Foot structure and muscle reaction time to a simulated ankle sprain.

CONTEXT: Foot structure has been shown to affect aspects of neuromuscular control, including postural stability and proprioception. However, despite an association between pronated and supinated foot structures and the incidence of lateral ankle sprains, no one to our knowledge has measured muscle reaction time to a simulated ankle-sprain mechanism in participants with different foot structures.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether pronated or supinated foot structures contribute to neuromuscular deficits as measured by muscle reaction time to a simulated ankle-sprain mechanism.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

University biomechanics laboratory.

PATIENTS OR OTHER

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty volunteers were categorized into 3 groups according to navicular-drop-height measures. Ten participants (4 men, 6 women) had neutral feet (navicular-drop height = 5-9 mm), 10 participants (4 men, 6 women) had pronated feet (navicular-drop height ≥ 10 mm), and 10 participants (4 men, 6 women) had supinated feet (navicular-drop height ≤ 4 mm).

INTERVENTION(S): Three perturbations on a standing tilt platform simulating the mechanics of an inversion and plantar-flexion ankle sprain.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Muscle reaction time in milliseconds of the peroneus longus, tibialis anterior, and gluteus medius to the tilt-platform perturbation.

RESULTS

Participants with pronated or supinated foot structures had slower peroneus longus reaction times than participants with neutral feet (P = .01 and P = .04, respectively). We found no differences for the tibialis anterior or gluteus medius.

CONCLUSIONS

Foot structure influenced peroneus longus reaction time. Further research is required to establish the consequences of slower peroneal reaction times in pronated and supinated foot structures. Researchers investigating lower limb muscle reaction time should control for foot structure because it may influence results.