Acute Lateral Ankle Sprain Prediction in Collegiate Women's Soccer Players

Abstract

Background: Women's soccer has among the highest injury rates in collegiate sports, and lateral ankle sprains (LAS) are among the most commonly occurring injuries in that athletic population. However, no established LAS prediction model exists for collegiate women's soccer players.The purpose of this study was to develop a prediction model for acute LAS injuries in collegiate women's soccer players utilizing previous ankle sprain history, height, mass, and BMI as potential predictors.The authors' hypothesized that collegiate women's soccer players with greater height, mass, and body mass index (BMI), as well as a previous history of ankle sprain would have greater odds of sustaining a LAS.Study Design: Prospective cohort study.Methods: Forty-three NCAA Division I women's soccer players ' (19.7±1.1yrs, 166.8±3.7cm, 60.8±4.4kg) height, mass, and BMI were measured one week before beginning preseason practices. Additionally, participants reported whether or not they had sustained a previous ankle sprain. The team athletic trainer tracked LASs over the competitive season. Independent t-tests, binary logistic regression analyses, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and diagnostic statistics assessed the ability of the variables to differentiate between those that did and did not sustain a LAS. Results:Participants that sustained a LAS (n=8) were significantly taller than those that did not sustain a LAS (n=35) (t 41 =-2. 87, p=0.01, d=0.83[0.03,1.60] have demonstrated usefulness in LAS prediction models, 18-23 likely due to their potential influence on LAS mechanisms of injury. Typically, a LAS is sustained when excessive ankle plantar flexion, subtalar inversion, and foot internal rotation are present while decelerating during a functional task. [24][25][26][27] These combined movement patterns result in the center of pressure (COP) moving laterally on the plantar aspect of the foot, as well as medially relative to the ankle joint axis of rotation. In this position, an external load can create an external supination moment at the ankle. Greater body mass index (BMI), calculated from height and mass, likely increases the body's moments of inertia and reduces an individual's ability to resist external forces. 22 Due to the potential influence on injury occurrence and simplicity of their measurement, anthropometrics are viable predictor variables for any injury prediction analysis. No previous investigators have developed a model of LAS risk for collegiate women's soccer players specifically, but anthropometrics may possess potential injury prediction value for that population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a prediction model for acute LAS injuries in collegiate women's soccer players utilizing previous ankle sprain history, height, mass, and BMI as potential predictors. The primary hypothesis was that athletes with a previous ankle sprain history, greater height, mass, and BMI would have greater odds of sustaining a LAS. METHODS ParticipantsA convenience sample of 43 NCAA Division I wo...

The relationship between physical fitness attributes and sports injury in female, team ball sport players: a systematic review

“…Five studies examined the relationship between physical fitness characteristics and lower leg/ankle/foot injuries by univariate analyses. All studies were prospective (levels I and II) in design and defined injury as either time-loss [ 75 , 94 , 97 ], medical attention [ 61 ], or combined time-loss and medical attention definitions [ 72 ]. Lower leg/ankle/foot injuries encompassed any injury to the ankle or leg/foot [ 75 ], noncontact injuries to the ankle/foot [ 94 ], or diagnosis of an ankle sprain [ 61 , 72 , 97 ].…”

“…Sports represented in study populations included volleyball, soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, and netball. Two studies were identified as having high ROB [ 72 , 97 ].…”

“… Coding: n / N = number of significant associated relationships divided by total number of relationships investigated. The number of relationships is reported with the study reference number in brackets Data removed from univariate analyses data synthesis due to poor methodological quality and/or high risk of bias included the following: body composition measures (3 relationships [ 72 ], 2 relationships [ 97 ]), flexibility measures (1 relationship [ 97 ]), balance measures (5 relationships [ 97 ]), and power measures (1 relationship [ 97 ]). Data removed from multivariate analyses’ data synthesis due to poor methodological quality and/or high risk of bias included: flexibility measures (2 relationships [ 93 ]) and muscular strength measures (16 relationships [ 93 ]) …”

“…Sub-analysis revealed eleven studies investigated the relationship between physical fitness measures and single injury types by univariate and/or multivariate analyses. The literature search revealed the following single injury types: ACL injury in soccer and/or basketball players [ 69 , 73 ], noncontact ACL injuries in handball, soccer, basketball, and/or volleyball players [ 71 , 81 , 88 ], patellar tendinopathy in basketball and volleyball players [ 89 ], patellofemoral pain in basketball players [ 85 ], ankle sprains in lacrosse, soccer, field hockey, basketball, and/or netball players [ 61 , 86 , 97 ], and lateral ankle sprains in soccer players [ 72 ]. Injury definitions were almost evenly split between medical attention [ 61 , 73 , 81 , 88 , 89 ] and time-loss [ 69 , 85 , 86 , 97 ] identifiers, with two studies using a combined medical attention and time-loss injury definition [ 71 , 72 ].…”

“…The literature search revealed the following single injury types: ACL injury in soccer and/or basketball players [ 69 , 73 ], noncontact ACL injuries in handball, soccer, basketball, and/or volleyball players [ 71 , 81 , 88 ], patellar tendinopathy in basketball and volleyball players [ 89 ], patellofemoral pain in basketball players [ 85 ], ankle sprains in lacrosse, soccer, field hockey, basketball, and/or netball players [ 61 , 86 , 97 ], and lateral ankle sprains in soccer players [ 72 ]. Injury definitions were almost evenly split between medical attention [ 61 , 73 , 81 , 88 , 89 ] and time-loss [ 69 , 85 , 86 , 97 ] identifiers, with two studies using a combined medical attention and time-loss injury definition [ 71 , 72 ]. Nine studies implemented prospective cohort designs (level II) [ 61 , 69 , 71 , 72 , 81 , 85 , 86 , 88 , 97 ], with the remaining two studies of cross-sectional (level III) [ 89 ], and case-control (level III) [ 73 ] in nature.…”