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FOOT ALIGNMENT IN SYMPTOMATIC NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (NFL) ATHLETES: A WEIGHTBEARING CT ANALYSIS
Journal article   Open access

FOOT ALIGNMENT IN SYMPTOMATIC NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (NFL) ATHLETES: A WEIGHTBEARING CT ANALYSIS

ALESSIO Bernasconi, Cesar De Cesar Netto, LAUREN Roberts, FRANÇOIS Lintz, ALEXANDRE LEME GODOY-SANTOS and MARTIN JOSEPH O’MALLEY
Acta ortopedica brasileira, Vol.29(3), pp.118-123
08/2021
DOI: 10.1590/1413-785220212903236709
PMCID: PMC8266275
PMID: 34290556
url
https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-785220212903236709View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: Our aim was to describe the foot alignment in National Football League (NFL) players with different symptomatic foot and ankle pathologies using weightbearing cone-beam computed tomography (WBCBCT), comparing them to normally aligned feet as control group. Methods: 41 feet (36 active NFL players) were assessed using WBCBCT and compared to 20 normally aligned controls from a normal population. Measurements included: Foot and Ankle Offset (FAO); Calcaneal Offset (CO); Hindfoot Alignment Angle (HAA); angle between inferior and superior facets of the talus (Inftal-Suptal); angle between inferior facet of the talus and the horizontal/floor (Inftal-Hor); Forefoot Arch Angle (FAA); navicular- and medial cuneiform-to-floor distance. Results: NFL athletes showed a neutrally aligned hindfoot when compared to controls (FAO: 1% vs 0.5%; CO: 2.3 mm vs 0.8 mm; HAA: 2.9° vs 0.8° in two groups, with all p > 0.05) and a normal morphology of the subtalar joint (no difference in Inftal-Suptal and Inftal-Hor angles). Conversely, in athletes we found a decreased medial longitudinal arch (FAA: 15° vs 18.3°, p = 0.03) with smaller navicular (38.2 mm vs 42.2 mm, p = 0.03) and medial cuneiform (27 mm vs 31.3 mm, p = 0.01) mean distances to the floor when compared to controls. Conclusion: In our series, NFL players presented a lower medial longitudinal arch than controls but a neutrally aligned hindfoot. WBCBCT may help shed light on anatomical risk factors for injuries in professional players. Level of Evidence III, Retrospective comparative study. RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever o alinhamento do pé em jogadores da National Football League (NFL) com diferentes patologias sintomáticas do pé e tornozelo usando a tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico com suporte de peso (weightbearing cone-beam computed tomography - WBCBCT), e comparar as medidas a grupo controle de voluntários com pés de alinhamento normal. Métodos: Quarenta pés (36 jogadores ativos da NFL) foram avaliados usando WBCBCT e comparados com 20 controles da população normal. As medidas incluíram: Offset do pé e tornozelo(FAO); Calcâneo Offset (CO); ângulo de alinhamento do retropé (HAA); ângulo entre as facetas inferior e superior do tálus (Inftal-Suptal); ângulo entre a faceta inferior do tálus e o solo (Inftal-Hor); ângulo do arco do antepé (FAA); distância navicular/solo e cuneiforme medial/solo. Resultados: Atletas da NFL mostraram retropé com alinhamento neutro quando comparados aos controles (FAO: 1% vs. 0,5%; CO:2,3mm vs. 0,8 mm; HAA: 2,9° vs. 0,8°, com todos p > 0,05) e morfologia normal da articulação subtalar (sem diferença nos ângulos Inftal-Suptal e Inftal-Hor). Por outro lado, observamos nos atletas profissionais um arco longitudinal medial diminuído (FAA: 15° vs. 18,3°,p=0,03) com distâncias médias do navicular/solo (38,2 mm vs. 42,2 mm, p = 0,03) e do cuneiforme medial/solo (27 mm vs. 31,3 mm, p = 0,01) menores quando comparados ao grupo controle. Conclusão: Em nossa série, os jogadores da NFL apresentaram um arco longitudinal medial diminuído em relação aos controles, mas um retropé neutro. WBCBCT pode ajudar a esclarecer os fatores de risco anatômicos para lesões em jogadores profissionais de elite. Nível de Evidência III, Estudo retrospectivo comparativo.

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