Active ankle motion may result in changes to the talofibular interval in individuals with chronic ankle instability and ankle sprain copers: a preliminary study

Background: Foot–ankle motion is affected by chronic ankle instability (CAI) in terms of altered kinematics. This study focuses on multisegmental foot–ankle motion and joint coupling in barefoot and taped CAI patients during the three subphases of stance at running. Methods: Foot segmental motion data of 12 controls and 15 CAI participants during running with a heel strike pattern were collected through gait analysis. CAI participants performed running trials in three conditions: barefoot running, and running with high-dye and low-dye taping. Dependent variables were the range of motion (RoM) occurring at the different inter-segment angles as well as the cross-correlation coefficients between predetermined segments. Results: There were no significant RoM differences for barefoot running between CAI patients and controls. In taped conditions, the first two subphases only showed RoM changes at the midfoot without apparent RoM reduction compared to the barefoot CAI condition. In the last subphase there was limited RoM reduction at the mid- and rearfoot. Cross-correlation coefficients highlighted a tendency towards weaker joint coupling in the barefoot CAI condition compared to the controls. Joint coupling within the taped CAI conditions did not show optimization compared to the barefoot CAI condition. Conclusions: RoM was not significantly changed for barefoot running between CAI patients and controls. In taped conditions, there was no distinct tendency towards lower mean RoM values due to the mechanical restraints of taping. Joint coupling in CAI patients was not optimized by taping.

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Injury-Related Fear in Individuals With and Without Chronic Ankle Instability: A Systematic Review

Journal of Sport Rehabilitation ◽

10.1123/jsr.2021-0015 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Ashley M.B. Suttmiller ◽

Ryan S. McCann

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Ankle Sprain ◽

Methodological Quality ◽

Ankle Instability ◽

Evidence Synthesis ◽

Chronic Ankle Instability ◽

Fear Avoidance ◽

Physically Active ◽

Fear Avoidance Beliefs ◽

Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire

Context: Injury-related fear has recently been recognized to exist in ankle sprain populations. It is unclear, however, if injury-related fear levels differ between those who develop chronic ankle instability (CAI) and those who do not and the best tools for assessing these differences. Objective: The purpose of this study was to conduct a comprehensive systematic review investigating differences in injury-related fear between individuals with and without CAI. Evidence Acquisition: Relevant studies from CINAHL Plus with full text, PubMed, and SPORTDiscus through November 2020 were included. All studies used the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, or Athlete Fear Avoidance Questionnaire as either a descriptor or a main outcome and provided comparison data between a CAI group and ankle sprain copers (COP) or controls (CON). The authors independently assessed methodological quality using the modified Downs and Black Quality Index. Studies were then grouped by between-group comparisons including CAI and CON, CAI and COP, and COP and CON. The authors calculated Hedge g effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals to examine group differences. Evidence Synthesis: A total of 11 studies were included in this review. In total, 8 studies provided data for the CAI and CON comparison, 7 for CAI and COP comparisons, and 4 for COP and CON comparisons. Methodological quality scores ranged from 60.0% to 86.7%, with 2 high-, and 9 moderate-quality studies. Overall, the evidence suggests that physically active individuals with CAI report higher levels of injury-related fear when compared with both COP and CON. Although limited, ankle sprain COP do not seem to differ from CON. Conclusion: Available evidence emphasizes the importance of injury-related fear in individuals who develop chronicity after ankle sprain injury. The Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire and Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia are useful for the identification of injury-related fear in individuals after sustaining an ankle sprain and should be used to inform rehabilitation strategies and to monitor efficacy in fear reduction.

