Lateral ankle sprain alters postural control in bipedal stance: Part 2 sensorial and mechanical effects induced by wearing an ankle orthosis

Abstract

To investigate the effects induced by wearing an orthosis during the rehabilitation process, 23 ankle sprain patients (degrees I and II) were evaluated in three conditions (reference, with an elastic compression stocking and with an orthosis), 14 h, 10 and 30 days on average after their injury and compared with those of 30 age-matched healthy individuals. The patients were tested with separate measurements of the reaction forces under each limb to highlight the possible compensatory mechanisms between the sound and the injured legs. Their postural stability was enhanced during unilateral orthosis wear, explained by a bilateral effect involving both feet. Wearing a compression stocking induced comparably mild intermediate effects compared with the effects observed with the orthosis. These effects were constant throughout the next month. Following lateral ankle sprain, wearing an orthosis allows patients to improve postural function a few hours after the injury to 1 month later. Only cutaneous pressure intervening without mechanical maintenance induced mild effects, indicating that orthosis effects on postural control could partly result from its sensorial stimulation. It, therefore, seems relevant to prescribe orthosis wear for at least 1 month.

Effects of different lower-limb sensory stimulation strategies on postural regulation—A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Five studies (WGSS = 1; TMSS = 3; SRSS = 1) concluded the findings with a neutral statement [61,67–70]. A study from WGSS reported mixed results, where they only found the beneficial effects in under specific constraints, including an eyes-closed condition [28]; and under a stability task performed by participants on an injured leg [22,23,25]. …”

“…Following these promising findings, a number of research programmes have since examined the utility of different approaches for achieving improved performance outcomes, ostensibly via similar mechanisms. Such interventions have included: tapes [19–21], braces [22–24] and compression garments [25–27] in young, healthy adults and people with lower-limb injuries (e.g., Functional Ankle Instability (FAI)).…”

“…For young athletes with lower extremity injuries, studies have shown that compression via orthoses and sleeves improved uni- and bipedal balance performance [25,29–31] and proprioception [14, 20]. However, Papadapoulos et al [24] suggested that ankle braces with 30kPa and 60kPa pressure were not able to alter the balance control strategy of the central nervous system (CNS).…”

Effects of training on postural control and agility when wearing socks of different compression levels

“…In more challenging conditions involving visual occlusion, compression garments (shorts) improved the total time in unipedal standing balance [21]. For young athletes with lower extremity injuries, studies have shown that compression via orthoses and sleeves improved uni -and bi-pedal balance performance [2,10,19,22,23].…”

“…These studies have mainly investigated immediate (perhaps temporary) effects of wearing compression garments in elite athletic samples. For example, such research has investigated elite alpine skiers [32], female athletes [21], and young athletes with lower limb injuries [2,10,23,38]. Investigations on the impact of wearing compression garments, such as socks, on proprioception to regulate motor performance have been infrequent, with non-athletic samples.…”