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Updated: Jun 11, 2025
Evaluating Postural Control and Lower-extremity Muscle Activation in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability
Published on: September 18, 2020
Post-mechanotherapy differences in postural control in patients with Achilles tendinopathy - A randomized controlled
Piotr Król1, Kajetan Jacek Słomka1, Grzegorz Juras1
1Institute of Sport Sciences, Academy of Physical Education, Mikołowska 72A, Katowice 40-065, Poland.
Background:
Neuromuscular deficits affecting functional ability can occur in patients with Achilles tendinopathy during difficult balance activities. This study aimed to assess postural control in patients with Achilles tendinopathy after shockwave and sonotherapy, using advanced analytical methods, including rambling-trembling signal decomposition and sample entropy.
Research Question:
What are the differences in postural control between patients with Achilles tendinopathy after shockwave therapy, ultrasound therapy, and placebo ultrasound?
Methods:
Thirty-nine patients were included in the study, and randomly assigned to 3 groups, i.e., shockwave therapy, ultrasound therapy and placebo ultrasound. Postural sway was assessed during quiet standing with eyes open and closed, with two force platforms, one for the affected and the other for the non-affected limb, at baseline and at weeks 1 and 6 after treatment. Rambling-trembling trajectories and sample entropy were calculated for the antero-posterior and medio-lateral directions.
Results:
The parameters of trembling trajectory in both directions were significantly smaller for the affected compared to non-affected limb. The ultrasound group had significantly larger rambling-trembling trajectories in the antero-posterior and medio-lateral sway directions than the shockwave therapy group. Also, all patients had more difficulty controlling their postural sway while standing with eyes closed compared to eyes open. Sample entropy was not significantly affected by the therapy type, timepoint and limb condition.
Significance:
As opposed to sample entropy, rambling-trembling decomposition can complement or replace traditional linear measures of COP time series in functional assessment of the Achilles tendon.
