Wang Zilong, Meng Lingyue, Lu Mengya, Kong Lingyu, Xue Jingxian, Zhang Zhiqi, Meng Xin, Zhang Qiuxia
School of Physical Education, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
Front Physiol. 2024 Aug 20;15:1444782. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1444782. eCollection 2024.
Functional Ankle Instability (FAI) is a pervasive condition that can emerge following inadequate management of lateral ankle sprains. It is hallmarked by chronic joint instability and a subsequent deterioration in physical performance. The modulation of motor patterns through attentional focus is a well-established concept in the realm of motor learning and performance optimization. However, the precise manner in which attentional focus can rehabilitate or refine movement patterns in individuals with FAI remains to be fully elucidated.
The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of attentional focus strategies on the biomechanics of single-leg drop landing movements among individuals with FAI.
Eighteen males with unilateral FAI were recruited. Kinematic and kinetic data were collected using an infrared three-dimensional motion capture system and force plates. Participants performed single-leg drop landing tasks under no focus (baseline), internal focus (IF), and external focus (EF) conditions. Biomechanical characteristics, including joint angles, ground reaction forces, and leg stiffness, were assessed. A 2 × 3 [side (unstable and stable) × focus (baseline, IF, and EF)] Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance (RM-ANOVA) analyzed the effects of attentional focus on biomechanical variables in individuals with FAI.
No significant interaction effects were observed in this study. At peak vertical ground reaction force (vGRF), the knee flexion angle was significantly influenced by attentional focus, with a markedly greater angle under EF compared to IF ( < 0.001). Additionally, at peak vGRF, the ankle joint plantarflexion angle was significantly smaller with EF than with IF ( < 0.001). Significant main effects of focus were found for peak vGRF and the time to reach peak vGRF, with higher peak vGRF values observed under baseline and IF conditions compared to EF ( < 0.001). Participants reached peak vGRF more quickly under IF ( < 0.001). Leg Stiffness (k) was significantly higher under IF compared to EF ( = 0.001).
IF enhances joint stability in FAI, whereas EF promotes a conservative landing strategy with increased knee flexion, dispersing impact and minimizing joint stress. Integrating these strategies into FAI rehabilitation programs can optimize lower limb biomechanics and reduce the risk of reinjury.
功能性踝关节不稳（FAI）是一种普遍存在的病症，可在外侧踝关节扭伤处理不当时出现。其特征为慢性关节不稳及随后身体机能的下降。通过注意力焦点调节运动模式是运动学习和性能优化领域中一个已确立的概念。然而，注意力焦点能够如何恢复或改善FAI个体的运动模式，这一精确方式仍有待充分阐明。
本研究的主要目的是评估注意力焦点策略对FAI个体单腿下落着地动作生物力学的影响。
招募了18名单侧FAI男性。使用红外三维运动捕捉系统和测力台收集运动学和动力学数据。参与者在无焦点（基线）、内部焦点（IF）和外部焦点（EF）条件下执行单腿下落着地任务。评估生物力学特征，包括关节角度、地面反作用力和腿部刚度。采用2×3[侧别（不稳定和稳定）×焦点（基线、IF和EF）]重复测量方差分析（RM-ANOVA）来分析注意力焦点对FAI个体生物力学变量的影响。
本研究未观察到显著的交互作用效应。在垂直地面反作用力（vGRF）峰值时，注意力焦点对膝关节屈曲角度有显著影响，与IF相比，EF条件下的角度明显更大（<0.001）。此外，在vGRF峰值时，EF条件下的踝关节跖屈角度明显小于IF条件下的（<0.001）。发现焦点对vGRF峰值和达到vGRF峰值的时间有显著的主效应，与EF相比，基线和IF条件下观察到更高的vGRF峰值（<0.001）。参与者在IF条件下更快达到vGRF峰值（<0.001）。与EF相比，IF条件下的腿部刚度（k）显著更高（=0.001）。
IF增强了FAI中的关节稳定性，而EF促进了一种更保守的着地策略，增加了膝关节屈曲，分散了冲击力并使关节应力最小化。将这些策略整合到FAI康复计划中可以优化下肢生物力学并降低再次受伤的风险。
