title: Posturographic evaluation of the proprioceptive effect of ankle orthoses in healthy volunteers.
abstract: This study analyses the proprioceptive effect of wearing a unilateral and then bilateral ankle orthosis on 34 healthy volunteer subjects by posturography. An elastic orthosis with a ligamentous support band was used, and evaluation was performed by a posturographic statokinesimetric platform. Three tests, one without an orthosis, one with one orthosis, and one with two orthoses, were recorded for each volunteer. The results and statistical analyses demonstrated a significant difference in the antero-posterior measurement between the test without ankle orthosis and the tests with one and with two orthoses. This study provides information about the prophylactic effect of wearing a flexible support; it appears that there are important inter-individual variations in postural equilibrium, and the wearing of prophylactic ankle orthoses should be reserved for subjects after a posturographic examination.
authors.affiliation: Service de Rééducation, G.I.P. Exercice-Université Jean Monnet, Hopital Bellevue-C.H.R.U. de Saint-Etienne, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calmels
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Escafit
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Domenach
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Minaire
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000842:Ankle / Q000502:physiology*; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009989:Orthotic Devices / Q000592:standards*; D011187:Posture; D011434:Proprioception; D012727:Sex Characteristics