Ultrasonography assessments of talar cartilage and ATFL after running in chronically unstable, coper, and healthy ankles: a case-control study.

Background: Comparisons of talar cartilage and the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) profiles in individuals with different levels of chronic ankle instability (CAI) provide insight into early adaptation of tissue morphology.

Purpose: This study compared morphologic response and recovery of the talar cartilage and ATFL before and after 30-min of self-paced treadmill running between individuals with CAI, coper (full recovery from a first-time ankle sprain), and healthy controls.

Methods: Sixty young males (24.8 years, 176.9 cm, 75.7 kg) were allocated into the CAI, coper, and healthy control group by their number of ankle sprains and scores on the self-reported ankle instability questionnaires (Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool, and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-Activities of Daily Living). Ultrasonographic images in the cross-sectional area (CSA; overall, lateral, and medial) and ATFL length (unstressed and stressed and position) before and after treadmill running were recorded and analyzed.

Results: There were no group by time interactions in the talar cartilage CSA (F_14,399 <1.09, p > .36 for all tests) and ATFL length (F_14,399< .69, p > .79 for all tests). Regardless of time, CAIs had the largest overall (F_2,399 = 42.68, p < .001), lateral (F_2,399 = 37.16, p < .001), and medial (F_2,399 = 36.57, p < .001) CSA of talar cartilage and the longest stressed-ATFL length (F_2,399 = 54.42, p < .001), followed by copers and healthy controls.

Conclusion: Morphologic features of the talar cartilage and ATFL appear to depend on the level of ankle instability (e.g. a history of recurrent ankle sprain).