A 6-Week Nine-Square Exercise Programme for Collegiate Athletes with Chronic Ankle Instability: A Randomised...

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is characterized by impaired postural stability, functional deficits, and reduced quality of life.
• While nine-square exercise shows potential for enhancing postural control, its efficacy as a standalone rehabilitation program for CAI requires further investigation.
• Limited evidence exists on the effectiveness of nine-square exercise for managing CAI symptoms and functional limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a 6-week nine-square exercise program on postural stability in athletes with CAI.
• To assess the effects of nine-square exercise on self-reported ankle stability and functional ability in individuals with CAI.
• To compare the outcomes of nine-square exercise intervention against a control group for CAI management.

Main Methods:

• Eighteen male collegiate athletes diagnosed with CAI were recruited for a 6-week intervention.
• Participants were randomly assigned to either a nine-square exercise group (n=9) or a control group (n=9).
• Postural control (static and dynamic) and self-reported ankle function/stability were assessed at baseline and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• The nine-square exercise group demonstrated significant improvements in dynamic postural control (P=0.004), static postural control (P=0.001), and self-reported outcomes (P<0.05).
• The control group showed improvement only in static postural control (P=0.018).
• Post-intervention, the nine-square exercise group exhibited significantly greater improvements in dynamic postural control (P<0.001), ankle stability (P=0.002), and functional ability (P<0.05) compared to the control group.

Conclusions:

• Nine-square exercise is an effective intervention for enhancing postural control in individuals with CAI.
• The findings support nine-square exercise as a viable alternative rehabilitation strategy for improving self-perceived ankle stability and functional capacity in CAI.
• This exercise modality offers a promising approach to address key deficits associated with chronic ankle instability.