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Evaluating Postural Control and Lower-extremity Muscle Activation in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability
Published on: September 18, 2020
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Deviations in gait metrics in patients with chronic ankle instability: a case control study
Roy Gigi1, Amir Haim1, Elchanan Luger1
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 6 Weizmann Street, Tel Aviv, 64239 Israel.
Journal of Foot and Ankle Research
|February 6, 2015
Summary
Patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI) exhibit altered gait, including slower velocity and wider base of support. These gait changes correlate with self-reported health status, aiding in assessing CAI severity.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Orthopedics
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is associated with gait alterations, but previous studies have had small sample sizes and inconsistent findings.
- Understanding these gait changes is crucial for effective patient management and rehabilitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate spatiotemporal gait metrics in individuals with CAI.
- To explore the relationship between self-reported disease severity and gait abnormalities in CAI patients.
Main Methods:
- Compared 44 CAI patients with 53 healthy controls.
- Utilized computerized mat for spatiotemporal gait analysis.
- Administered the Short Form (SF)-36 health survey for self-reported outcomes.
Main Results:
- CAI patients demonstrated 16% slower walking velocity, 9% lower cadence, and 7% shorter step length.
- A significant finding was a 43% wider base of support in the CAI group.
- All SF-36 subscales and component summaries were lower in CAI patients, correlating with gait measures.
Conclusions:
- CAI patients exhibit a distinct gait profile characterized by slower speed and a wider base of support.
- These gait alterations may be compensatory strategies for imbalance and pain.
- Gait metrics, combined with self-evaluation tools, can effectively assess CAI disease severity.
