The relationship between the flexibility of calf muscles and functional status of athletes with ankle injuries.

Background and Aim: One of the risk factors in sports injuries is inappropriate flexibility of muscles, which leads to pain, decrease range of motion and functional limitation in sport or daily activities and affects the athletes' quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between flexibility of calf muscles and functional status of athletes with ankle injuries. Materials and Methods: Thirty male athletes with ankle injuries (mean age ± SD, 22.63 ± 3.94; range: 18-40 years) participated in this study. Ankle dorsiflexion of affected and non-affected sides were measured with a goniometer. FAOS (Foot and Ankle Outcome Score) questionnaire was used to evaluate the functional status of ankle. Results: The relationship between flexibility of calf muscles in the affected extremity, and total score of the functional questionnaire, was not statistically significant (P>0.05). While the relationship between the flexibility of muscles and functional questionnaire's total score in the non injured extremity was significant (P = 0.004, r = 0.51). Conclusion: This study revealed that although the athletes who have more flexibility of calf muscles, show better functional status of ankle; but there is not necessarily a relationship between inflexibility of the muscles and lowered functional status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]