Proprioceptive acuity, proprioceptive weighting and balance in individuals with chronic ankle instability

Joint position sense (JPS), balance assessments, and proprioceptive weighting tests offer insights into different dimensions of proprioception to evaluate deficits associated with chronic ankle instability (CAI). However, it remains unclear whether the outcomes of one test can be extrapolated to others.

Is proprioception measured by various tests impaired, and can the result obtained in one test be extrapolated to others in CAI and control participants?

Thirteen CAI and fifteen control participants were assessed on 1) JPS in dorsiflexion and plantarflexion by calculating absolute and constant repositioning errors. 2) Unipedal balance by measuring center of pressure (CoP) ellipse area and velocity. 3) Relative proprioceptive weighting (RPW) by measuring postural response to triceps surae and lumbar multifidus tendinous vibrations. Parameters were averaged and compared across groups using independent-sample t-tests, and correlations between parameters were analyzed using Pearson's r test.

No significant differences were observed between CAI and control groups for any parameter. In the CAI group only, plantarflexion absolute error was positively correlated with both CoP ellipse area (r = 0.57; P = 0.04) and anteroposterior (r = 0.57; P = 0.04) and mediolateral (r = 0.67; P = 0.01) CoP velocity. Conversely, in the control group only, plantarflexion constant error was positively correlated with RPW (r = 0.54; P = 0.04).

CAI participants do not systematically exhibit proprioceptive or balance impairments. Among CAI participants only, impaired proprioceptive acuity was associated with impaired balance, and participants maintained an ankle-steered strategy even if proprioceptive signals were altered. Practitioners should assess proprioceptive acuity and balance to target potential impairments associated with CAI.