Foot and ankle function, foot morphology, and intrinsic and extrinsic muscle morphology in competitive swimmers.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the foot morphology, flexibility of foot and ankle joints, and cross-sectional areas of intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscles in competitive swimmers.

METHODS

This study included 18 male university swimmers (swimmer group) and 12 healthy male participants (control group).

RESULTS

The swimmer group exhibited greater foot and ankle joint flexibility, less ankle dorsiflexion range of motion, lower toe-floor distance values, and larger foot circumference and width. The cross-sectional areas of the abductor hallucis, tibialis posterior, flexor pollicis longus, and extensor digitorum longus muscles were larger in the swimmer group than in the control group.

CONCLUSION

Kicking motion during ankle plantarflexion, especially the plantarflexors of the ankle joint, may lead to the development of intrinsic foot and extrinsic ankle muscles.