Individuals with recurrent ankle sprain demonstrate postural instability and neuromuscular control deficits in unaffected side

Abstract

Purpose To compare proprioception, postural stability, and neuromuscular control between patients with mechanical laxity and recurrent ankle sprain. Methods Among 86 patients with ankle instability, 45 patients had mechanical laxity (mean age 27.2 ± 7.0 years) and 41 had recurrent ankle sprain (mean age 25.1 ± 9.2 years). Both the affected and unaffected ankles of each patient were evaluated. Proprioception and neuromuscular control tests were conducted using an isokinetic machine, and postural stability was tested using a postural stabilometry system. Results Proprioception was not significantly different between the unaffected or affected ankles of the mechanical laxity group compared with those of the recurrent ankle sprain group (n.s). Static and dynamic postural stability and neuromuscular control were similar in the affected ankles between the two groups (n.s). However, postural stability (static, overall: p = 0.009, anterior–posterior: p = 0.028, medial–lateral: p = 0.022; dynamic, overall: p = 0.012, anterior–posterior: p = 0.004, medial–lateral: p = 0.001) and neuromuscular control (inversion: p = 0.031, eversion: p = 0.039, dorsiflexion: p = 0.029, plantarflexion: p = 0.035) were significantly decreased in the unaffected ankles of the recurrent ankle sprain group compared with those of the mechanical laxity group. Conclusion The unaffected ankles of the recurrent ankle sprain group showed significant decreases in both postural stability and neuromuscular control compared with the mechanical laxity group. Clinicians and therapists should consider unaffected ankle rehabilitation in patients with recurrent ankle sprain to prevent future sprain events. Level of evidence Case–control study, III.

Proprioception and neuromuscular control after the modified Broström procedure at the timing of a return to sports: A retrospective study

“…Based on a previous study for postural stability in patients with ankle instability [25,34], an OSI difference > 0.5 between the groups was considered to represent a clinical difference. A power analysis was performed to determine the sample size, with an alpha level of 0.05 and a power of 0.8.…”

“…All patients had undergone plain radiographic testing on both ankles to identify lateral ankle ligament injuries. Mechanical ankle instability was assessed by presence of a talar tilt of more than 9°o r a difference between both ankles of more than 3° or 3 mm in anterior drawer [25]. Any disagreements regarding physical examinations and all images were resolved by consensus of two experienced surgeons.…”

“…If the participant was unable to maintain posture, that test was canceled. Each test was performed for 20 sec to record postural stability parameters including the overall stability index (OSI), with a lower stability index indicating good postural stability [25,29].…”

A prospective study of the muscle strength and reaction time of the quadriceps, hamstring, and gastrocnemius muscles in patients with plantar fasciitis

“…The sample size calculation for the present study was based on a previous study of muscle strength in patients with lower extremity injuries, [19,22] and a muscle strength difference >10% between the groups was considered signi cant. To determine the sample size, we conducted a priori power analysis, with an alpha level of 0.05 and a power of 0.8.…”

“…Muscle reaction time was measured by the acceleration time (AT) during isokinetic strength testing, de ned as the muscle reaction time (msec) to attain the pre-set angular velocity (60°/s for the knee joint and 30°/s for the ankle joint) during maximal muscle contraction. Lower AT values signify rapid muscle reaction ability [17][18][19]. The AT was calculated automatically by the Biodex advantage software.…”