Effects of Ankle Evertor Fatigue on Perturbed Gait
ConditionChronic Ankle Instability, CAI
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot listed
Trial typeObservational
Biological sexAll
Age18-45
SponsorUniversity of Ljubljana
About this trial
This study will investigate the effects of ankle evertor muscle fatigue on gait stability during treadmill walking with mechanical perturbations. Participants will walk at two speeds (0.4 m/s and 1.0 m/s) while random medial and lateral perturbations (\<10% body weight) are applied to the pelvis. Surface EMG from ankle muscles and center of pressure (COP)-based gait parameters (e.g., step length, step width, single support duration, COP trajectory) will be analyzed before and immediately after an isotonic fatigue protocol of the ankle evertors.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
Age between 18 and 45 years,
No history of injuries or surgical procedures to the lower limbs,
No peripheral or central neurological impairments.
Age between 18 and 45 years,
Disqualifiers
Other pathologies of the ankle joint.
Acute pain
Trial population
Participants will be recruited by convenience sampling from the general population and clinical settings.
Trial design
Design model
Case-control
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Treatments tested in this trial
Muscle fatigue
Other interventionThe fatigue protocol will consist of repeated concentric-eccentric ankle eversion contractions against elastic resistance at a pace of one repetition per second, guided by a metronome, and performed in a seated position. Fatigue will be defined as a clear inability to perform the full range of eversion, i.e. the range of motion falling below 50% of the initial value despite evident effort by the participant.
Treatment groups
40 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: Healthy group1 intervention
Group B: Chronic ankle instability group1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Surface EMG root mean square (RMS) amplitude of ankle muscles
Surface EMG RMS amplitude from peroneus longus (PL), tibialis anterior (TA), soleus (SOL), gastrocnemius medialis (GM), and gluteus medius (GMed), recorded bilaterally during treadmill walking. EMG will be time-normalized to the gait cycle (0-100%). The primary epoch is the perturbation step (shortly after initial contact through stance). For each muscle and speed, EMG during perturbed walking will be normalized to matched unperturbed walking.
Time frame
Baseline (Day 1, prior to fatigue protocol) and immediately post-fatigue (Day 1, within 5 minutes after fatigue protocol).2
Center of Pressure mediolateral displacement (COPx)
Mediolateral displacement of the center of pressure (COPx) during walking, time-normalized to the gait cycle (0-100%). In addition, COPx will be expressed relative to the sacral marker (COPx-SACRx). Values will be presented in absolute units (cm) and compared between matched perturbed steps at the same walking speed (before and after fatigue).
Time frame
Baseline (Day 1, prior to fatigue protocol) and immediately post-fatigue (Day 1, within 5 minutes after fatigue protocol).Secondary outcomes
1
Step Length and width
Step length (heel-to-heel) and step width of the perturbation step, derived from 3D motion capture with reflective markers placed on anatomical landmarks. Both parameters will be compared against matched unperturbed steps.
Time frame
Baseline (Day 1, prior to fatigue protocol) and immediately post-fatigue (Day 1, within 5 minutes after fatigue protocol).2
Ground reaction forces (GRF)
Vertical GRF (Fz; peak, mean, loading rate), with optional analysis of anteroposterior (Fy) and mediolateral (Fx) components, time-normalized to the gait cycle (0-100%). Values reported in absolute units (N for forces; N/s for loading rate).
Time frame
Baseline (Day 1, prior to fatigue protocol) and immediately post-fatigue (Day 1, within 5 minutes after fatigue protocol).3
Ratings of perceived exertion
Description: Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) will be assessed at the end of each fatigue protocol using the Borg 10 category-ratio scale, with 0 is no effort and 10 is an extreme physical effort.
Time frame
Baseline (Day 1, prior to fatigue protocol) and immediately post-fatigue (Day 1, within 5 minutes after fatigue protocol).Sponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov