Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Improves Frontal Ankle Motor Control in Individuals With Chronic Ankle
Huifen Zheng1, Fei Tian, Wei Sun
1From the School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China (HZ); Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, China (FT); College of Sport and Health, Shandong Sport University, Jinan, China (WS); Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China (LZ); Shanghai Trauma Emergency Center, Shanghai, China (LZ); Orthopedic Intelligent Minimally Invasive Diagnosis & Treatment Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China (LZ); Shanghai Key Lab of Human Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China (WX); and The Key Lab of Exercise and Health Sciences of Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China (WX).
Objective:
This study investigated the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the frontal ankle motor control in individuals with chronic ankle instability during drop landing.
Design:
This was a randomized, controlled, double-blind trial. Thirty-six individuals with chronic ankle instability were randomly assigned to each group. Participants received 6-wk neuromuscular electrical stimulation intervention and sham stimulation in the neuromuscular electrical stimulation and control groups, respectively. Data were collected at week 0 and week 6 . A mixed-effects model and analysis of covariance were employed to investigate the between-group differences in continuous and discrete outcome variables at week 6 , with the outcome variables at week 0 as covariates.
Results:
Compared to control group, neuromuscular electrical stimulation group exhibited a 2.66° (2.45, 2.86) reduction in frontal ankle inversion angle, a 47.41°/sec (-16.05, -78.77) decrease in peak ankle inversion angular velocity, and a 0.43 Nm/kg (0.18, 0.68) increase in peak ankle eversion moment during drop landing at week 6 .
Conclusions:
Applying 6-wk neuromuscular electrical stimulation to the fibularis longus resulted in decreased ankle inversion angle and ankle inversion angular velocity and increased peak ankle eversion moment during drop landing. Consequently, neuromuscular electrical stimulation could be considered an effective modality for individuals with chronic ankle instability to enhance the frontal ankle movement patterns and overall ankle motor control.
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