Impacts of ankle sprain on functional performance in under-20 soccer players: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare functional and biomechanical parameters related to ankle mobility, neuromuscular control, and dynamic balance in under-20 soccer players with and without a history of lateral ankle sprain. STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter cross-sectional observational study. SETTING: Training centers of two professional soccer clubs in Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-five male soccer players aged 16-20 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A comprehensive assessment was performed using the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) to assess perceived ankle instability, the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) to evaluate self-reported function, the Weight-Bearing Lunge Test (WBLT) to measure ankle dorsiflexion, the Y-Balance Test (YBT) to assess dynamic balance, and the Hop Tests to evaluate lower-limb neuromuscular performance. RESULTS: Athletes with a history of lateral ankle sprain showed lower joint stability (p ≤ 0.005), reduced functionality (p ≤ 0.040), decreased dorsiflexion (p = 0.031), impaired dynamic balance (p = 0.046), and worse performance in hop tests (p ≤ 0.018) CONCLUSIONS: A history of lateral ankle sprain was associated with poorer ankle function, reduced dorsiflexion, impaired dynamic balance, and lower neuromuscular performance in under-20 soccer players. These findings support the use of comprehensive functional assessment to guide rehabilitation and return-to-sport strategies.