• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.151-158
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• 2024

Background: In Taekwondo athletes, ankle sprain is the most common risk factor for injury. Repeated ankle injuries lead to weakness and imbalance of the ankle muscles, resulting in chronic ankle instability (CAI). Both the ankle and toe muscles contribute to the inversion and eversion of the foot at the subtalar joint. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the ankle and toe joint positions when measuring ankle invertor and evertor strength. Objects: This study aimed to compare the muscle strength and ratio differences of the ankle invertor and evertor muscles in both the toe and ankle positions between the CAI and uninjured sides in Taekwondo athletes. Methods: Fifteen Taekwondo athletes participated in this study. The isometric strengths of both the ankle invertor and evertor were determined in different ankle and toe positions (dorsiflexion with toe extension, dorsiflexion with toe flexion, plantarflexion with toe extension, and plantarflexion with toe flexion). Paired t-tests were used to determine the differences between the ankle invertor and evertor in strength and ratio according to toe and ankle positions between the ankle CAI side and the uninjured side. Results: The results demonstrated that ankle evertor strength significantly decreased in all ankle and toe positions on the CAI side (p < 0.05). In addition, significant differences were observed in the ratios of the ankle invertor and evertor strengths in the dorsiflexion with toe flexion, plantarflexion with toe extension, and plantarflexion with toe flexion positions (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that athletes, trainers, and clinicians should consider ankle and toe positions when measuring invertor and evertor strength and develop ankle rehabilitation protocols for Taekwondo athletes with CAI.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.151-156
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• 2022

The proportion of patients with end-stage ankle arthritis is increasing. The leading surgical methods for treating patients with end-stage ankle arthritis are ankle arthrodesis and total ankle arthroplasty. Ankle arthrodesis is considered the standard treatment for end-stage ankle arthritis. Many studies have been conducted on the two procedures, but it is unclear which is superior, and total ankle arthroplasty cannot be said to be a clear indication. Therefore, this review compares the advantages and disadvantages of two representative surgical methods for treating end-stage ankle arthritis.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.49-54
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• 2018

Ankle sprains are among the most common injuries sustained during athletic activities and daily life. Acute ankle sprain is usually managed conservatively with functional rehabilitation but the failure of conservative treatment leads to the development of chronic ankle instability. The development of repetitive ankle sprains and persistent symptoms after injury has been termed chronic ankle instability. Acute ankle sprains and chronic ankle instability require a careful evaluation to detect other comorbidities, such as subtalar instability, osteochondral defect, peroneal tendinopathy, tarsal coalition, os trigonum, flexor hallucis longus tendinitis, calcaneus anterior process fracture, and neural injuries. For the successful treatment of acute ankle sprains and chronic ankle instability, the treatment of comorbidity lesions should be performed first.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2018

Ankle osteoarthritis is a debilitating condition that causes severe pain associated with functional impairment and decreased activity. Ankle osteoarthritis, unlike that of the knee or hip joint, is rare in primary arthritis. Most cases are traumatic arthritis that occur after ankle sprain or fractures or chronic ankle instability. Although ankle fusion has been regarded as the standard treatment of ankle osteoarthritis in the past, total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is increasing due to the development of the implant design and surgical techniques. TAA is biomechanically superior to ankle fusion by preserving the movement of the ankle joint. In particular, it is functionally superior to ankle fusion because it enables normal joint motion during gait. In addition, there is an advantage of preserving the movement of the hindfoot and reducing the abnormal stress applied to the adjacent joints after ankle fusion to prevent the occurrence of long-term adjacent joint arthritis. Although the short-term and mid-term results of TAA have been reported to be excellent, long-term follow-up has a relatively low survival rate and high complication rate compared to total knee or hip arthroplasty. Therefore, continuous and further research is needed.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.84-90
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• 2019

Background: Ankle evertor muscles are important for preventing lateral ankle sprain. Since, the evertor muscles cross the ankle and toe joints, the position at which the ankle evertor muscle strength is measured is important. However, no studies have previously investigated the effect of ankle and toe positions on the strength of the ankle evertor muscle. Objects: This study is aimed to determine the effect of various ankle and toe joint positions on the strength of the ankle evertor muscles in healthy subjects. Methods: Eighteen healthy subjects participated in this study. Isometric ankle evertor strength of the dominant leg was determined in each subject in different ankle and toe positions (dorsiflexion (DF) with toe extension (TE), DF with toe flexion (TF), plantar flexion (PF) with TE, and PF with TF). A 2 by 2 repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the difference in the evertor strength between the ankle positions (PF and DF) and toe positions (TE and TF). Results: The results indicate that there was no significant ankle position by toe position interaction effect (p=.83). However, the ankle evertor strength was significantly increased in the ankle DF position than in the PF position (p<.01), and the ankle evertor strength during eversion with TE was significantly higher than eversion with TF (p<.01). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that clinicians should consider the ankle and toe positions when measuring the muscle strength and during performance of selective muscle strengthening exercises of the ankle evertor muscles.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 2001

