Zhang Tongzhou, Zhao Yilin, Wang Shuhui, Luan Lijiang, Adams Roger, Ganderton Charlotte, Malliaras Peter, Han Jia
Mass Sports Research Laboratory, Shanxi Institute of Sport Science, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Eur J Sport Sci. 2025 Jan;25(1):e12228. doi: 10.1002/ejsc.12228. Epub 2024 Dec 3.
The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in ankle plantar flexion proprioception and lower extremity function between Achilles tendinopathy (AT) patients and healthy controls. 17 patients with midportion AT (age 22.0 ± 3.0, 7 females, and 10 males) and 17 healthy controls (age 21.5 ± 2.1, 7 females, and 10 males) were recruited. The following tests were performed randomly: the ankle plantar flexion active movement extent discrimination assessment (AMEDA), weight-bearing lunge test (WBLT), single leg hop test, figure-of-eight hop test, Y Balance Test (YBT), and lower extremity functional test (LEFT). Group comparisons were made between the AT and healthy groups, and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were used to analyze the ability of tests to differentiate between participants with and without AT. Results showed that the AT group performed significantly worse in the ankle proprioception test (p = 0.016), single leg hop test (p = 0.001), figure-of-eight hop test (p < 0.001), unilateral LEFT (p = 0.001), and LEFT injury risk score (p = 0.001) than healthy controls. No significant between group difference was found in WBLT and YBT. Diagnostic analysis showed that the AMEDA (p = 0.018), single leg hop test (p = 0.003), figure-of-eight hop test (p = 0.002), and LEFT (p = 0.001) could differentiate between patients with AT and the healthy individuals. The current study demonstrated that ankle proprioception and functional performance involving explosive jump are impaired in patients with AT, suggesting poorer dynamic neuromuscular function and a higher risk of lower limb injury in this population, and furthermore, these tests should be considered in the assessment for AT.
本研究的目的是调查跟腱病（AT）患者与健康对照组在踝关节跖屈本体感觉和下肢功能方面的差异。招募了17例中段AT患者（年龄22.0±3.0岁，女性7例，男性10例）和17例健康对照者（年龄21.5±2.1岁，女性7例，男性10例）。随机进行以下测试：踝关节跖屈主动运动幅度辨别评估（AMEDA）、负重弓步试验（WBLT）、单腿跳试验、8字跳试验、Y平衡试验（YBT）和下肢功能测试（LEFT）。对AT组和健康组进行组间比较，并使用受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析测试区分有和无AT参与者的能力。结果显示，AT组在踝关节本体感觉测试（p = 0.016）、单腿跳试验（p = 0.001）、8字跳试验（p < 0.001）、单侧LEFT（p = 0.001）和LEFT损伤风险评分（p = 0.001）方面的表现明显差于健康对照组。在WBLT和YBT中未发现组间显著差异。诊断分析表明，AMEDA（p = 0.018）、单腿跳试验（p = 0.003）、8字跳试验（p = 0.002）和LEFT（p = 0.001）可以区分AT患者和健康个体。当前研究表明，AT患者的踝关节本体感觉和涉及爆发性跳跃的功能表现受损，提示该人群动态神经肌肉功能较差且下肢受伤风险较高，此外，在AT评估中应考虑这些测试。