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Comparison of the effect of foot orthoses on Star Excursion Balance Test performance in patients with chronic ankle instability

Prosthetics and Orthotics International ◽

10.1177/0309364618792718 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

pp. 6-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Faezeh Abbasi ◽

Mahmood bahramizadeh ◽

Mohammad Hadadi

Keyword(s):

Ankle Sprain ◽

Ankle Instability ◽

Dynamic Balance ◽

Chronic Ankle Instability ◽

Textured Surface ◽

Foot Orthoses ◽

Textured Surfaces ◽

Balance Test ◽

Star Excursion Balance Test ◽

Foot Orthosis

Background: Chronic ankle instability as a prevalent consequence of ankle sprain causes various impairments such as balance and postural control deficits. Foot orthoses are one of the common interventions for rehabilitation of patients with chronic ankle instability. Objectives: To investigate the effect of custom-molded foot orthoses with textured surfaces on dynamic balance of chronic ankle instability patients and to compare their effects with other types of foot orthoses. Study design: This is a repeated measure design. Methods: A total of 30 participants were recruited based on the guideline introduced by the International Ankle Consortium. The effect of prefabricated, custom-molded, and custom-molded with textured surface foot orthoses was evaluated on dynamic balance by the Star Excursion Balance Test. Normalized reach distances in anteromedial, medial, and posteromedial directions of the test were computed to be used for statistical analysis. Results: The foot orthoses increased reach distances compared to the no-orthosis conditions in all three directions. The custom-molded with textured surface foot orthosis has significant differences compared with prefabricated foot orthosis ( p = 0.001) in all measured directions and with custom-molded foot orthosis ( p < 0.01) in medial and posteromedial directions. Conclusion: Foot orthoses improve reach distances in patients with chronic ankle instability. Custom-molded with textured surface foot orthosis has a more pronounced effect compared with other foot orthoses. Clinical relevance The custom-molded foot orthosis with textured surface could be an effective device to improve dynamic balance in chronic ankle instability (CAI) patients. It may be considered as an efficient intervention to reduce ankle sprain recurrence in these individuals, although further research should be conducted.

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Effects of Textured Balance Board Training in Adolescent Ballet Dancers With Ankle Pathology

Journal of Sport Rehabilitation ◽

10.1123/jsr.2018-0052 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 28 (6) ◽

pp. 584-592 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nili Steinberg ◽

Roger Adams ◽

Oren Tirosh ◽

Janet Karin ◽

Gordon Waddington

Keyword(s):

Ankle Sprain ◽

Ankle Instability ◽

Chronic Ankle Instability ◽

Textured Surface ◽

Ballet Dancers ◽

Discrimination Ability ◽

Board Training ◽

Ankle Proprioception ◽

Balance Board ◽

Group 1

Context:Ankle sprains are common among adolescent ballet dancers and may be attributed to inadequate ankle proprioception. Thus, a short period of training utilizing proprioceptive activities requires evaluation.Objective:To assess training conducted for 3 or 6 weeks on a textured-surface balance board using ankle proprioception scores for ballet dancers with and without chronic ankle instability, and with and without previous ankle sprain (PAS).Design:Intervention study.Setting:The Australian Ballet School.Participants:Forty-two ballet dancers, aged 14–18 years.Interventions:Dancers randomized into 2 groups: group 1 undertook 1 minute of balance board training daily for 3 weeks; group 2 undertook the same training for 6 weeks.Main Outcome Measures:Preintervention, Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool questionnaire data were collected, and PAS during the last 2 years was reported. Active ankle inversion movement discrimination ability was tested immediately pre and post intervention and at 3 and 4 weeks.Results:Ankle discrimination acuity scores improved over time for both groups, with a performance decline associated with the early cessation of training for group 1 (P = .04). While dancers with PAS had significantly worse scores at the first test, before balance board training began (P < .01), no significant differences in scores at any test occasion were found between dancers with and without chronic ankle instability. A significantly faster rate of improvement in ankle discrimination ability score over the 4 test occasions was found for dancers with PAS (P = .002).Conclusions:Three weeks of textured balance board training improved the ankle discrimination ability of ballet dancers regardless of their reported level of chronic ankle instability and at a faster rate for dancers with PAS. Previous ankle sprain was associated with a lower level of ankle discrimination ability; however, following 3 weeks of balance board training, previously injured dancers had significantly improved their ankle discrimination acuity scores.

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