Hop Stabilization Training Improves Neuromuscular Control in College Basketball Players With Chronic Ankle...

Neuromuscular control deficit has been reported in people with chronic ankle instability (CAI) and hopping exercises have been recommended as a functional training tool to prevent lower limb injury, but its effects on lower-extremity neuromuscular control in those with CAI are unclear.

To investigate the effect of hop stabilization training on neuromuscular control and self-reported function in college basketball players with CAI.

A randomized controlled trial.

Research Laboratory. Patients (or Other Participants): A total of 28 college basketball players with CAI were randomly assigned to the experimental hop stabilization group (age = 22.78 [3.09] y, weight = 82.59 [9.51] kg, and height = 187.96 [7.93] cm) or the control group (age = 22.57 [2.76] y, weight = 78.35 [7.02] kg, and height = 185.69 [7.28] cm).

Participants in the experimental group performed supervised hop stabilization exercises 3 times per week for 6 weeks. The control group received no intervention.

Preparatory and reactive muscle activation levels and muscle onset time were assessed from 8 lower-extremity muscles during a jump-landing task before and after the 6-week training program.

Significant improvements in preparatory muscle activation, reactive muscle activation, and muscle onset time were noted across the lower-extremity in the experimental group relative to the control group (P < .05). Self-reported function also improved in the experimental group relative to the control group (P < .05).

These findings demonstrate that 6 weeks of hop stabilization training is effective in improving neuromuscular control and self-reported function in college basketball players with CAI. Hop stabilization exercises can be incorporated into the rehabilitation program for CAI.