Characteristics of the Foot Static Alignment and the Plantar Pressure Associated with Fifth Metatarsal Stress Fracture History I
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Matsuda et al. Sports Medicine - Open (2017) 3:27 DOI 10.1186/s40798-017-0095-y ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Characteristics of the Foot Static Alignment and the Plantar Pressure Associated with Fifth Metatarsal Stress Fracture History in Male Soccer Players: a Case-Control Study Sho Matsuda1* , Toru Fukubayashi2 and Norikazu Hirose2 Abstract Background: There is a large amount of information regarding risk factors for fifth metatarsal stress fractures; however, there are few studies involving large numbers of subjects. This study aimed to compare the static foot alignment and distribution of foot pressure of athletes with and without a history of fifth metatarsal stress fractures. Methods: The study participants comprised 335 collegiate male soccer players. Twenty-nine with a history of fifth metatarsal stress fractures were in the fracture group and 306 were in the control group (with subgroups as follows: 30 in the fracture foot group and 28 in the non-fracture group). We measured the foot length, arch height, weight-bearing leg–heel alignment, non-weight-bearing leg–heel alignment, forefoot angle relative to the rearfoot, forefoot angle relative to the horizontal axis, and foot pressure. Results: The non-weight-bearing leg–heel alignment was significantly smaller and the forefoot angle relative to the rearfoot was significantly greater in the fracture foot group than in the control foot group (P = 0.049 and P =0.038, respectively). With regard to plantar pressure, there were no significant differences among the groups. Midfield players had significantly higher rates of fifth metatarsal stress fracture in their histories, whereas defenders had significantly lower rates (chi-square = 13.2, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the frequency of fifth metatarsal stress fractures according to the type of foot (kicking foot vs. pivoting foot) or the severity of ankle sprain. Conclusions: Playing the midfield position and having an everted rearfoot and inverted forefoot alignment were associated with fifth metatarsal stress fractures. This information may be helpful for preventing fifth metatarsal stress fracture recurrence. More detailed load evaluations and a prospective study are needed in the future. Key Points Midfield players had significantly higher rates of fifth metatarsal stress fracture, whereas defenders had The results of the present study suggest that an everted significantly lower rates. rearfoot and inverted forefoot alignment are associated with a history of fifth metatarsal stress fracture. Plantar pressure did not differ between the fifth Background metatarsal stress fracture group and the control A fifth metatarsal stress fracture (MT-5 fracture) is a group. common injury in soccer players. In fact, a previous in- vestigation of a European soccer league found that 78% of stress fractures occurring in professional soccer players involved the fifth metatarsal bone. The incidence * Correspondence: [email protected] was 0.037–0.04/1000 exposure hours [1, 2] and 0.10– 1 Graduate School of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, 2-579-15 Mikajima, 0.12/1000 athlete exposures in Japan [3]. Tokorozawa Saitama 359-1192, Japan Full list of author information is available at the end of the article © The Author(s). 2017 Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. Matsuda et al. Sports Medicine - Open (2017) 3:27 Page 2 of 7 The MT-5 fracture is well known and requires a long informed of the procedures and the purpose of this study period to recover from [4–14]. Moreover, MT-5 frac- andprovidedwritteninformedconsent.Theparticipants tures may not achieve union because of poor blood flow were free to withdraw from participation at any time with- around the injured region (the proximal diaphysis) [15]. out fear of consequences. For instance, surgical treatment requires a shorter period The participants comprised 335 collegiate male soccer (15.2 ± 10.5 weeks) before regaining the ability to play players from Kanto University Football Association (a than conservative treatment (26.3 ± 11.0 weeks) [16]. level equivalent to NCAA Division 1 or 2). All partici- Therefore, occasional surgical treatment is recom- pants were able to participate in full training sessions mended for athletes [7, 11, 13, 16–18]. However, even if with no pain for at least 1 year. Using the results of a the MT-5 fracture is treated surgically, it takes at least questionnaire, they were divided into two groups: 29 in 3–8 months before the individual can play sports again. the fracture group (28 unilateral and 1 bilateral) with a Therefore, this injury has a negative