Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026
Evaluating Postural Control and Lower-extremity Muscle Activation in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability
Published on: September 18, 2020
Decreased supraspinal control and neuromuscular function controlling the ankle joint in athletes with chronic ankle
Ampika Nanbancha1, Jarugool Tretriluxana2, Weerawat Limroongreungrat3
1Faculty of Physical Therapy, Mahidol University, 999 Phuttamonthon 4 Road, Salaya, 73170, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
Purpose:
Chronic ankle instability (CAI) alters lower extremity neuromuscular function, associated with a change in corticomotor excitability. The aim of this study was to compare corticomotor excitability and neuromuscular function of the muscles around the ankle between athletes with CAI and without CAI (non-CAI).
Methods:
Nineteen CAI athletes (15 men and 4 women) and 19 non-CAI athletes (15 men and 4 women) participated (age- and sex-matched). Corticomotor excitability was measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation for the following muscles: the tibialis anterior (TA), peroneus longus (PL) and gastrocnemius medialis (GM). The resting motor threshold (rMT), motor evoked potential (MEP), and latency (Lat) were subsequently measured. Neuromuscular function was assessed with a jump test, using the EMG activity before foot contact, peak torque, and joint position sense.
Results:
The corticomotor excitability in CAI showed a lower normalized MEP in the TA (p = 0.026) and PL (p = 0.003), and longer latency in the TA (p = 0.049) and GM (p = 0.027) compared with non-CAI. The neuromuscular assessment showed CAI had less EMG activity of the PL (p < 0.001), less peak torque of the dorsiflexor (p = 0.019) muscle compared with non-CAI.
Conclusion:
Athletes with CAI had lower corticomotor excitability in the TA and PL and a longer latency in the TA and GM muscles. Additionally, CAI demonstrated functional neuromuscular deficits by decreasing EMG activity of the PL muscle and strength of the dorsiflexor muscle. Our findings indicated maladaptation at both cortical and peripheral levels among athletes with CAI.
Related Concept Videos
01:10Ankle Joint
01:21Transfer Function in Control Systems
To derive the transfer function, consider a general nth-order linear time-invariant...
02:33Combinatorial Gene Control
The expression of more than 30,000 genes is controlled by approximately 2000-3000 transcription factors. This is possible because a single transcription factor can recognize more than one regulatory sequence. The specificity in gene...
01:21Control System Problem
When forming a closed-loop system, issues can arise if the poles cross into the unstable region, leading to potential...
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
01:09Functional Classification of Joints
The functional classification of joints is determined by the amount of mobility between the adjacent bones. Joints are functionally classified as a synarthrosis or immobile joint, an amphiarthrosis or slightly moveable joint, or as a diarthrosis, a freely moveable joint. Fibrous and cartilaginous joints can be functionally classified as either synarthroses or amphiarthroses, whereas all synovial joints are classified as diarthroses.
Synarthrosis
An...