Is Range of Motion of the Hip and Ankle Joint Related to Running Injuries?

Abstract

This study concerns a case-control study on the relation between range of motion (ROM) of the hip and ankle joints and running injuries. Sixteen male runners who had sustained a medically treated running injury during the year prior to the ROM measurements were matched for weekly running distance and age with sixteen male runners who had not sustained such an injury. All subjects were fit at the time of measurement. ROM was measured by standardized goniometry after a warm-up on a cycle-ergometer. Within non-injured subjects all goniometric measurements showed no significant (p>0.05) differences between the left and right side of the body. Within injured subjects all goniometric measurements showed no significant (p>0.05) differences between the injured and non-injured side of the body. Runners who had sustained a running injury showed a significant (p>0.001) more restricted ROM of the hip joints (average ROM value 59.4° ± 8.0°) in comparison to runners who had no been injured during the same period (average value ROM 68.1° ± 5.2°). No such differences (p>0.05) were found with regard to ankle ROM (average ROM value injured 12.8° ± 3.4° and average ROM value non injured 14.0° ± 2.7°). These findings suggest that ROM can be characterized as a more or less stable anthropometric trait. However, due to the case control design of the study the “true” relation between lower extremity running injuries and restricted ROM of the hip joints remains unclear and needs to be clarified by a prospective study in which at baseline the whole scatter of runner related risk factors should be registered carefully.

Key words

Range of motion - goniometry - lower extremity - running injuries - case control study