Sensory-Mapping During the Weight-Bearing Lunge Test Across Chronic Ankle Instability, Copers, and Healthy Controls

Lateral ankle sprains are among the most common musculoskeletal injuries, and in specific sporting populations, up to 70% of cases may progress to chronic ankle instability (CAI). This study explored qualitative sensations during the Weight-Bearing Lunge Test (WBLT), a reliable and valid dorsiflexion range of motion assessment, to identify differences among CAI patients, individuals who have recovered from ankle sprains (copers), and healthy controls.

Cross-sectional study.

A total of 147 active adults classified as controls (n = 55), copers (n = 52), and CAI (n = 40) performed the WBLT. Two blinded raters independently collected and coded participant-reported sensations by type (eg, pain, stretching) and localization (eg, Achilles tendon, talus). Sensations were aggregated at the participant level and were analyzed using chi-square or Fisher's Exact Tests with Bonferroni correction and effect size estimation.

Stretching was the most common sensation across all groups (77.6%), typically localized to the posterior (61.9%) and anterior (51.7%) aspects of the leg and ankle. CAI participants reported pain more frequently than controls (42.5% vs 12.7%, P = .003) as well as sensations on the lateral side of the leg and ankle more often (25% vs 3.6%, P = .001). No other categories differed significantly between groups after adjustment.

CAI participants have distinct WBLT sensation profiles, underscoring the importance of qualitative assessment during the WBLT for tailoring rehabilitation strategies in this population.