| THE IMPACT OF FUNCTIONAL FATIGUE ON ANKLE JOINT POSITION SENSE IN HEALTHY FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND THOSE WITH FUNCTIONAL ANKLE INSTABILITY |
| Paper ID : 1452-SPORTCONGRESS (R1) |
| Authors |
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Masoud Karimzadeh *1, Mansour Sahebozamani2 1Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, National University of Skills (NUS), Tehran, Iran 2Department of Sport Injuries and Corrective Exercises, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, Iran |
| Abstract |
| Introduction: Proprioception, a critical sensory mechanism essential for perceiving body position and movement, plays a particularly important role in the ankle joint, which is vital for maintaining balance and coordinated movement. Impairments in ankle joint proprioception have been associated with functional ankle instability (FAI), leading to decreased joint position sense and impaired postural control (Xiao et al., 2024). Moreover, functional fatigue has been shown to negatively affect ankle joint proprioception. Muscle fatigue can reduce the sensitivity of proprioceptive receptors, impairing balance and increasing the risk of injury during athletic activities (Li et al., 2022). Given the critical role of ankle joint proprioception in postural stability and injury prevention, this study aimed to examine the effect of functional fatigue on ankle joint position sense in both healthy football players and those with functional ankle instability. Methods: The study involved club football players from Kerman, Iran, who were categorized into two groups: those with functional ankle instability (n=12) and healthy controls (n=12), based on the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) questionnaire and confirmation by a specialist physician. Functional fatigue was induced using the Bangsbo protocol, and ankle joint position sense was evaluated using a pedal goniometer. Fatigue levels were monitored every 15 minutes using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale. Data were analyzed in SPSS20 using independent and paired t-tests at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The findings indicated a significant increase in angle reconstruction error following fatigue in both groups (P<0.05). However, independent t-test analysis revealed no statistically significant difference in the magnitude of this error between the two groups after the fatigue protocol (P>0.05). Conclusion: The study showed that fatigue reduced ankle proprioception similarly in both healthy players and those with functional ankle instability, potentially increasing injury risk. |
| Keywords |
| Proprioception, Position Sense, Ankle Joint, Fatigue |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |
