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EFFECT OF DIFFERENT ANKLE SUPPORT METHODS ON RUNNING GROUND REACTION FORCES BETWEEN GENDERS

Abstract

D. Everton, C. Kelley, R. Wilcox, A. Lutz, K. Hall, L. Bailey, W.M. Denning

Brigham Young University - Idaho, Rexburg, ID

Many athletes rely on ankle support techniques during an athletic performance. It is unclear how ankle support influences running ground reaction force (GRF) characteristics, and if the response to ankle support changes between gender. PURPOSE: To analyze gender differences in vertical, braking, and propulsive GRFs during running with multiple ankle support methods. METHODS: Twenty college-aged subjects (10 female, 10 male) ran across a force plate (1000Hz) with three different ankle support conditions (control (no support), taped, and braced), in a counterbalanced order. The taped condition used a standard stirrup and heel lock technique. The braced condition used a standard ankle support brace. Subjects wore their own athletic shoes in each condition. Each subject ran across the force plate three times for each condition. Average peak vertical, braking, and propulsive GRFs were obtained. Running speed was constant (set distance traveled ± 0.5 sec) for each condition. Mixed model ANOVAs were used to determine the difference in GRFs between ankle support conditions and between gender. RESULTS: Normalized average GRFs can be found in Table 1. As main effects, both condition and gender were non-significant (p > 0.05). Meaning, GRFs were not different between ankle support conditions or between gender. Further, the condition x gender interaction was also non-significant (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Different ankle supports do not influence GRF characteristics when running speed is constant. These results do not differ between gender. It is important for further research to investigate other types of ankle support and other respective benefits (different than GRF changes).

Additional Files
Table 1.docx (13 kB)
Table 1

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