Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 24, 2025
Evaluating Postural Control and Lower-extremity Muscle Activation in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability
Published on: September 18, 2020
Effect of finding-oriented manual therapy techniques on muscle activity and postural control in patients with chronic
Slavko Rogan1, Jan Taeymans2, Beatrice Eggertswyler3
1Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Health Professions, University of Applied Sciences Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Akademie für Integrative Physiotherapie und Trainingslehre, Grenzach-Wyhlen, Germany; Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
Introduction:
Previous studies have analyzed the effects of manual therapy techniques (MTT) in patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Clinicians treat patients according the finding-oriented MTT approach. This approach is seldom pursued in research. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of finding-oriented MTT applications in patients with CAI.
Method:
In this randomized controlled, blinded assessor crossover feasibility trial, participants were randomized to receive nine finding-oriented MTT treatments or no treatment during a three-week period, followed by a six-day washout period after which participants were crossed-over. Criteria under evaluation were adherence and attrition rates, safety (adverse events (AEs)) and acceptability and preliminary effects of finding-oriented MTT on muscular activity (measured by surface Electromyography (sEMG)) and on dynamic balance (measured by time to stabilization (TTS) and the modified Star Excursion Balance Test (modified STBT)).
Results:
Seven women and two men (mean age: 26 ± 6.1 years) with CAI enrolled in this feasibility study. Success criteria showed a high adherence (90%) and low attrition rate (10%). All data could be used for analysis. AEs such as tingling in the foot during a short time frame were reported after four finding-oriented MTT interventions. Preliminary effect sizes showed divergence and few statistically significant results for sEMG.
Conclusion:
The participants were adherent to the finding-oriented MTT intervention. The acceptability of data recording and data analysis was good. In addition, the study protocol should be adapted by adding a 10-min warm up period, a participant familiarization to TTS and modified STBT, and test repetitions.
