Whole-Body-Vibration Training and Balance in Recreational Athletes With Chronic Ankle Instability

Deficits in the propioceptive system of the ankle contribute to chronic ankle instability (CAI). Recently, whole-body-vibration (WBV) training has been introduced as a preventive and rehabilitative tool.

To evaluate how a 6-week WBV training program on an unstable surface affected balance and body composition in recreational athletes with CAI.

Randomized controlled clinical trial.

Research laboratory.

Fifty recreational athletes with self-reported CAI were randomly assigned to a vibration (VIB), nonvibration (NVIB), or control group.

The VIB and NVIB groups performed unilateral balance training on a BOSU 3 times weekly for 6 weeks. The VIB group trained on a vibration platform, and the NVIB group trained on the floor.

We assessed balance using the Biodex Balance System and the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT). Body composition was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

After 6 weeks of training, improvements on the Biodex Balance System occurred only on the Overall Stability Index ( P = .01) and Anterior-Posterior Stability Index ( P = .03) in the VIB group. We observed better performance in the medial ( P = .008) and posterolateral ( P = .04) directions and composite score of the SEBT in the VIB group ( P = .01) and in the medial ( P < .001), posteromedial ( P = .002), and posterolateral ( P = .03) directions and composite score of the SEBT in the NVIB group ( P < .001). No changes in body composition were found for any of the groups.

Only the VIB group showed improvements on the Biodex Balance System, whereas the VIB and NVIB groups displayed better performance on the SEBT.