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. 2025 Jul 2:19:1579260.
doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2025.1579260. eCollection 2025.

Effects of auditory rhythmic adaptation on lower limb joint mechanics during single-leg drop landings in individuals with functional ankle instability

Lingyue Meng  1   2 , Yubo Wang  1 , Zilong Wang  1 , Yongan Liu  1 , Yong Tan  1 , Yue Zhang  1 , Xinhui Wei  1 , Xiaokun Mao  1 , Qiuxia Zhang  1
Affiliations

Effects of auditory rhythmic adaptation on lower limb joint mechanics during single-leg drop landings in individuals with functional ankle instability

Lingyue Meng et al. Front Hum Neurosci. .

Abstract

Objective: This study investigates the effects of auditory rhythmic adaptation on lower limb joint mechanics in individuals with Functional Ankle Instability (FAI) during drop landings, aiming to explore potential rehabilitation strategies.

Methods: Twenty male FAI individuals performed single-leg drop landings under four rhythmic conditions (no rhythm, 60, 120, 180 bpm) after auditory rhythmic adaptation. Joint mechanics data were collected, and analyzed using two-way repeated measures ANOVA to examine the main effects and interaction effects of rhythm and limb condition. Rhythmic adaptation was assessed using time interval reproduction paradigm.

Results: The ground reaction force (GRF), joint torque and joint stiffness were significantly influenced by side (p< 0.05). Hip and knee joint range of motion (RoM), lower limb and joint stiffness, joint torque were significantly affected by conditions (p< 0.05). Significant interaction effects were observed in joint stiffness and joint torque (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Rhythmic auditory adaptation modulates motor control strategies in individuals with FAI by influencing joint mechanics during drop landing. In particular, rhythmic adaptation at 120 bpm facilitates a proximal-dominant torque-redistribution strategy, characterized by higher hip and knee extension torques and increased ankle plantarflexion torque on the stable side, and increased hip extension torques on the stable side. These changes suggest the potential of 120 bpm to improve motor control and reduce injury risk.

Keywords: auditory; drop landing; functional ankle instability; joint mechanics; rhythmic adaptation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Two labeled diagrams of a human skeletal structure displaying anatomical points. The left image labels areas such as RASI, LASI, RTHI, LTHAD, RMKNE, and LTIB. The right image shows labels like LPSI, RPSI, RTHI, and RTIB.
FIGURE 1
Markers placement on the lower limbs. The abbreviations are as follows, LASI and RASI, left and right anterior superior iliac spines, respectively; LTHAP and RTHAP, left and right thigh alignment upwards; LTHI and RTHI, left and right thigh; LTHAD and RTHAD, left and right thigh alignment downwards; LMKNE and RMKNE, left and right medial knee; LKNE and RKNE, left and right knee; LTIAP and RTIAP, left and right tibia alignment upwards; LTIB and RTIB, left and right tibia; LTIAD and RTIAD, left and right tibia alignment downwards; LMEM and RMEM, left and right medial malleoli; LANK and RANK, left and right ankle; LTOE and RTOE, left and right toe; LPSI and RPSI, left and right posterior superior iliac spines; LHEE and RHEE, left and right heel.
Flowchart depicting a metronome-based testing procedure. It starts with a one-minute adaptation using a metronome app at 60, 120, or 180 beats per minute. Re-adaptation consists of five trials where responses are unrequired, followed by 50 testing trials requiring a response. Each trial includes an introduction, a fixation cross, a circle, and a press prompt, with durations of one, 0.5, or 0.333 seconds.
FIGURE 2
Rhythm adaptation paradigm.
Panel A shows a person standing on a wooden box, with cameras set up around the room. Panel B displays a digital 3D model of a human skeleton performing a similar action, with markers attached, demonstrating motion capture on a green grid.
FIGURE 3
Preparation for the drop landing test (A) and lower limb model (B). (A) represents the step-off motion during the drop landing movement, while (B) illustrates the pyCGM2-lowerLimb_CGM23 lower-limb model in Visual3D.
Two panels labeled A and B compare graphs of ground reaction force (GRF) over relative time at different beats per minute (bpm). Panel A shows unstable and stable conditions across CC, 60 bpm, 120 bpm, and 180 bpm, with similar patterns peaking between 25% and 50% time. Panel B shows GRF for stable (blue) and unstable (red) conditions across CC, 60 bpm, 180 bpm, and 180 bpm again, with variations mainly visible in peak sharpness and timing.
FIGURE 4
Vertical ground reaction forces (vGRFs) during the entire drop landing phase. The vGRF (N) data were normalized by dividing by body weight (BW), and the results were expressed as multiples of BW. CC, the condition of no rhythm (control condition). The x-axis represents relative time (%), indicating the progression of vGRF from the IC moment to the PvGRF moment and the end of the cushioning phase. (A) Presents an overall comparison of vGRF trends across all rhythmic conditions for both the stable and unstable sides, while (B) depicts the vGRF trends separately for the stable and unstable sides under each rhythmic condition.
Bar graphs compare hip, knee, and ankle joint torques in unstable and stable conditions with four different conditions: CC, 60 bpm, 120 bpm, and 180 bpm. Error bars and significance markers (a, b, c, d) are included.
FIGURE 5
Joint torques at initial ground contact (IC) moment. a,b Indicate a statistically significant interaction effect between side and rhythm condition (p <0.05). a Indicates a significant simple effect of rhythm; b Indicates a significant simple effect of side. c Indicates a statistically significant main effect of side (p < 0.05). d Indicates a statistically significant main effect of rhythm condition (p < 0.05).
Bar graphs comparing hip, knee, and ankle joint torque under unstable and stable conditions. Bars represent different conditions: CC, 60 bpm, 120 bpm, and 180 bpm. Significant differences are indicated with letters a, b, c, and d. Hip joint torque shows marked differences between unstable and stable conditions, particularly at higher bpm. Knee joint torque also indicates variability, while ankle joint torque remains consistent across conditions.
FIGURE 6
Joint torques at PvGRF moment. a,b Indicate a statistically significant interaction effect between side and rhythm condition (p < 0.05). a Indicates a significant simple effect of rhythm (p < 0.05). b Indicates a significant simple effect of side (p < 0.05). c Indicates a statistically significant main effect of side (p < 0.05). d Indicates a statistically significant main effect of rhythm condition (p < 0.05).
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