Evaluation of Ankle Joint Position Sense in Children Taekwondo Practitioners with Ankle Sprain

Background: Taekwondo (TKD) is a martial art and popular sport worldwide. Many practitioners start TKD training at a very young age. Various studies explored benefits and risk factors of TKD training in children for rehabilitation and injury prevention. However, evidence on peripheral mechanism underlying proprioceptive control in this population is limited. This study aimed to examine the ankle joint position sense (JPS) in children TKD practitioners with history of ankle sprains in comparison to non-TKD practicing children.

Methods and Findings: Twenty children TKD practitioners (age 9.28 ± 1.20 years) with history of ankle sprains and twenty healthy children undertaking only physical education at school (age 9.35 ± 1.27 years) were recruited. Biodex Multi-joint system was used to measure JPS at 5o, 15 o and 30 o of ankle plantarflexion of both dominant and non-dominant sides of all children. Errors in passive reproduction of each target position were compared between the two groups. Results revealed that passive JPS of the dominant and non-dominant ankles of the two groups were not different (p>0.05). Errors in passive reproduction of all target positions of the TKD group were greater than those of the control group (p<0.05).

Conclusions: Passive JPS could indicate function of mechanoreceptors without motor efforts. Greater errors in passive reproduction of children TKD practitioners with history of ankle sprains may indicate impairments of function of mechanoreceptors. Ankle joint receptors may deteriorate due to previous ankle sprains. Even though the proprioceptive control requires both peripheral and central mechanisms, detection of peripheral impairments may be of useful to rehabilitation program. Further studies in early detection and intervention for children TKD practitioners with history of ankle sprains are recommended.

Author(s): Raweewan Lekskulchai, Supannikar Kadli

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