The influence of an ankle sprain on the ankle muscles strenght

Gleženj je statično in dinamično najbolj obremenjen sklep v človeškem telesu, zato ni nič presenetljivega, da zvin gležnja sodi med najpogostejše tako vsakodnevne kot tudi športne poškodbe, od slednjih predstavlja kar 20–40 % vseh poškodb. Po lateralnem zvinu gležnja je posameznik bolj dovzeten za ponavljajoče se zvine gležnja in preostale simptome, ki pogosto vodijo do kronične nestabilnosti gležnja. Dokazano je, da ima 40 % zvinov gležnja potencial povzročiti kronične težave. Kronična nestabilnost gležnja oz. skočnega sklepa je stanje, opredeljeno kot ponavljajoči se zvini in nenehen občutek nestabilnosti skočnega sklepa. To stanje je pogosto povezano z deficitom moči gleženjskih mišic, slabim ravnotežjem in pomanjkljivo funkcionalno zmogljivostjo. Primanjkljaji v moči in propriocepciji ustvarijo okolje, kjer se skočni sklep za podporo močno zanaša le na statične stabilizatorje. To je dobra preddispozicija za ponavljajoče se mikropoškodbe na sklepni hrustanec, kar lahko sčasoma povzroči osteoartritis. Izboljšanje moči mišic skočnega sklepa ustvari bolj stabilen sklep in potencialno zmanjša možnost za nastanek kronične nestabilnosti gležnja, s čimer se lahko preprečijo ponavljajoče se travme na sklepni hrustanec. S tem se zmanjšajo možnosti za njegovo obrabo ter posledični nastanek osteoartritisa. V magistrskem delu smo naredili presečno raziskavo, pri kateri smo pri merjencih opravljali meritve moči mišic gležnja ter indeksov stabilnosti. Proučili smo razlike v teh parametrih med že poškodovanimi in še nikoli poškodovanimi posamezniki ter rezultate primerjali tudi ločeno po spolu, saj smo pri navzkrižni analizi ugotovili, da imajo moški 2-krat višjo možnost za zvin gležnja kot ženske. Rezultati raziskave so pokazali, da imajo posamezniki z večkratnim zvinom gležnja močnejše plantarne fleksorje kot tisti brez zvina ali pa z manj kot s tremi zvini. Drugih razlik v moči mišic in indeksih stabilnosti med poškodovanimi in nepoškodovanimi nismo ugotovili.Ankle is statically and dynamically the most loaded joint in the human body. This is why it is not surprising that ankle sprain is among the most common daily and sports injuries. In sports 20–40 % of all injuries are ankle sprains. Individual who suffered from an ankle sprain is more susceptible to recurrent ankle sprains and residual symptoms, which often leads to chronic ankle instability. It has been proven that 40 % of all ankle injuries have a potential to cause chronic problems. Chronic ankle instability is a condition defined as recurrent ankle sprains and a constant feeling of instability in ankle. This condition is often associated with a deficit in ankle muscles strength, poor balance and functional performance. Deficits in strength and proprioception create an environment where ankle relies on static stabilizers only. This is a good predisposition for repeated micro trauma on the joint cartilage, which may eventually lead to osteoarthritis. Improving the strength of ankle muscles creates more stable joint and reduces possibilities for chronic ankle instability. This can prevent recurrent trauma to the joint cartilage and occurrence of osteoarthritis. In the master’s thesis, a cross-sectional study was performed in which we did measurements of strength of ankle muscles and stability indexes. We studied differences in these parameters among two groups of individuals. First group had an ankle sprain at least once before, the second group never suffered from this kind of injury. The results were also compared separately by gender, because in the cross-sectional analysis we found out that men have 2 times higher chance of an ankle sprain than women. The results of this study have shown that individuals with multiple ankle sprains have stronger plantar flexors than those without or with less than three ankle sprains. We did not find any other differences in muscle strength and stability indexes between injured and never injured group