Ankle Evertor and Invertor Strength Training

NCT07820449 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: EVE/INV 49382013P5-0124
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 32
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 12-week ankle evertor and invertor strength training program performed on a specially designed device, which allows isolated strengthening of evertor and invertor muscles. Outcome measures included isometric ankle torque, EMG activity of six tibial muscles, muscle coactivation, and kinematic parameters during three walking conditions. This trial was retrospectively registered. The study was conducted in 2017 as part of a doctoral dissertation at the Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, prior to the authors' awareness of prospective registration requirements.

Conditions

Ankle Instability; Ankle Rehabilitation; Ankle Sprain; Ankle Injuries and Disorders

Keywords

ankle evertors; ankle invertors; ankle joint; strength training; subtalar axis; peroneal muscles; tibial muscles; ankle sprains

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Isometric Ankle Torque

  Maximal isometric torque in foot eversion and inversion direction measured with a isometric device.

  Baseline and 12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• EMG Activity of Tibial Muscles

  Baseline and 12 weeks

• Walking Speed

  Baseline and 12 weeks

• Stretch Reflex Response

  Baseline and 12 weeks

• Muscle Co-activation Index Between Pairs of Tibial Muscles During Walking

  Baseline and 12 weeks

• Foot Position During Walking

  Baseline and 12 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Experimental Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants performed a 12-week ankle evertor and invertor strength training program on a specially designed device.

Behavioral: Ankle Evertor and Invertor Strength Training

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants maintained habitual activity without any structured strength training.

Interventions

Ankle Evertor and Invertor Strength Training BEHAVIORAL

Participants in experimental group were performing strength training on a specially designed device. The program consisted of 8 weeks of hypertrophy-oriented training followed by 4 weeks of neural activation training.

Experimental Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Male, aged 18 to 50 Years
• Recreationally active (regularly participating in running or sport)
• No history of ankle injury or surgery
• No musculoskeletal disorders affecting the lower extremity
• Able to perform physical exercise without restrictions

You may not qualify if:

• History of ankle sprain or ligament injury in the past 12 months
• Any lower extremity injury or surgery
• Neurological or cardiovascular conditions affecting exercise participation
• Currently receiving physiotherapy for lower extremity conditions

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Ljubljana: lead

Study Sites (1)

Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana

Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia

Location

Related Publications (15)

• Winter DA, Patla AE, Frank JS, Walt SE. Biomechanical walking pattern changes in the fit and healthy elderly. Phys Ther. 1990 Jun;70(6):340-7. doi: 10.1093/ptj/70.6.340.

  PMID: 2345777 RESULT

• Voloshina AS, Ferris DP. Biomechanics and energetics of running on uneven terrain. J Exp Biol. 2015 Mar;218(Pt 5):711-9. doi: 10.1242/jeb.106518. Epub 2015 Jan 23.

  PMID: 25617451 RESULT

• Santilli V, Frascarelli MA, Paoloni M, Frascarelli F, Camerota F, De Natale L, De Santis F. Peroneus longus muscle activation pattern during gait cycle in athletes affected by functional ankle instability: a surface electromyographic study. Am J Sports Med. 2005 Aug;33(8):1183-7. doi: 10.1177/0363546504274147. Epub 2005 Jul 6.

  PMID: 16000658 RESULT

• Murley GS, Menz HB, Landorf KB. Foot posture influences the electromyographic activity of selected lower limb muscles during gait. J Foot Ankle Res. 2009 Nov 26;2:35. doi: 10.1186/1757-1146-2-35.

  PMID: 19939283 RESULT

• Louwerens JW, van Linge B, de Klerk LW, Mulder PG, Snijders CJ. Peroneus longus and tibialis anterior muscle activity in the stance phase. A quantified electromyographic study of 10 controls and 25 patients with chronic ankle instability. Acta Orthop Scand. 1995 Dec;66(6):517-23. doi: 10.3109/17453679509002306.

  PMID: 8553819 RESULT

• Ha SC, Fong DT, Chan KM. Review of ankle inversion sprain simulators in the biomechanics laboratory. Asia Pac J Sports Med Arthrosc Rehabil Technol. 2015 Oct 21;2(4):114-121. doi: 10.1016/j.asmart.2015.08.002. eCollection 2015 Oct.

  PMID: 29264250 RESULT

• Garrick JG. The frequency of injury, mechanism of injury, and epidemiology of ankle sprains. Am J Sports Med. 1977 Nov-Dec;5(6):241-2. doi: 10.1177/036354657700500606. No abstract available.

  PMID: 563179 RESULT

• Ferran NA, Maffulli N. Epidemiology of sprains of the lateral ankle ligament complex. Foot Ankle Clin. 2006 Sep;11(3):659-62. doi: 10.1016/j.fcl.2006.07.002.

  PMID: 16971255 RESULT

• Falconer K, Winter DA. Quantitative assessment of co-contraction at the ankle joint in walking. Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1985 Mar-Apr;25(2-3):135-49. No abstract available.

  PMID: 3987606 RESULT

• Docherty CL, Moore JH, Arnold BL. Effects of strength training on strength development and joint position sense in functionally unstable ankles. J Athl Train. 1998 Oct;33(4):310-4.

  PMID: 16558526 RESULT

• DeMers MS, Hicks JL, Delp SL. Preparatory co-activation of the ankle muscles may prevent ankle inversion injuries. J Biomech. 2017 Feb 8;52:17-23. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2016.11.002. Epub 2016 Dec 7.

  PMID: 28057351 RESULT

• Chan CW, Rudins A. Foot biomechanics during walking and running. Mayo Clin Proc. 1994 May;69(5):448-61. doi: 10.1016/s0025-6196(12)61642-5.

  PMID: 8170197 RESULT

• Brockett CL, Chapman GJ. Biomechanics of the ankle. Orthop Trauma. 2016 Jun;30(3):232-238. doi: 10.1016/j.mporth.2016.04.015.

  PMID: 27594929 RESULT

• Bavdek R, Zdolsek A, Strojnik V, Dolenec A. Peroneal muscle activity during different types of walking. J Foot Ankle Res. 2018 Sep 3;11:50. doi: 10.1186/s13047-018-0291-0. eCollection 2018.

  PMID: 30202446 RESULT

• Apps C, Sterzing T, O'Brien T, Lake M. Lower limb joint stiffness and muscle co-contraction adaptations to instability footwear during locomotion. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2016 Dec;31:55-62. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2016.09.003. Epub 2016 Sep 20.

  PMID: 27684529 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Ankle Injuries; Disease

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Leg Injuries; Wounds and Injuries; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Aleš Dolenec, PhD

  University of Ljubljana

  STUDY CHAIR

• Rok Bavdek, PhD

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 3, 2026
• First Posted: September 15, 2026
• Study Start: February 2, 2017
• Primary Completion: May 31, 2017
• Study Completion: May 31, 2017
• Last Updated: September 15, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: ICF
• Time Frame: Following publication of study results

Locations

SL (1)