The Test-Retest Association Between Perceived Ankle Instability and Lower-Limb Proprioception Measures

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Motor Control

Background:

• Perceived ankle instability is common among athletes and physically active individuals.
• Proprioceptive deficits are often associated with ankle instability, but the extent and laterality of these deficits require further investigation.
• Understanding the relationship between perceived instability and proprioceptive function is crucial for effective rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between unilateral and bilateral perceived ankle instability and proprioceptive acuity.
• To assess the reliability of proprioceptive measures over a one-week period.
• To determine if proprioceptive deficits are localized to the more unstable limb or present bilaterally.

Main Methods:

• A repeated-measures study design was employed with 134 physical education students.
• Participants were categorized into "no," "unilateral," or "bilateral" perceived ankle instability groups using the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT).
• Ankle proprioception was assessed using the Active Movement Extent Discrimination Assessment (AMEDA) for each leg at two time points, one week apart.

Main Results:

• The bilateral instability group exhibited significantly lower proprioceptive acuity compared to the no instability group in both the more and less unstable legs.
• While the no instability group performed better in the more unstable leg compared to both unilateral and bilateral groups, differences in the less unstable leg were only significant between the no instability and bilateral groups.
• A significant improvement in proprioceptive acuity was observed in both limbs upon retesting after one week, indicating measure stability.

Conclusions:

• Bilateral perceived ankle instability is strongly associated with reduced proprioceptive acuity in both lower limbs.
• The findings suggest that proprioceptive deficits associated with ankle instability may not be confined to the affected joint, indicating a more systemic issue.
• Rehabilitation programs for ankle instability should adopt a holistic, bilateral approach, addressing both ankles irrespective of the perceived side of instability.