Effects of reduced ankle dorsiflexion following lateral ligament sprain on temporal and spatial gait parameters

Partial rupture of the lateral ligament complex of the ankle is the commonest soft tissue injury affecting the lower limb. The effect of the limitation of motion at the ankle, particularly of dorsiflexion, on gait is unclear. In this study, 34 subjects were measured during their recovery from a partial rupture of the lateral ligament for both range of dorsiflexion and the temporal and spatial parameters of walking. Consistent relationships were identified between the range and the gait variables which were in concordance with the characteristics expected from an antalgic gait pattern. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.