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A Mouse Model of Ankle-Subtalar Complex Joint Instability
Published on: October 28, 2022
Changes in joint position sense after conservatively treated chronic lateral ankle instability
A Kynsburg1, T Halasi, A Tállay
1Department of Sports Surgery, National Institute for Sports Medicine, 1123 Alkotás út 48, Budapest, Hungary. kynsburg@medscape.com
Summary
Proprioceptive training can improve ankle joint position sense in patients with chronic lateral ankle instability, though results vary. Some patients show significant gains, becoming comparable to healthy athletes after a 6-week program.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Physiotherapy
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Chronic functional lateral ankle instability is often treated with physiotherapy, specifically proprioceptive training.
- Clinical evidence regarding the effectiveness of proprioceptive training on ankle proprioception remains controversial.
- This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of proprioceptive training on ankle joint position sense.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a 6-week proprioceptive training program on ankle joint position sense in patients with chronic lateral ankle instability.
- To compare post-training results with a control group of healthy athletes.
- To identify potential non-responders to the training program.
Main Methods:
- Ten patients with chronic lateral ankle instability underwent a 6-week proprioceptive training program.
- Joint position sense was assessed using the slope-box test before and after the training period.
- The test measured accuracy in four directions across 11 slope amplitudes, with comparisons made to a control group of 10 healthy athletes.
Main Results:
- Overall, proprioceptive sensory function improved, but not significantly in all directions.
- Two patients showed significant improvement in all directions (mean estimate error improvement: 2.47 degrees).
- Seven patients demonstrated partial success (mean estimate error improvement: 0.73 degrees), with results comparable to the control group; three patients showed no improvement.
Conclusions:
- Proprioceptive rehabilitation is an effective method for improving impaired ankle joint position sense.
- Non-responding patients can be identified after 6 weeks and considered for alternative treatments.
- The training program demonstrates a preventive effect on ankle plantarflexors and supports the theory of simultaneous mechanoreceptor system function.
