Effect of reduced ankle mobility on jumping performance in young athletes

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyse the effects of the reduction of ankle mobility on the jumping performance of young soccer athletes, through a validated jump platform valued and test. Twenty-one soccer players (16.19±0.60 years old, 67.26±5.94 kg weight, 173.81±8.15cm height, 11.29±5.37% estimated body fat, and 8.76±2.70 years of soccer practice) were evaluated and tested for vertical jump performance. Goniometry and Knee-to-Wall tests were adopted in order to evaluate movement, and a jump platform was used to evaluate performance. The performance in Counter Movement Jump test correlated positively and significantly not only with right dorsiflexion test but also right Knee-to-Wall test (r = 0.576; p = 0.006, r = 0.513, p = 0.17, respectively). Right Knee-to-Wall is correlated with left Knee-to-Wall (r = 0,816 p = 0,001). Based on the presented data, the vertical jump is impaired by the ankles' mobility deficit.