Relationship Between Physical Performance and Strength of the Ankle Muscles, Pain, and Kinesiophobia in Taekwondo Athletes With Chronic Ankle Instability

Background: Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a prevalent condition among Taekwondo athletes, often associated with pain, psychological factors, and impaired physical performance. However, few studies have investigated the relationship among ankle muscle strength, pain, kinesiophobia, and physical...

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Main Authors: Beom-jun Kim, Ui-jae Hwang, Oh-yun Kwon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Korean Research Society of Physical Therapy 2025-08-01
Series:Physical Therapy Korea
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author Beom-jun Kim
Ui-jae Hwang
Oh-yun Kwon
author_facet Beom-jun Kim
Ui-jae Hwang
Oh-yun Kwon
author_sort Beom-jun Kim
collection DOAJ
description Background: Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a prevalent condition among Taekwondo athletes, often associated with pain, psychological factors, and impaired physical performance. However, few studies have investigated the relationship among ankle muscle strength, pain, kinesiophobia, and physical performance in Taekwondo athletes with CAI. Objects: This study aimed to examine the relationship between ankle muscle strength, pain, kinesiophobia, and physical performance in Taekwondo athletes with CAI. Methods: Forty Taekwondo athletes with CAI participated in the study. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and kinesiophobia was measured with the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia-11 (TSK-11). Physical performance was evaluated using the single-leg vertical jump (SLVJ) and single-leg hop for distance. The strength of the ankle muscles is measured using a Smart KEMA strength sensor. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated to determine relationships among variables. Results: SLVJ showed a significant negative correlation with VAS (r = –0.506, p < 0.01) and a positive correlation with strength of the ankle inversion with dorsiflexion (IDF) (r = 0.356, p < 0.05). VAS was negatively correlated with strength of the ankle eversion with plantarflexion (r = –0.365, p < 0.05), IDF (r = –0.371, p < 0.05) and inversion with plantarflexion (r = –0.370, p < 0.05). No significant correlations were found between TSK-11 and physical performance, pain, or ankle muscle strength outcomes. Conclusion: Pain intensity and ankle muscle strength in specific ankle positions are associated with SLVJ in Taekwondo athletes with CAI. These findings suggest that the intensity of pain and the strength of the ankle evertor and invertor at specific ankle joint positions should be considered when evaluating Taekwondo athletes with CAI. Furthermore, managing pain and implementing strengthening exercises for the ankle evertor and invertor can be recommended to improve SLVJ.
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spelling doaj-art-b0510c8a0e394423a084b8acc4743c752025-08-22T07:14:14ZengKorean Research Society of Physical TherapyPhysical Therapy Korea1225-89622287-982X2025-08-0132217218110.12674/ptk.2025.32.2.172Relationship Between Physical Performance and Strength of the Ankle Muscles, Pain, and Kinesiophobia in Taekwondo Athletes With Chronic Ankle InstabilityBeom-jun Kim0https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3934-2968Ui-jae Hwang1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2050-5503Oh-yun Kwon2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9699-768XDepartment of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, Wonju, KoreaDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Software and Digital Healthcare Convergence, Laboratory of Kinetic Ergocise Based on Movement Analysis, Yonsei University, Wonju, KoreaDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Software and Digital Healthcare Convergence, Laboratory of Kinetic Ergocise Based on Movement Analysis, Yonsei University, Wonju, KoreaDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Software and Digital Healthcare Convergence, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea Background: Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a prevalent condition among Taekwondo athletes, often associated with pain, psychological factors, and impaired physical performance. However, few studies have investigated the relationship among ankle muscle strength, pain, kinesiophobia, and physical performance in Taekwondo athletes with CAI. Objects: This study aimed to examine the relationship between ankle muscle strength, pain, kinesiophobia, and physical performance in Taekwondo athletes with CAI. Methods: Forty Taekwondo athletes with CAI participated in the study. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and kinesiophobia was measured with the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia-11 (TSK-11). Physical performance was evaluated using the single-leg vertical jump (SLVJ) and single-leg hop for distance. The strength of the ankle muscles is measured using a Smart KEMA strength sensor. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated to determine relationships among variables. Results: SLVJ showed a significant negative correlation with VAS (r = –0.506, p < 0.01) and a positive correlation with strength of the ankle inversion with dorsiflexion (IDF) (r = 0.356, p < 0.05). VAS was negatively correlated with strength of the ankle eversion with plantarflexion (r = –0.365, p < 0.05), IDF (r = –0.371, p < 0.05) and inversion with plantarflexion (r = –0.370, p < 0.05). No significant correlations were found between TSK-11 and physical performance, pain, or ankle muscle strength outcomes. Conclusion: Pain intensity and ankle muscle strength in specific ankle positions are associated with SLVJ in Taekwondo athletes with CAI. These findings suggest that the intensity of pain and the strength of the ankle evertor and invertor at specific ankle joint positions should be considered when evaluating Taekwondo athletes with CAI. Furthermore, managing pain and implementing strengthening exercises for the ankle evertor and invertor can be recommended to improve SLVJ.ankle injuriesathleteskinesiophobiamuscle strengthpainphysical functional performance
spellingShingle Beom-jun Kim
Ui-jae Hwang
Oh-yun Kwon
Relationship Between Physical Performance and Strength of the Ankle Muscles, Pain, and Kinesiophobia in Taekwondo Athletes With Chronic Ankle Instability
Physical Therapy Korea
ankle injuries
athletes
kinesiophobia
muscle strength
pain
physical functional performance
title Relationship Between Physical Performance and Strength of the Ankle Muscles, Pain, and Kinesiophobia in Taekwondo Athletes With Chronic Ankle Instability
title_full Relationship Between Physical Performance and Strength of the Ankle Muscles, Pain, and Kinesiophobia in Taekwondo Athletes With Chronic Ankle Instability
title_fullStr Relationship Between Physical Performance and Strength of the Ankle Muscles, Pain, and Kinesiophobia in Taekwondo Athletes With Chronic Ankle Instability
title_full_unstemmed Relationship Between Physical Performance and Strength of the Ankle Muscles, Pain, and Kinesiophobia in Taekwondo Athletes With Chronic Ankle Instability
title_short Relationship Between Physical Performance and Strength of the Ankle Muscles, Pain, and Kinesiophobia in Taekwondo Athletes With Chronic Ankle Instability
title_sort relationship between physical performance and strength of the ankle muscles pain and kinesiophobia in taekwondo athletes with chronic ankle instability
topic ankle injuries
athletes
kinesiophobia
muscle strength
pain
physical functional performance
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AT ohyunkwon relationshipbetweenphysicalperformanceandstrengthoftheanklemusclespainandkinesiophobiaintaekwondoathleteswithchronicankleinstability