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Evaluating Postural Control and Lower-extremity Muscle Activation in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability
Published on: September 18, 2020
Dynamic postural stability in females with chronic ankle instability
Cathleen N Brown1, Bradley Bowser, Alexander Orellana
1Department of Kinesiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. browncn@uga.edu
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|April 28, 2010
Summary
Females with chronic ankle instability (CAI) show poorer dynamic postural stability in anterior and lateral jump directions compared to healthy controls. Assessing multiple jump directions is crucial for evaluating dynamic stability in CAI.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Sports Medicine
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a common condition following ankle sprains, often leading to recurrent episodes of giving way and impaired function.
- Dynamic postural stability is critical for athletic performance and injury prevention, yet its assessment in CAI populations requires further investigation across various movement planes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate dynamic postural stability differences in females with CAI compared to a healthy control group.
- To evaluate stability during anterior, lateral, and medial jump landing tasks.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 24 females with CAI and 24 healthy controls participated.
- Participants performed maximal vertical jumps in anterior, lateral, and medial directions, landing on the involved limb and maintaining balance for 10 seconds.
- Ground reaction forces were analyzed to calculate stability indices, including anterior-posterior, medial-lateral, vertical, and composite scores.
Main Results:
- The CAI group exhibited significantly higher vertical and composite stability index scores in the anterior jump direction compared to controls.
- Similar trends of reduced dynamic stability were observed in the lateral jump direction for the CAI group.
Conclusions:
- Females with CAI demonstrate impaired dynamic postural stability in anterior and lateral jump directions.
- Comprehensive dynamic stability assessments should incorporate multiple jump directions to accurately characterize deficits in individuals with CAI.
