The effects of soccer match like exercise on ankle position sense in healthy athletes

Abstract

Introduction: Ankle proprioception is the body’s ability to identify the ankle joint position during movement. It plays a major role during sports and exercise to maintain balance and upper body adjustments and is the commonly affected joint during soccer. Fatigue occurring during soccer can disturb this ability which in return can increase the injury risk in the ankle. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of soccer match-like exercise on ankle position sense. Methods: This study was a laboratory-based experimental study design. Eighteen healthy male recreational athletes with no history of ankle sprains performed a 90-minute soccer-like exercise that replicated the physiological demands of a soccer match. Main outcome measures were position matching tasks of the dominant leg (unilateral replication) which was assessed using six wireless motion tracking sensors (Xsens). The ankle was taken to a desired position measured by the Xsense and the participant was advised to match that angle with the opposite limb. Angle matching was assessed actively at 10° dorsiflexion and 20° plantarflexion during pre-exercise and post-exercise sessions. The measurement taken before the exercise session was used as the control measurement. Body fatigue and heart rate was measured at the end of each exercise cycle using the rating of perceived exertion scale and polar heart rate monitor. Data were analysed by an independent sample t test.