Ultrasound Changes of Peri-Ankle Muscles in Subjects with Unilateral Chronic Ankle Instability

Abstract

BACKGROUND Ankle sprain is a common problem among active people and athletes. About 80 % of the people and 73 % of the athletes, who once had an ankle sprain, have experienced a recurrence of ankle sprain during their work or sport. Chronic ankle instability is described as a repeated ankle sprain, ankle giving way, pain and swelling and functional decline. Due to impaired muscle strength and impaired neuromuscular and postural control, it seems that the morphological criteria of peri-ankle muscles have changed. The study aimed to identify the morphological and muscle performance components of peroneus longus (PL) muscle in subjects with injured and intact sides of the chronic ankle sprain. Furthermore, the difference in ultrasonographic characteristics of PL muscle between genders, and the effect of the dominant limb on PL muscle ultrasonographic characteristics were investigated. METHODS The thickness, width and cross-sectional area (CSA) as morphological components and muscle performance components like fiber length, and pennation angle of PL muscle of the injured were calculated and compared to the intact side of the control in 25 subjects with unilateral chronic ankle instability via ultrasonography. RESULTS The findings of this study indicated a significant difference in the morphological component of PL muscle between both sides with no statistically significant difference in the muscle performance component of PL muscle. CONCLUSIONS Awareness of these changes in the injured side muscle morphology may lead to better clinical decision-making to design the best treatment plan by the physiotherapist. KEY WORDS Ankle Sprain, Chronic Ankle Instability, Ankle Muscle Ultrasonography