Dose-Dependent Effects of Heel Elevation on Kinetic Chain Reconstruction and Lumbar Stress During Loaded Squatting in Men With Restricted Ankle Dorsiflexion

作者：Cai J, Sun D, Li F, Chen D, Zhu J, Song Y, Fan Y, Goda TJ, Gu Y · 发表于：Journal of strength and conditioning research · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.1519/jsc.0000000000005639 · 研究领域：heel wedge、knee extensor demand、limited dorsiflexion、lower-limb biomechanics、lumbar mechanical stress、trunk inclination

Cai, J, Sun, D, Li, F, Chen, D, Zhu, J, Song, Y, Fan, Y, Goda, TJ, and Gu, Y. Dose-dependent effects of heel elevation on kinetic chain reconstruction and lumbar stress during loaded squatting in men with restricted ankle dorsiflexion. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2026-The aim of this study was to determine whether graded heel elevation modifies squat biomechanics, neuromuscular activity, and lumbar stress in men with restricted ankle dorsiflexion. Thirty healthy men performed loaded squats under 6 heel-elevation conditions (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 cm). Three-dimensional motion capture, force plates, and surface electromyography were used to assess lower-limb kinematics, net joint moments, center-of-pressure variables, muscle activity, and co-contraction. Finite element analysis was used to quantify peak von Mises stress in the L1-L5 segments. Discrete outcomes were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance, and joint-moment waveforms were compared using one-dimensional statistical parametric mapping (SPM1D), with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Increasing heel elevation reduced peak ankle dorsiflexion and trunk forward inclination, while increasing peak knee flexion, hip flexion, and tibial progression angle (all p < 0.001). Peak knee moment increased with heel elevation (p < 0.001), whereas ankle and hip moments were not significantly changed. SPM1D revealed prolonged increases in knee moment during the middle phase of the squat cycle. Center-of-pressure path ...