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Functional instability in non-contact ankle ligament injuries
A Rose1, R J Lee, R M Williams
1Fitness Assessment and Sports Injuries Centre, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. alirose24@hotmail.com
British Journal of Sports Medicine
|October 26, 2000
Summary
Patients with acute ankle sprains showed subjective improvement but appeared less stable than controls in balance tests. Further research is needed to confirm findings and develop clinical monitoring tools for ankle injuries.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Sports Medicine
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Ankle sprains are common injuries, particularly in athletes.
- Assessing functional standing balance is crucial for recovery and injury prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To objectively measure functional standing balance in acute non-contact ankle sprains.
- To compare balance capabilities between patients with ankle sprains and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a Chattanooga balance machine to assess postural stability.
- Evaluated participants in single and double-leg stance, with eyes open and closed.
- Administered the Olerud and Molander questionnaire for subjective ankle function assessment.
Main Results:
- Patients reported significant subjective improvement in ankle function.
- Patients demonstrated a trend towards reduced stability compared to controls across all tests, though not statistically significant.
- A significant improvement was noted in completing single-leg stance tests with eyes closed on the injured leg over time.
Conclusions:
- Subjective improvements in patients align with clinical observations of acute ankle injury recovery.
- Objective balance deficits may exist in ankle sprain patients, warranting further investigation.
- Development of clinical tools to monitor progress and identify at-risk individuals is recommended.
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