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Source of improvement in balance control after a training program for ankle proprioception
R K Chong1, A Ambrose, J Carzoli
1Department of Physical Therapy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, USA. rchong@pebbles.mcg.edu
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|April 27, 2001
Summary
Ankle proprioception training did not improve balance in a constrained one-leg test. Improvements likely stemmed from general body proprioception, not specific ankle enhancements.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Motor Control
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Previous studies indicated balance improvements from ankle proprioception training in healthy individuals.
- This improvement might be a general enhancement rather than specific to the ankle.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if ankle proprioception training specifically enhances ankle-related balance control.
- To test the hypothesis that previous observed improvements were due to general proprioceptive gains.
Main Methods:
- Healthy subjects performed a one-leg standing test with eyes closed and head tilted back, while constrained at the trunk and hips.
- Subjects underwent a 4-week ankle proprioception training program using the BAPS board.
- Post-training, subjects were retested on the one-leg standing test without trunk constraints.
Main Results:
- Subjects showed improvement in performing more challenging tasks on the BAPS board during training.
- No significant improvements were observed in sway velocity, touchdowns, or falls during the constrained one-leg standing test post-training.
- Training did not lead to specific enhancements in ankle proprioception for balance control.
Conclusions:
- Ankle proprioception training programs may not specifically target or improve ankle-dependent balance control.
- Observed balance improvements could result from proprioceptive gains in other body segments (knees, hips, spine, upper extremities).
- General balance training does not necessarily lead to specific ankle proprioceptive enhancements.