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Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and trunk muscle endurance are not associated with hip and knee kinematics during the forward step-down test in CrossFit® practitioners

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Abstract

Purpose

CrossFit® (CF) is a high-intensity training method with a large number of practitioners, having an injury prevalence similar to other sports. Although excessive dynamic knee valgus is related to several injuries and associated with the trunk muscles’ endurance and dorsiflexion range of motion (DF-ROM), no study has evaluated these parameters in CF practitioners. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between lower limb alignment during the step-down test, DF-ROM and lateral trunk muscle endurance in CrossFit® (CF) practitioners.

Methods

Forty-two CF practitioners performed the following tests on both limbs: (i) DF-ROM with the weight-bearing lunge test; (ii) knee frontal plane projection angle (FPPA) and hip adduction (hip ADD) ankle during the forward step-down test; (iii) trunk lateral flexors’ endurance with the side plank test.

Results

No significant associations were found between knee FPPA and DF-ROM in both limbs (preferred: r = 0.192; p = 0.230; non-preferred: r = 0.089; p = 0.581) or side plank time (preferred: r = 0.086; p = 0.594; non-preferred: r = 0.248; p = 0.117). Moreover, no significant associations were found between hip ADD and DF-ROM in both limbs (preferred: r = 0.005; p = 0.975; non-preferred: r = 0.175; p = 0.275) or side plank time (preferred: r = – 0.134; p = 0.403; non-preferred: r = 0. 171; p = 0.284).

Conclusion

Lateral trunk flexors’ endurance and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion are not associated with hip and knee kinematics during the forward step-down test in CrossFit®.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank CrossFit Red Java, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Exercise Physiology and Physical Assessment Laboratory, Serra Gaucha University Center, Caxias Do Sul, RS, Brazil

    Thiago Venturin de Souza

  2. Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, MI, Italy

    Rodrigo Rabello

  3. Department of Physical Therapy, Integrated Colleges of Taquara, Taquara, RS, Brazil

    Emmanuel Souza da Rocha

  4. Physical Activity, Sport and Health Research Group, Department of Physical Therapy, Sogipa Faculty, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Emmanuel Souza da Rocha

  5. Institute of Education, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil

    Rodrigo Rodrigues

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  1. Thiago Venturin de Souza
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  4. Rodrigo Rodrigues
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Contributions

TVS: the conception, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, draft of the article revising it critically for important intellectual content, final approval of the version to be submitted; ESR: draft of the article revising it critically for important intellectual content, final approval of the version to be submitted; RR: draft of the article revising it critically for important intellectual content, final approval of the version to be submitted; RR: the conception and design of the study, study orientation and supervision and critical revision of the article, final approval of the version to be submitted. All authors contributed equally to the manuscript and read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rodrigo Rodrigues.

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Ethical approval (include appropriate approvals or waivers)

The study was approved by the University's Research and Ethics Committee (n: 4.178.331).

Consent to participate

Before starting, all participants were informed of the aims and procedures of the study and signed an informed consent form.

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Informed consent statement

All participants signed a consent form before the beginning of the study, which was approved by the University’s Research Ethics Committee (Number 4.178.331) and followed all ethical principles contained in the Helsinki Declaration.

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de Souza, T.V., Rabello, R., da Rocha, E.S. et al. Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and trunk muscle endurance are not associated with hip and knee kinematics during the forward step-down test in CrossFit® practitioners. Sport Sci Health 19, 519–526 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-022-01039-3

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