Clinical trial NCT05399472: Teenage Functional Hallux Limitus and Ankle Dorsiflexion Study
Official title: Regional Interdependence Between Functional Hallux Limitus and Ankle Dorsiflexion in Healthy Adolescent Athletes
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: UNKNOWN
Conditions: Hallux Limitus
Ankle Joint
Keywords: Functional hallux limitus
Ankle dorsiflexion
Lead sponsor: University of Bologna
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2022-06-01
Enrollment: 50
Sex: MALE
Minimum age (years): 12
Maximum age (years): 17
Standard ages: CHILD
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Observational model: COHORT
Time perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Male teenager basketball players from Bologna competitive sports clubs.

Brief summary: This study aims to identify a possible correlation between reduced mobility of the first toe under load and reduced mobility of the ankle ROM in healthy adolescent basketball players. To reach this goal, two non-invasive tests will be performed to measure the amount of movement of the ankle joint and the first toe.

Detailed description: Functional hallux limitus (FHL) is a common condition of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTF) characterized by reduced dorsiflexion (DF) under load and has a negative effect on load transfer during toe off.

This condition is especially common among athletes, even at a youth age, due to repeated loads that can lead to tissue and/or joint damage. The compensations that occur in athletes with an FHL can negatively affect sports performance and start injuries.

Limited ankle dorsiflexion under load is another element that can affect sports performance as well as predisposing to injury. Several studies have investigated its regional interdependence but only a few have hypothesized a correlation between this limitation and FHL.

The aim of this study is to understand a possible correlation between reduced ankle DF and reduced MTF dorsiflexion during loading, so that preventive action can be taken to reduce the risk of injury.

Participants will fill in a cross-check survey to establish if there are any predisposing factors for FHL or ankle DF reduction.

The dorsiflexion lunge test (DLT) will be used to measure ankle dorsiflexion. The Jack Test will be used to measure first toe dorsiflexion under load and the Dorsiflexion Lunge Test will be used to measure ankle DF.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* male teenages basketball players enrolled in a competitive sports club
* teenagers whose parents have signed the privacy and consent forms

Exclusion Criteria:

* athletes who have suffered in the last 3 months of lower limb musculoskeletal disorders such as pain for more than 7 days (ankle distortion outcomes, leg/foot fractures, plantar fasciopathy, metatarsalgias, etc);
* athletes who have undergone surgery on their lower limb.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Dorsiflexion Lunge Test
timeFrame: T1: first day
measure: Jack test
timeFrame: T1: first day
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Bologna
country: Italy
facility: Dipartimento di scienze biomediche e Neuromotorie (DIBINEM) - Università di Bologna (MED/48)
Study officials:
affiliation: Università degli studi di Bologna
name: Paolo Pillastrini
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
affiliation: Università degli studi di Bologna
name: Silvia Pozzan
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: Università degli studi di Bologna
name: Tommaso Torriglia
role: STUDY_CHAIR
References:
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citation: Aranda Y, Munuera PV. Plantar fasciitis and its relationship with hallux limitus. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2014 May;104(3):263-8. doi: 10.7547/0003-0538-104.3.263.
citation: Sanchez-Gomez R, Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo R, Losa-Iglesias ME, Calvo-Lobo C, Navarro-Flores E, Palomo-Lopez P, Romero-Morales C, Lopez-Lopez D. Reliability Study of Diagnostic Tests for Functional Hallux Limitus. Foot Ankle Int. 2020 Apr;41(4):457-462. doi: 10.1177/1071100719901116. Epub 2020 Jan 29.
citation: Tregouet P. An assessment of hallux limitus in university basketball players compared with noncompetitive individuals. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2014 Sep-Oct;104(5):468-72. doi: 10.7547/0003-0538-104.5.468.
citation: Hall C, Nester CJ. Sagittal plane compensations for artificially induced limitation of the first metatarsophalangeal joint: a preliminary study. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2004 May-Jun;94(3):269-74. doi: 10.7547/0940269.