Functional ankle control of rock climbers.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether rock climbing type exercise would be of value in rehabilitating ankle injuries to improve ankle stability and coordination. [figure: see text]


METHODS
A group of 25 rock climbers was compared with a group of 26 soccer players. All were male, uninjured, and exercised three to four times a week. Active ankle stability was evaluated by one leg stand stabilometry (measurement of migration of the centre of gravity) and measurements of maximum strength of ankle isokinetic concentric flexion and extension (Cybex).


RESULTS
The rock climbers showed significantly better results in the stabilometry and greater absolute and relative maximum strength of flexion in the ankle. The soccer players showed greater absolute but not relative strength in extension.


CONCLUSIONS
Rock climbing, because of its slow and controlled near static movements, may be of value in the treatment of functional ankle instability. However, it has still to be confirmed whether it is superior to the usual rehabilitation exercises such as use of the wobble board.
Kantonsspital Liestal, Orthopaedic Department, Rheinstrasse 26, Liestal 4410, Switzerland. ankaluz@active.ch
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Schweizer
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Bircher
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Kaelin
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PE
Ochsner
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009051:Mountaineering / Q000293:injuries*; D012916:Soccer; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*