Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 2, 2026
Evaluating Postural Control and Lower-extremity Muscle Activation in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability
Published on: September 18, 2020
Unilateral jump landing neuromechanics of individuals with chronic ankle instability
Gabriel Moisan1, Camille Mainville2, Martin Descarreaux2
1Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Canada; Department of Human Kinetics, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Canada; Groupe de recherche sur les affections neuro-musculo-squelettiques (GRAN), Canada.
Objectives:
To assess the neuromechanical (kinematic, kinetic and electromyographic (EMG)) differences between individuals with and without chronic ankle instability (CAI) during unilateral jump landing.
Design:
Case-control study.
Methods:
Kinematic, kinetic and EMG data of 32 participants with CAI and 31 control participants were collected during unilateral side jump landing (SIDE) and unilateral drop landing on three surfaces (even (DROP), unstable (FOAM) and laterally inclined (WEDGE)). Each participant had to complete five trials of each task in a randomised sequence. To compare the neuromechanical differences between groups, a one-dimensional statistical non-parametric mapping analysis was performed.
Results:
Compared to the control group, the CAI group exhibited increased biceps femoris muscle activity during the preactivation and landing phases, decreased gluteus medius and peroneus longus muscles activity during the preactivation phase and increased knee extension moment during the landing phase of the WEDGE task. The CAI group also exhibited increased ankle dorsiflexion during the landing phase of the FOAM task and decreased vastus lateralis muscle activity during the preactivation phase of the DROP task. Finally, the CAI group exhibited decreased biceps femoris muscle activity during the preactivation and landing phases and decreased gluteus medius muscle activity during the preactivation phase of the SIDE task compared to the control group.
Conclusions:
Individuals with CAI present neuromechanical differences during unilateral jump landing compared to healthy individuals. The results of this study will improve our understanding of underlying deficits associated with CAI and will help researchers and clinicians to better target them during rehabilitation.
