The effect of ankle instability on knee muscle strength and flexibility in 18-30 YEARS of football players

A lateral ankle sprain is the most common type of injury in sports populations. Activities with a high risk of ankle injury include team sports played outdoors or indoors, which involve changes in contact, bounce, and direction of the game. The highest sprain rate occurs in football. The aim of this study was to reveal the effect of ankle instability on knee muscle strength and flexibility in football players aged 18-30. 32 amateur football players between the ages of 18-30 in Gokturk Sports Club and Altınyıldız Sports Clubs in Istanbul were included in the study. Individuals were divided into two groups as control group (n=16) and study group (n=16). Demographic information and injury stories of individuals in both groups were recorded. The 1 Maximum Repetition Method was used to measure the knee muscle strength of the individuals, and the Sit-Reach Test was used to measure the knee flexibility. The Cumberland Ankle Instability Questionnaire (CABIA) was used to determine functional ankle instability status and degree. The physical functions of the athletes were evaluated with the Turkish version of the Foot and Ankle Ability Criterion (FAAM). No effect of ankle instability was found on knee muscle strength (p>0.05). There was no effect of ankle instability on knee flexibility (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of Cumberland Ankle Instability and Foot and Ankle Ability Criterion (p>0.005). At the end of the study, it was concluded that ankle instability had no effect on knee muscle strength and flexibility. Keywords : Ankle instability, knee muscle strength, flexibility, lateral ankle instability.