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Feedback and Feedforward Control During Walking in Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability
The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy
|August 6, 2016
Summary
Individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) show altered feedback and feedforward control during walking. This suggests CAI may impact how the body responds to unexpected ankle movements.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Motor Control
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Recurrent ankle sprains lead to chronic ankle instability (CAI).
- CAI affects daily walking and athletic activities.
- Understanding CAI's impact on motor control is crucial for interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate alterations in feedback and feedforward control during walking in individuals with CAI.
- To compare motor responses to experimental ankle perturbations between CAI and healthy groups.
Main Methods:
- Controlled laboratory study comparing 12 individuals with CAI and 12 healthy controls.
- Participants walked on a treadmill while adapting to inversion perturbations.
- Ankle kinematics around heel contact were analyzed during and after adaptation.
Main Results:
- Both groups initially increased eversion, but CAI subjects returned to baseline while controls showed further increase.
- Healthy controls exhibited an eversion aftereffect post-perturbation, which was absent in the CAI group.
Conclusions:
- Chronic ankle instability appears to alter feedback and feedforward mechanisms during walking.
- These findings suggest a potential deficit in motor adaptation and response in individuals with CAI.
