowing that the maximum barefoot inversion whilst standing is less than 17 degrees.

The effects of wearing an Ankle Stabilizing Orthosis (ASO) Ankle Brace on ankle joints kinetics and kinematics during a basketball rebounding task.

Following an ankle injury, athletes sometimes brace the injured ankle in hopes of minimizing the likelihood of suffering a recurring injury. This study aims to evaluate the effects of wearing an Ankle Stabilizing Orthosis (ASO) ankle brace unilaterally on the dominant side on bilateral ankle joint kinetics and kinematics and peroneus longus EMG activity. Since a significant proportion of ankle injuries in basketball occur during rebounding, data was collected during a simulated rebounding task. Rebounding is defined as the act of retrieving a missed shot attempt. Subjects oftentimes jump vertically to acquire the basketball as it rebounds from the backboard or rim. Sixteen subjects participated in the study (11 males, 5 females; mean age = 26.94 years, SD = 5.32; mean height 1.72 m, SD = 0.08; mean weight 73.95 kg, SD = 13.68). Participants completed the rebounding task in braced (ASO) and unbraced (UB) conditions. Ankle and foot inversion angles, ankle inversion moments and peroneus longus EMG activity were recorded and analysed to determine the effects of wearing an ankle brace unilaterally. In the dominant limb, when compared to UB, ASO reduced ankle and foot inversion, and increased ankle inversion moments. No significant differences were observed in peroneus longus EMG activity. In the non-dominant limb, no significant differences were observed for any of the parameters. These results suggest that wearing an ASO ankle brace on the dominant ankle reduces maximum ankle and foot inversion angles without posing an increased risk to the unbraced leg. However, the increased ankle inversion moments in the braced ankle suggest that there are adjustments regarding force distribution, perhaps due to the restricted range of motion.

The influence of shoe sole's varying thickness on lower limb muscle activity.

BACKGROUND: The lateral ligament injury of the ankle is acknowledged to be the most common ankle injury sustained in sport. Increased peroneus longus muscle contraction in the shod population has already been documented. This study aimed to quantify the effect of shoe sole's varying thickness on peroneus longus muscle activity. METHODS: Electromyographic recordings of the peroneus longus muscle activity following unanticipated inversion of the foot from 0° to 20° in a two-footplate tilting platform were collected from 38 healthy participants. The four test conditions were: barefoot, standard shoe, and shoes with 2.5 cm and 5 cm sole adaptation respectively. RESULTS: Compared to the barefoot condition, there is an increase in the magnitude of muscle contraction on wearing shoes, which further increases with thickening shoe soles. The peroneus longus was responding earlier in the shod conditions when compared to the barefoot, although the results were variable within the three shod conditions. CONCLUSION: Footwear with increasing shoe sole thickness evokes a correspondingly stronger protective eversion response from the peroneus longus to counter the increasing moment at the ankle-subtalar joint complex following sudden foot inversion. Hence, fashion footwear with thicker sole is likely to increase the risk of lateral ligament injury of the ankle when such protective response is overwhelmed. Similarly, the clinicians need to be cautious regarding the amount of shoe raise that they could provide for patients with limb length discrepancy without any detrimental untoward side effects.

The effect of varying footwear configurations on the peroneus longus muscle function following inversion.

BACKGROUND: The ankle is one of the most commonly injured joints with inversion injury affecting its lateral ligament complex being the commonest of all. Shoes are one of the known risk factors for such an injury. OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to examine the impact of varying shoe configurations on the protective function of the peroneus longus muscle during unanticipated foot inversion. METHODS: The peak amplitude, latency and post-peak average amplitude of the ipsilateral peroneus longus muscle were recorded by surface electromyography following unanticipated inversion of the feet of 35 subjects in a two-footplate tilting platform from 0° to 20°. The test conditions were barefoot, standard training shoe, shoe with a sole flare, and an above the ankle laced boot. RESULTS: Analysis revealed significant differences in peak muscle contraction between shod and unshod conditions. The standard shoe and the flared sole design showed greater statistically significant differences from the unshod condition, than the boot. The muscle was responding earlier in the shod conditions compared to the barefoot. The post-peak average amplitude with the standard shoe and the flared sole shoe were significantly different from the barefoot condition. CONCLUSION: Albeit no marked differences could be demonstrated between the tested shoes, the inherent construct of the laced boot probably attempts to protect the ankle-subtalar joint complex evidenced by evoking a less strong peroneus longus muscle's protective response.

Do you get value for money when you buy an expensive pair of running shoes?

OBJECTIVE: This investigation aims to determine if more expensive running shoes provide better cushioning of plantar pressure and are more comfortable than low-cost alternatives from the same brand. METHODS: Three pairs of running shoes were purchased from three different manufacturers at three different price ranges: low (40-45 pounds), medium (60-65 pounds) and high (70-75 pounds). Plantar pressure was recorded with the Pedar in-shoe pressure measurement system. Comfort was assessed with a 100 mm visual analogue scale. A follow-on study was conducted to ascertain if shoe cushioning and comfort were comparable to walking while running on a treadmill. Forty-three and 9 male subjects participated in the main and follow-on studies, respectively. The main outcome measure was the evaluation of plantar pressure and comfort. RESULTS: Plantar pressure measurements were recorded from under the heel, across the forefoot and under the great toe. Differences in plantar pressure were recorded between models and between brands in relation to cost. Shoe performance was comparable between walking and running trials on a treadmill. No significant difference was observed between shoes and test occasions in terms of comfort. CONCLUSIONS: Low- and medium-cost running shoes in each of the three brands tested provided the same (if not better) cushioning of plantar pressure as high-cost running shoes. Cushioning was comparable when walking and running on a treadmill. Comfort is a subjective sensation based on individual preferences and was not related to either the distribution of plantar pressure or cost.

Core cutter for harvesting cortical bone grafts for reconstructions of the ossicular chain.

Cortical bone autografts have been used to reconstruct the ossicular chain for more than 30 years. We describe a core cutter burr which facilitates the rapid harvesting of grafts which are suitable for a number of different types of reconstruction. The use of these grafts to reconstruct different defects of the ossicular chain is also presented.