Effect of Plyometric versus Ankle Stability Exercises on Lower Limb Biomechanics in Taekwondo Demonstration Athletes with Functional Ankle Instability

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to compare the effects of plyometric and ankle stability exercises on the dynamic balance and lower limb kinematic and kinetic parameters of Taekwondo demonstration athletes with functional ankle instability. Methods: Fourteen subjects participated in this study and were randomly divided into two groups: a plyometric exercise group (n = 7) and an ankle stability exercise group (n = 7). Exercises were performed twice a week for 8 weeks. A Y-balance test was used to measure dynamic balance, and a motion analysis system and force plate were used to collect kinematic and kinetic parameters during single-leg drop landing. A paired t-test was used for intragroup comparisons, and an independent t-test was used for intergroup comparisons. Results: In both groups, exercise increased dynamic balance and shock absorption and reduced postural sway on the anteroposterior displacement (p < 0.05). The plyometric exercise group decreased their ankle dorsiflexion and increased their knee and hip joint flexion at maximum knee flexion (p < 0.05). In contrast, the stability exercise increased their ankle plantar flexion at initial contact (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The plyometric exercise group altered their landing strategies using their knee and hip joints to control ankle instability at landing. This study suggests that the application of plyometric exercises in ankle rehabilitation would improve stability and shock absorption and help prevent injuries during Taekwondo demonstrations.

Effects of Plyometric Jump Training on Balance Performance in Healthy Participants: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

“…Forty-two studies were included for qualitative assessment: (Witzke and Snow, 2000 ; Myer et al, 2006 ; McLeod et al, 2009 ; Asadi and Arazi, 2012 ; Asadi, 2013 ; Chaouachi et al, 2014a , b ; Faigenbaum et al, 2014 ; Huang et al, 2014 ; Piirainen et al, 2014 ; Asadi et al, 2015 ; Ramírez-Campillo et al, 2015a , b ; Trecroci et al, 2015 ; Benis et al, 2016 ; Karadenizli, 2016 ; Kim and Park, 2016 ; Hopper et al, 2017 ; Nobre et al, 2017 ; Arabatzi, 2018 ; Makhlouf et al, 2018 ; Ritzmann et al, 2018 ; Alikhani et al, 2019 ; Cherni et al, 2019 ; Hammami et al, 2019a , b , c , 2020a , b , c ; Jlid et al, 2019 , 2020 ; Lovecchio et al, 2019 ; Meszler and Váczi, 2019 ; Tay et al, 2019 ; Akin and Kesilmiş, 2020 ; Bouteraa et al, 2020 ; Cigerci and Genc, 2020 ; Drouzas et al, 2020 ; Lee et al, 2020 ; Surakhamhaeng et al, 2020 ; Porrati-Paladino and Cuesta-Barriuso, 2021 ).…”

“…Of note, our meta-analysis revealed that when PJT was compared with balance training, both training types induced similar balance adaptations ( p = 0.510 between training methods). Plyometric jump training has the potential to improve muscle strength, power, and balance through primarily neural adaptations (Lee et al, 2020 ). Compared to other training types, PJT exercises involve the braking (eccentric) and propulsion (concentric) phases performed in the SSC which, when applied over longer periods, improve muscle strength, power, and speed (Komi and Gollhofer, 1997 ; Taube et al, 2012 ).…”

“…Fourth, our meta-analysis revealed that other types of training practices such as resistance, balance and whole-body vibration training elucidated similar effects on balance performance compared to PJT. Plyometric exercises appear to induce adaptive processes in the muscle (Moran et al, 2021 ; Ramírez-Campillo et al, 2022 ) and the neural system (Ramírez-Campillo et al, 2022 ) that promote dynamic and static balance performance and kinesthetic control (Lee et al, 2020 ). Therefore, PJT might not only be a useful tool for increasing muscle power output of the lower limbs, but also balance (Vetrovsky et al, 2019 ).…”

Effect of Integrated Training on Balance and Ankle Reposition Sense in Ballet Dancers

“…The balance ability and the functional performance [ 15 , 16 , 17 ], such as single leg hopping distance [ 16 ] or standing jump distance [ 17 ] were also improved significantly after plyometric training in athletes. Plyometric exercise of the lower extremities generally involves repetitive jump-landing movements and agility tasks with rapid changes of directions [ 10 , 18 ]. Such movements involve instantaneous stretch-shortening cycles that actuate the mechanical or proprioception receptors on the ligaments of the foot or tendons around the ankle joint due to the muscle spindle is more sensitive to the instantaneous stretching [ 19 ], and are thus of great potential benefit in improving the reposition sense of the ankle joint and enhancing the balance ability accordingly.…”

Effect of Integrated Training on Balance and Ankle Position Sense in Ballet Dancers

“…However, the effects of plyometric exercise on balance control were not investigated. Plyometric exercise of the lower extremities generally involves repetitive jump-landing movements and agility tasks with rapid changes of direction [12]. Such movements actuate the mechanical or proprioception receptors on the ligaments of the foot or tendons around the ankle joint, and are thus of great potential bene t in improving the position sense of the ankle joint and enhancing the balance ability accordingly.…”