Purpose: Lateral ankle sprain (LAS) in childhood can result in lateral malleolus avulsion fractures; additionally, bone nonunion may occur. Physical maturity relates to the development of bone morphology and physical functionality. It is unknown how changes in physical functionality attributable to physical maturity affect young soccer players with abnormal lateral malleolus (ALM) morphology. Hence, the present study aimed to investigate the bone morphology of the lateral malleolus in young soccer players and to examine its relationship with physical functionality at different maturity levels.
Subjects and Methods: Two hundred and ninety young soccer players aged 6– 15 years were included. The presence of ALM was assessed using ultrasonography. The subjects were allocated to three groups based on physical maturity (Pre-, Mid-, and Post-peak height velocity age [PHVA]). The prevalence of ALM and the relationship between ALM and physical maturity were examined for body composition, foot pressure distribution, foot alignment, ankle mobility, and single-leg balance.
Results: The prevalence of ALM was 17.6%. For physical maturity, the post-PHVA group showed a decrease in ankle dorsiflexion and eversion and an increase in one-leg hop distance compared to the Pre-PHVA group (P < 0.05). In the ALM group, the center of pressure during heel raising was distributed laterally in the Post-PHVA (P < 0.01), and the weight-bearing dorsiflexion angle was decreased in the Mid- and Post-PHVA (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: In the Post-PHVA young soccer players, decreased ankle dorsiflexion and eversion and increased one-leg hop distance were observed. The ALM group exhibited lateral loading during heel raising in the Post-PHVA group and decreased weight-bearing ankle dorsiflexion angle in the Mid- and Post-PHVA groups. The findings indicate the importance of secondary prevention of LAS and ultrasonography. Prospective studies of LAS in young athletes are required in the future.

Keywords: lateral ankle sprain, ultrasonography, physical maturity, physical function, soccer


中文翻译：

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年轻足球运动员的踝关节外侧扭伤及其与身体机能的关系

目的：儿童外踝扭伤（LAS）可导致外踝撕脱骨折；此外，可能会发生骨不连。身体成熟度与骨骼形态和身体功能的发展有关。尚不清楚由于身体成熟而导致的身体机能变化如何影响具有异常外踝 (ALM) 形态的年轻足球运动员。因此，本研究旨在调查年轻足球运动员外踝的骨骼形态，并检查其与不同成熟度水平的身体功能的关系。
主题和方法：包括 290 名 6 至 15 岁的年轻足球运动员。使用超声检查评估 ALM 的存在。根据身体成熟度（峰前、峰中和峰后身高速度年龄 [PHVA]）将受试者分为三组。对 ALM 的患病率以及 ALM 与身体成熟度之间的关系进行了检查，包括身体成分、足部压力分布、足部对齐、踝关节活动度和单腿平衡。
结果：ALM的患病率为17.6%。对于身体成熟度，PHVA后组与PHVA前组相比，踝背屈和外翻减少，单腿跳距离增加（P <0.05）。ALM组在PHVA后抬高脚后跟压力中心横向分布（P < 0.01），PHVA中、后负重背屈角减小（P < 0.05）。
结论：在 PHVA 后的年轻足球运动员中，观察到脚踝背屈和外翻减少，单腿跳跃距离增加。ALM 组在 PHVA 后组中足跟抬高期间表现出横向负荷，而在 PHVA 中组和后组中负重踝关节背屈角减小。研究结果表明 LAS 和超声检查二级预防的重要性。未来需要对年轻运动员的 LAS 进行前瞻性研究。

关键词：外侧踝关节扭伤，超声检查，身体成熟度，身体机能，足球