The Effect of Ankle Dorsiflexion on Sagittal Posture and Core Muscle Activation

Maintaining proper posture is essential for preventing musculoskeletal disorders and reducing injury risks. This study investigates the impact of insoles with ankle dorsiflexion (inverted drop sole) on sagittal posture, spinal curvatures, and core muscle activation. Methods: Fifty-five participants...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Miguel Reis e Silva, Lucie Lerebourg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Biomechanics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7078/4/4/60
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850042548171571200
author Miguel Reis e Silva
Lucie Lerebourg
author_facet Miguel Reis e Silva
Lucie Lerebourg
author_sort Miguel Reis e Silva
collection DOAJ
description Maintaining proper posture is essential for preventing musculoskeletal disorders and reducing injury risks. This study investigates the impact of insoles with ankle dorsiflexion (inverted drop sole) on sagittal posture, spinal curvatures, and core muscle activation. Methods: Fifty-five participants (29 men, 26 women; aged 20–70 years) were evaluated in two conditions: barefoot and with insoles incorporating an inverted drop sole. Kinematic data of trunk, hip, and knee angles, along with spinal curvatures (dorsal kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, and sacral slope), were collected using the Simi Aktysis 3D system and the Medi Mouse IDIAG 360<sup>®</sup>. The electromyographic (EMG) activity of the rectus abdominis and rectus femoris muscles was analyzed using the Bioplux<sup>®</sup> device. Statistical analyses were conducted using Wilcoxon tests (W) for non-parametric data and Student’s <i>t</i>-tests (T) for parametric data with significance set at <i>p</i> < 0.05. For parametric data, effect size (ES) was used to assess the magnitude of differences based on the Cohen scale. For nonparametric data, the rank biserial correlation (rB) was used, considered an ES equivalent to the correlation coefficient. Results: Significant differences were observed between the barefoot and insole conditions for trunk and knee angles (<i>p</i> = 0.009 and <i>p</i> < 0.001, respectively) with moderate and large magnitude of difference (rB = −0.41 and rB = −0.96, respectively). No significant change in hip angle (<i>p</i> = 0.162) was observed. Spinal curvatures, including dorsal kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, and sacral slope, significantly decreased (<i>p</i> < 0.001), with a large magnitude of difference for dorsal kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, and sacral scope (rB = 0.71, rB = −0.94 and ES = 0.54, respectively). EMG analysis revealed the increased activation of the <i>rectus abdominis</i> and <i>rectus femoris</i> muscles (<i>p</i> < 0.001), with a large magnitude of difference both the <i>rectus abdominis</i> and <i>rectus femoris</i> (rB = −0.82, and ES = −0.82, respectively). Conclusions: Insoles with ankle dorsiflexion significantly improve sagittal posture by reducing spinal curvatures and enhancing core muscle activation. These findings suggest that dorsiflexion technology in footwear may serve as a non-invasive strategy for improving posture, preventing musculoskeletal disorders, and managing low back pain.
format Article
id doaj-art-3fdf705b6ee9487d8b718b6352193240
institution DOAJ
issn 2673-7078
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Biomechanics
spelling doaj-art-3fdf705b6ee9487d8b718b63521932402025-08-20T02:55:31ZengMDPI AGBiomechanics2673-70782024-12-014481282610.3390/biomechanics4040060The Effect of Ankle Dorsiflexion on Sagittal Posture and Core Muscle ActivationMiguel Reis e Silva0Lucie Lerebourg1Health & Performance Department of Sport Lisboa e Benfica, 1500-313 Lisboa, PortugalLaboratoire Centre d’Études des Transformations des Activités Physiques et Sportives (CETAPS-UR 3832), Université de Rouen-Normandie, 76821 Mont-Saint-Aignan, FranceMaintaining proper posture is essential for preventing musculoskeletal disorders and reducing injury risks. This study investigates the impact of insoles with ankle dorsiflexion (inverted drop sole) on sagittal posture, spinal curvatures, and core muscle activation. Methods: Fifty-five participants (29 men, 26 women; aged 20–70 years) were evaluated in two conditions: barefoot and with insoles incorporating an inverted drop sole. Kinematic data of trunk, hip, and knee angles, along with spinal curvatures (dorsal kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, and sacral slope), were collected using the Simi Aktysis 3D system and the Medi Mouse IDIAG 360<sup>®</sup>. The electromyographic (EMG) activity of the rectus abdominis and rectus femoris muscles was analyzed using the Bioplux<sup>®</sup> device. Statistical analyses were conducted using Wilcoxon tests (W) for non-parametric data and Student’s <i>t</i>-tests (T) for parametric data with significance set at <i>p</i> < 0.05. For parametric data, effect size (ES) was used to assess the magnitude of differences based on the Cohen scale. For nonparametric data, the rank biserial correlation (rB) was used, considered an ES equivalent to the correlation coefficient. Results: Significant differences were observed between the barefoot and insole conditions for trunk and knee angles (<i>p</i> = 0.009 and <i>p</i> < 0.001, respectively) with moderate and large magnitude of difference (rB = −0.41 and rB = −0.96, respectively). No significant change in hip angle (<i>p</i> = 0.162) was observed. Spinal curvatures, including dorsal kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, and sacral slope, significantly decreased (<i>p</i> < 0.001), with a large magnitude of difference for dorsal kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, and sacral scope (rB = 0.71, rB = −0.94 and ES = 0.54, respectively). EMG analysis revealed the increased activation of the <i>rectus abdominis</i> and <i>rectus femoris</i> muscles (<i>p</i> < 0.001), with a large magnitude of difference both the <i>rectus abdominis</i> and <i>rectus femoris</i> (rB = −0.82, and ES = −0.82, respectively). Conclusions: Insoles with ankle dorsiflexion significantly improve sagittal posture by reducing spinal curvatures and enhancing core muscle activation. These findings suggest that dorsiflexion technology in footwear may serve as a non-invasive strategy for improving posture, preventing musculoskeletal disorders, and managing low back pain.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7078/4/4/60kinematicsgaitelectromyographyspinal alignmentinverted drop solelow back pain
spellingShingle Miguel Reis e Silva
Lucie Lerebourg
The Effect of Ankle Dorsiflexion on Sagittal Posture and Core Muscle Activation
Biomechanics
kinematics
gait
electromyography
spinal alignment
inverted drop sole
low back pain
title The Effect of Ankle Dorsiflexion on Sagittal Posture and Core Muscle Activation
title_full The Effect of Ankle Dorsiflexion on Sagittal Posture and Core Muscle Activation
title_fullStr The Effect of Ankle Dorsiflexion on Sagittal Posture and Core Muscle Activation
title_full_unstemmed The Effect of Ankle Dorsiflexion on Sagittal Posture and Core Muscle Activation
title_short The Effect of Ankle Dorsiflexion on Sagittal Posture and Core Muscle Activation
title_sort effect of ankle dorsiflexion on sagittal posture and core muscle activation
topic kinematics
gait
electromyography
spinal alignment
inverted drop sole
low back pain
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7078/4/4/60
work_keys_str_mv AT miguelreisesilva theeffectofankledorsiflexiononsagittalpostureandcoremuscleactivation
AT lucielerebourg theeffectofankledorsiflexiononsagittalpostureandcoremuscleactivation
AT miguelreisesilva effectofankledorsiflexiononsagittalpostureandcoremuscleactivation
AT lucielerebourg effectofankledorsiflexiononsagittalpostureandcoremuscleactivation