The effect of exercise on ligament laxity during inversion/eversion rotations at the ankle joint

Background Previous literature investigating the effect of exercise on ligament laxity at the knee found that basketball and distance running elicit a significant increase in knee laxity post exercise [1], whereas powerlifting [1] and cycling [2] do not change after exercise. This suggests that, to have an effect on ligament laxity, an activity must be weight bearing and repetitive in nature. We aimed to use a multidirectional exercise protocol to determine whether the ligaments responsible for controlling inversion/eversion at the ankle allowed greater rotation following dynamic movement. This will form the basis of future methodological decisions regarding the conditions under which laxity should be measured, and will help to describe the acute response of ligaments during exercise with applications to injury prevention.