Isokinetic muscle performance after surgery of the lateral ligaments of the ankle

• Published in: International journal of sports medicine 1999-04, Vol.20 (3), p.173-178
• Main Authors: KAIKKONEN, A, NATRI, A, PASANEN, M, LATVALA, K, KANNUS, P, JÄRVINEN, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Adult; Ankle Injuries - physiopathology; Ankle Injuries - rehabilitation; Ankle Injuries - surgery; Biological and medical sciences; Chronic Disease; Diseases of the osteoarticular system. Orthopedic treatment; Female; Humans; Ligaments, Articular - injuries; Ligaments, Articular - surgery; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; Postoperative Period; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Regression Analysis; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0172-4622; 1439-3964
• DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-971113

In this study, we assessed the isokinetic strength and power profile of 138 patients with a surgically treated lateral ligament injury of an ankle. In addition, the outcome predicting factors were analyzed. The measurements were done 6.2+/-0.8 years after the surgery using the Cybex II isokinetic dynamometer. The general strength status of the patients was good, the isokinetic testing showing no or only moderate (always < or = 18%) average strength deficits in the peak torque values of dorsiflexor and plantar flexor muscles of the injured ankle. Of the outcome predicting variables, only the age of the patient in the group with surgery for chronic ankle instability correlated significantly with the isokinetic peak torque deficits: the older the subject, the greater the peak torque deficit in the injured ankle (r(s) = -0.388 with p = 0.015) in ankle dorsiflexion at the speed of 60 degrees/s. In conclusion, patients having surgery for ankle ligament insufficiency, either in acute or chronic phase of the injury, seem to recover well showing no remarkable deficiencies in the isokinetic ankle muscle strengths several years after the repair.