The effects of selected ankle appliances on postural control

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Sports Medicine
• Human Physiology

Background:

• Ankle braces are commonly used for injury prevention and rehabilitation, purportedly by enhancing mechanical support and proprioceptive input.
• The actual effect of ankle braces on proprioception, a key component of joint stability, remains unclear.
• Measuring the center of pressure (COP) during postural tasks offers a quantifiable method to assess proprioceptive input at the ankle.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of ankle braces on proprioceptive input by comparing COP changes during postural control tasks.
• To evaluate whether wearing ankle braces alters the body's ability to sense joint position and movement.

Main Methods:

• A one-legged modified Romberg test with variations in visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive input was employed.
• Center of pressure (COP) variables, including total distance traveled, anterior-posterior (AP) position, and medial-lateral (ML) position, were recorded.
• Twenty-four healthy male volunteers performed trials with and without ankle braces under different sensory conditions.

Main Results:

• Wearing ankle braces resulted in an increased average AP and ML COP positions solely under the control condition (all sensory modalities functioning).
• No significant difference in the total COP path distance was observed across all brace conditions.
• The observed relocation of COP during bracing in the control condition was unexpected and warrants further investigation.

Conclusions:

• The study's findings do not conclusively support or refute the hypothesis that ankle braces enhance proprioception.
• The altered COP position when braced, particularly in the control condition, presents a complex and perplexing result.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms by which ankle braces may influence proprioception and postural stability.