impact on per- history of MT-5 stress fractures diagnosed by an ortho- formance, and prevention of its occurrence is important. pedic surgeon and 306 in the control group (Table 1). In Moreover, MT-5 fractures are well known for their addition, 29 fracture group players were subdivided into high recurrence rate [14]. The MT-5 fracture recurrence the fracture foot (FF) group (30 feet), non-fracture foot rate is 25%, which is much higher than that of hamstring (NF) group (28 feet), and control foot (CF; the mean strains (13%) [19] or ankle sprains (10.3%) [20]. There- values of bilateral feet data) group (306 players). fore, in addition to preventing the initial injury, it is important to prevent injury recurrence. Measurements and Procedures The foot length, arch height, weight-bearing leg–heel As van Mechelen et al. proposed, identifying the alignment (W-LHA: same as resting calcaneal stance mechanism and risk factors of the targeted injury position), non-weight-bearing leg–heel alignment (N- is necessary for preventing injury [21]. A previous LHA), forefoot angle relative to the rearfoot (FA-R), retrospective study suggested that an inverted rearfoot, forefoot angle relative to the horizontal axis (FA-H), and which can be examined using radiographs, is a risk foot pressure were measured. All measurements were factor for MT-5 fracture [10, 22]. However, this taken by the same physical therapist and were obtained screening procedure is difficult to generalize before the soccer season (February to March). In because X-ray assessment requires specific locations, addition, the participant’s dominant foot, history of ankle equipment, and skilled technicians in the field. To sprain, ankle sprain severity, and playing position were resolve this issue, easier, alternative protocols for obtained using a questionnaire. evaluating risk factors of MT-5 fractures, such as high medial longitudinal arch height [23]andplantar Arch Ratio pressure [24] have been proposed. However, no The selected method to measure arch height (the bony consensus regarding risk factors for MT-5 fractures arch index) was the anthropometric technique described has been established because of a lack of studies by Cowan. The foot length (back of the heel to the tip of with large numbers of subjects. the toe) and navicular height were measured using a ruler [25]. The arch ratio was defined as the arch height This study aimed to identify the possible risk factors divided by the foot length. The intraclass coefficient for recurrence of MT-5 fractures. To clarify this issue, (ICC) values were 0.94 for intrarater reliability and 0.89 we compared the static foot alignment and distribution for interrater reliability. of foot pressure during leg calf raise exercises of players with a history of MT-5 fractures with those of healthy Rearfoot and Forefoot Alignment [26–28] players. The calf raise task demonstrates loading on the Rearfoot and forefoot alignment evaluations were per- forefoot. Danahue et al. reported that peak fifth metatar- formed as described by Gross et al., and the ICC for sal strain was 80% through the stance of walking (during intrarater reliability was 0.91 for the forefoot and 0.87 forefoot loading). It has been hypothesized that players for the rearfoot [26]. We marked two points on the cen- with a history of MT-5 fractures exhibit rearfoot inver- terline of the calcaneus at the distal and proximal re- sion alignment and that their foot pressure is biased to gions and calculated two points on the centerline of the the lateral region of the foot. Table 1 Study subject characteristics Methods N Height (cm) Age (years) Weight (kg) All study protocols were approved by the Ethics Committee Without fracture history 306 173.5 ± 9.9 20.1 ± 1.1 67.9 ± 6.8 on Human Research of the university. This study conforms With fracture history 29 172.8 ± 5.8 20.0 ± 1.1 67.5 ± 7.0 to the Declaration of Helsinki. All subjects were fully Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation Matsuda et al. Sports Medicine - Open (2017) 3:27 Page 3 of 7 Fig. 3 Left: measurement of FA-R. Right: measurement of FA-H. FA-R: the angle between a line perpendicular to the calcaneal bone axis and a line from the thenar to the hypothenar. FA-H: the angle between the horizontal axis and a line from the thenar to the hypothenar Fig. 1 Measurement of W-LHA. Subjects were placed in the weight- bearing position and we measured the angle between the lower leg line and calcaneus line using imageJ leg and Achilles tendon. Subjects were placed in the weight-bearing position (standing) and non-weight- bearing position (prone) with the hips, knees, and ankles neutral, and photographs were taken from the posterior of the feet (Figs. 1 and 2). A photograph was also taken of all participants’ lower legs and calcanei from the pos- terior side.