Range of motion and ankle injury history association with sex in pediatric and adolescent athletes.

BACKGROUND: Ankle sprain is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries among young athletes, and there remains a gap in the literature regarding susceptibility to such injuries among physically active youth.

OBJECTIVE: The primary purpose of this study was to determine the associations between sex, a history of ankle sprain, and ankle range of motion (ROM) in pediatric and adolescent athletes.

METHODS: Athletes under the age of 18 years old who presented to a sports injury prevention center underwent ankle ROM measurements including plantarflexion (PF), inversion (IV), and eversion (EV). A two-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed to examine effect of sex and a history of ankle sprain on ROMs. Also, a binary logistic regression was performed to investigate variables that are associated with a history of ankle injury.

RESULTS: Among 452 pediatric and adolescent athletes [268 females (13.6 ± 2.3 years old) and 184 males (13.3 ± 2.5 years old)], 128 reported a history of previous ankle sprain. Females demonstrated significantly increased ROMs (PF and IV bilaterally, and right EV) compared to males while there was no effect of a history of ankle sprain on ROMs. Female sex was independently associated with a history of ankle sprain.

CONCLUSION: There was a strong effect of female sex on ROMs rather than a history of ankle injury history. Additionally, pediatric and adolescent females have greater odds of a history of ankle sprain when compared to their male counterparts.