Current Perception Threshold Testing in Chronic Ankle Instability
Abstract Background: Damage to sensory input is one of the pathologies underlying chronic ankle instability (CAI). Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the sensory function of patients with CAI. This study aims to quantitatively evaluate sensory nerve function in patients with CAI and healthy controls using current perception threshold (CPT) measurements.Methods: Fifty-nine subjects with CAI and 30 healthy control individuals participated in this study. CPT values at the anterior talofibular ligament region were tested on the injured and uninjured sides in CAI patients and on a random side in the healthy control group.Results: There were no significant differences in age, gender, height, weight or BMI between the CAI and healthy control groups. The CPT values did not show significant gender differences. The CPT values were not significantly correlated with age or BMI. Compared to the control group (250 Hz: 24.32±9.28, 5 Hz: 6.87±1.56), the CAI group had significantly higher CPT values on the injured (250 Hz: 42.83±28.49, 5 Hz: 23.43±18.53) and uninjured sides (250 Hz: 38.62±19.98, 5 Hz: 18.84±14.21) under 250 Hz and 5 Hz electrical stimuli (p<0.01). No significant difference was observed under 2000 Hz stimuli. There were correlations among CPT values at different frequencies (p<0.01).Conclusion: This study revealed increased sensory thresholds in injured and uninjured ankles of 250 Hz- and 5 Hz-related sensory nerve fibers among patients with CAI. The bilateral change in sensory threshold may indicate a central sensory modulation process.Level of Evidence: Level III, case-control study.