It has been known that the ankle arthrodesis is a common surgical procedure for treating the ankle arthrosis and deformity that do not respond to the non-operative treatment. To date, various surgical techniques for the ankle arthrodesis have been reported. Clinical and biomechanical trials have shown that the rigid internal fixation leads the increased rate of the union. The ankle arthrodesis may be complicated with the nonunion, delayed union, malunion, and infection. In cases of the Charcot joint of the ankle in diabetic patients, however, arthrodesis could reduce the disadvantage of the nonoperative treatment, such as the loss of the reduction, progressive collapse, multiple ulcerations and infection. The object of this case report is to report our experience of a successful ankle arthrodesis using an anterior T plate in treating the unstable ankle of a diabetic patient, associated with the ankle fracture and the neuropathy. The surgical approach of this technique is simple so that it would allow less soft tissue injury, and this procedure would be regarded as one alternative to provide the rigid internal fixation in the ankle arthrodesis.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.459-463
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlations between functional movement screen (FMS) and ankle dysfunctions in subjects with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study of 20 participants with CAI. The ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM), Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI), center of pressure (COP) path length, and COP velocity for ankle dysfunction were measured in all the subjects. All the subjects underwent the FMS concerned with ankle functions consisted of deep squats, hurdle steps and in-line lunges. The Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient was used to determine relationship between the ankle ROM, FADI, COP and FMS. Results: The results of the deep squat and in-line lunge exercises revealed a significant correlation with the ankle dorsiflexion ROM, FADI, COP path length, and COP velocity. The hurdle step showed no correlation with the ankle dorsiflexion ROM and FADI but a significant relationship with the COP path length and COP velocity. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that relationship deep squat and in-line lunge and it is suggested that an assessment tool using ankle dorsiflexion ROM and ankle instability would be clinically effective.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.159-165
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of early ankle exercise with functional electrical stimulation(FES) on spasticity, strength and active range of motion of ankle in patients with stroke. Methods: This study included 21 patients with stroke, who were performed early ankle exercise combined FES. The exercise program comprised 5 sessions of 30 minutes per week for 4 weeks. The spasticity, strength and active range of motion of ankle were evaluated before and after training. The spasticity was measured by modified ashworth scale(MAS), strength of ankle was measured by hand-held dynamometer and active range of motion of ankle dorsi-flexion was measured by goniometer. All data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0. Results: Significant differences were observed the subjects for strength of ankle and active range of motion. The results of the study were as follow: strength of ankle was significantly increased subjects(p<.001) and active range of motion was significantly increased subjects(p<.001). Conclusion: Ankle is very important part of body in stroke patients. early ankle exercise with FES is effective for improvement of strength of ankle and active range of motion in patients with stroke. ealry ankle exercise with FES about stroke patient is very useful and effective. It is effective in clinical practice.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.65-71
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was to evaluate the effectiveness of manipulation complex therapy on ankle sprain with ankle pain. Methods : We divided ankle sprain with ankle pain patient into 2 groups; one group combined manipulation therapy and acupuncture therapy, another group was only acupuncture therapy. To estimate the efficacy of treatment that applied for two groups, we used visual analog scale(VAS) and ankle-hindfoot scale(AHS). We compared the VAS score and AHS score of two groups statistically. Results : 1. As a result of evaluation by using visual analog scale(VAS) and ankle-hindfoot scale(AHS), treatment score at final was marked more higher than score before treatment on each groups. 2. treatment at final, acupuncture and manipulation therapy group had significant result on visual analog scale(VAS) and ankle-hindfoot scale(AHS) compared with acupuncture therapy group. Conclusions : Manipulation therapy can be used with acupuncture therapy for highly effective treatment for ankle sprain with ankle pain.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2023

Rotational ankle fractures are one of the most common injuries of lower limbs treated by orthopedic surgeons. Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) is considered a gold standard treatment for unstable ankle fractures, though adjunct ankle arthroscopy is being increasingly used in cases of ankle trauma. Although the role and use of ankle arthroscopy are expanding, the clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of arthroscopy remain undefined. Furthermore, despite the number of clinical research studies performed on arthroscopically assisted surgery for ankle fractures, no definite guidelines have been agreed, and no consensus has been reached regarding indications. This article reviews the role, indications, operative techniques, and complications of ankle arthroscopy and compares the clinical outcomes of conventional ORIF and arthroscopically assisted ORIF.