Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 7, 2026
Evaluating Postural Control and Lower-extremity Muscle Activation in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability
Published on: September 18, 2020
Short-Foot Exercises Improve Postural Control and Ankle Instability in Chronic Ankle Instability: A Randomized
Mikuto Katsuya1, Kazushi Yoshida1, Shogo Takano1
1Graduate School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Aichi, Japan.
Context:
Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is associated with weakness and atrophy of the intrinsic foot muscle. Short-foot exercise (SFE) selectively activates the intrinsic foot muscle and has been proposed as a therapeutic intervention. However, evidence supporting its effectiveness in individuals with CAI remains limited.
Objective:
To examine the effects of a 4-week SFE program on static and dynamic postural control and subjective ankle instability in individuals with CAI.
Design:
Randomized controlled clinical trial.
Setting:
Laboratory.
Patients Or Other Participants:
We randomly allocated 24 participants with CAI to intervention (n = 12; age = 19.4 ± 0.9 years, height = 167.4 ± 8.6 cm, mass = 61.4 ± 8.6 kg) and control (n = 12; age = 19.5 ± 1.1 years, height = 165.9 ± 8.0 cm, mass = 61.7 ± 8.8 kg) groups.
Interventions:
The intervention group performed the SFE program 3 times per week for 4 weeks. The control group continued usual daily routines without additional training.
Main Outcome Measures:
We assessed static and dynamic postural control and subjective ankle instability using center-of-pressure measurements during single-legged stance, the Star Excursion Balance Test, and the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool, respectively, preintervention and postintervention. The data were analyzed using a 2-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (group × time) with an α level of .05.
Results:
The intervention group showed improvements in static postural control and subjective ankle instability compared with the control group (P < .05). We found no differences in dynamic postural control (P > .05).
Conclusions:
Our findings indicated that the 4-week SFE program effectively enhances static postural control and subjective ankle instability in individuals with CAI, supporting its integration into rehabilitation programs.
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