Modeling of Ankle Joint Range of Motion and Landing Quality Scores in Female Soccer Players with Quantile Regression Approach

Abstract

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to model the relationship between ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and landing quality during the Soccer-Specific Jump-Landing task (SSJL) on the non-dominant extremity in elite and amateur female soccer players using a quantile regression approach. Methods Fifty-five amateur and forty-seven professional female soccer players participated in the study. The relationship between ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (DF-ROM) and soccer-specific jump-landing landing technique quality was evaluated using Pearson's product-moment correlation analysis and linear regression analysis Results There was a statistically significant correlation between DF-ROM and SSJL landing quality in amateur female soccer players (r = − 0.63, p = 0.001), no significant correlation was found in elite female soccer players (r = 0.22, p = 0.13). QR model results for amateur female soccer players showed that ankle DF-ROM level affects landing quality more in the group with high SSJL landing quality scores (e.g., Q75 and Q90) compared to the group with low SSJL landing quality scores (e.g., Q10 and Q25). Conclusions Ankle DF-ROM level may be a functional clinical measurement for amateur female athletes in determining landing-related injury risk factors during SSJL.