Peroneal reaction time delayed but dynamic single-legged stability retained in collegiate footballers during a simulated prolonged football protocol

ABSTRACT

Delayed peroneal reaction time and impaired single-legged dynamic stability were risk factors of lateral ankle sprain (LAS), yet no study explored the change of them during a football match. The aim is to explore the change of peroneal reaction time and single-legged dynamic stability during a football simulation protocol. Twelve collegiate football players voluntarily completed a 105-min football match simulation protocol in which peroneal reaction time, root-mean-square of mediolateral ground reaction force in first 0.4 s (RMS ML 0.4), and the mean mediolateral ground reaction force in the late stage (late dynamic MLGRF), were measured for both legs at 15-min intervals during the protocol. Peroneal reaction time was tested using an electromyography (EMG) system. The ground reaction force variables were measured from GRF data after a single-legged drop-jump landing. Repeated measures one-way MANOVA was conducted to evaluate variables over time and leg dominance. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 level. Peroneal reaction time significantly increased for both legs at 45 minutes and after 60 minutes. RMS ML 0.4 of both legs and late dynamic MLGRF for dominant leg remained unchanged throughout the protocol and late dynamic MLGRF for non-dominant leg significantly reduced at the 90th minute.

KEYWORDS:

• Ankle sprain
• sensorimotor control
• ligamentous sprain
• soccer
• sports medicine
• ankle injuries
• biomechanics

Acknowledgments

The authors of this paper would like to thank MSc. Jiu Pan, BSc. Heng Zhang, BSc. Spencer Sun from Loughborough University for the assistance in experiments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Author’s Contribution

ZH was responsible for the concept and design of the study. ZH, Shan and JD conducted the recruitment, design of equipment and date collection. ZH, JD and DF conducted the data analysis and ZH and DF interpreted the date for the findings. ZH wrote the first draft and critically revised by Sun, Shan and DF.

What are the findings?

• Peroneal reaction time significantly increased, while the dynamic single-legged stability remained unchanged during prolonged football match simulation.

• The results defied the previous hypothesis that the increased peroneal reaction time might result in the increased risk of lateral ankle sprain in the late phase of football match.

How might it impact on clinical practice in the future?

• There is a need to identify the principles and mechanisms underpinning in the late phase of a football match, in addition to impaired neuromuscular function.

• Research is also required to test the change of peroneal reaction time in professional players and in real match setting.