Quantifying Functional Ankle Rehabilitation Progression Criteria Using GPS: A Preliminary Study.

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Global Positioning System (GPS) technology offers high ecological validity for quantifying mechanical loading in clinical settings.
• Current GPS applications primarily focus on athletic performance, with limited use in rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of GPS microtechnology in measuring loading progression during functional ankle sprain rehabilitation.
• To investigate the impact of GPS unit placement on interpreting loading during rehabilitation drills.
• To address the high prevalence of ankle reinjury and the need for quantifiable monitoring.

Main Methods:

• A repeated measures design was employed in university athletic facilities.
• Twenty-two female intermittent team sports players participated.
• Players performed five functional drills simulating ankle sprain mechanisms and increasing loading.
• GPS-mounted accelerometers measured PlayerLoad at C7 and tibial placements during drills.

Main Results:

• Drill type significantly affected mediolateral, anteroposterior, and vertical loading (P < .001).
• The diagonal hurdle hop generated significantly higher load than other drills, indicating nonlinear progression.
• Mediolateral load showed progressive increases, and tibial placement was more sensitive to loading changes than C7 placement (P < .001).

Conclusions:

• GPS unit placement is crucial for accurate clinical interpretation of loading magnitude and sensitivity.
• GPS technology is effective for quantifying multiplanar loading in rehabilitation settings.
• GPS analysis can extend beyond performance metrics to aid in functional injury rehabilitation and prevention.