Functional-Performance Deficits in Volunteers With Functional Ankle Instability.

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Functional-performance tests assess lower body function, but results for ankle instability are inconsistent.
• Understanding the relationship between functional ankle instability and performance deficits is crucial for effective rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between a measure of functional ankle instability and performance on lower extremity functional-performance tests.
• To identify specific functional tests that may reveal deficits associated with ankle instability.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 60 participants (42 injured, 18 uninjured) was conducted.
• Functional ankle instability was quantified using a 6-question index.
• Four unilateral hopping tests (figure-of-8, side hop, up-down hop, single hop) were used to assess functional performance.

Main Results:

• A significant positive relationship was found between functional ankle instability and performance on the side hop (r = .35) and figure-of-8 hop (r = .31).
• No significant relationship was observed between functional ankle instability and the single hop for distance or up-down hop tests.
• These findings suggest that certain functional tests are more sensitive to ankle instability deficits.

Conclusions:

• Functional ankle instability is associated with performance deficits in specific dynamic tests, particularly those involving lateral and rotational movements.
• Frontal-plane functional-performance activities did not show a relationship with functional ankle instability in this study.
• The results highlight the importance of selecting appropriate functional tests for evaluating individuals with ankle instability.