Balance training for persons with functionally unstable ankles

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics and Motor Control
• Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
• Physiotherapy and Exercise Science

Background:

• Recurrent inversion ankle sprains often lead to proprioceptive deficits and reduced ankle joint stability.
• Balance training is commonly employed to address these issues by retraining neuromuscular pathways.
• The efficacy of balance training for functionally unstable ankles requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a four-week single-leg balance training program on individuals with functionally unstable ankles.
• To compare the effects of balance training on both unstable and non-impaired ankles.
• To assess improvements in static balance and perceived ankle joint function.

Main Methods:

• A nonrandomized, two-group pretest-posttest design was utilized.
• Participants included individuals with self-reported functionally unstable ankles and a non-impaired control group.
• Balance assessments and the Ankle Joint Functional Assessment Tool (AJFAT) questionnaire were administered pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• Both groups showed significant improvements in balance ability across different resistance levels after training.
• Post-training stability index scores were significantly lower (indicating better stability) compared to pre-training scores for both groups.
• AJFAT scores increased significantly post-training, indicating enhanced perceived ankle joint functional stability in both groups.

Conclusions:

• Balance training effectively enhances joint proprioception and single-leg standing ability.
• The findings support the use of balance training programs for individuals experiencing ankle instability.
• Balance training demonstrates benefits for both functionally unstable and non-impaired ankles.