Enhanced understanding of dynamic postural stability (DPS) has the potential to curtail lower extremity injuries with important implications for athletic and scientific populations. The ability to stabilize following dynamic tasks such as jumping is dependent on several intrinsic factors, including ligamentous laxity, proprioception, and neuromuscular control. Ballet dancers are a unique group of aesthetic performers who frequently must perform unipedal balance during dynamic tasks. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of mirror feedback and ankle laxity on dynamic balance and muscle activation in 15 trained ballet dancers during a hop-to-stabilization task with and without mirror feedback. Anteroposterior and inversion-eversion ankle laxity was measured with an arthrometer. Surface electromyography was then applied to the tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, and lateral gastrocnemius muscles to record activity during the task in question. The main finding was that time-to-stabilization during the task was unaffected by mirror feedback (F = 0.105, p = 0.900; mirror = 3.31 ± 0.10 s; no-mirror = 3.37 ± 0.12 s). Greater antero-posterior laxity, however, negatively affected DPS with (r = 0.655, p = 0.008) and without the mirror (r = 0.858, p < 0.001). These results suggest that visual feedback does not affect performance during a DPS task; however, increased ankle laxity may influence balancing ability in ballet dancers.

Background Ankle dorsiflexion motion and plantarflexor stiffness measurement offer clinical insight into the assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal and neurologic disorders. We aimed to determine reliability and concurrent validity of an ankle arthrometer in quantifying dorsiflexion motion and plantarflexor stiffness. Methods Ten healthy individuals were assessed for dorsiflexion motion and plantarflexor stiffness using an ankle arthrometer with a 6 degree-of-freedom kinematic linkage system and external strain gauge to apply dorsiflexion torque. Two investigators each performed five loads to the ankle at different combinations of loads (10 or 20 Nm), rates (2.5 or 5 Nm/sec), and knee angles (10° or 20°). Anteroposterior displacement and inversion-eversion rotation were also assessed with arthrometry, and functional dorsiflexion motion was assessed with the weightbearing lunge (WBL) test. Results Good-to-excellent intrarater reliability was observed for peak dorsiflexion (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC][2,k] = 0.949–0.988) and plantarflexor stiffness (ICC[2,k] = 0.761–0.984). Interrater reliability was good to excellent for peak dorsiflexion (ICC[2,1] = 0.766–0.910) and poor to excellent for plantarflexor stiffness (ICC[2,1] = 0.275–0.914). Reliability was best for 20-Nm loads at 5 Nm/sec. Strong correlations were observed between peak dorsiflexion and anteroposterior displacement (r = 0.666; P = 0.035) and WBL distance (r = -0.681; P = 0.036). Conclusions Using an ankle arthrometer to assess peak dorsiflexion and plantarflexor stiffness seems reliable when performed to greater torques with faster speeds; and offers consistency with functional measures. Use of this readily available tool may benefit clinicians attempting to quantify equinus and dorsiflexion deficits in pathological populations.

No abstract