Postural control deficits in participants with functional ankle instability as measured by the balance error scoring system.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if postural control deficits are present in participants with functional ankle instability (FAI) as measured by the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS).


METHODS
We used a between-groups design to assess postural control. All testing was conducted in a university athletic training facility.


METHODS
Sixty collegiate Division I athletes were included in this study. Thirty participants had functional ankle instability and thirty participants had no history of ankle injuries.


METHODS
Postural control was measured using the BESS. The BESS test battery requires participants to stand unsupported on two different surfaces (firm and foam) in three different stances (double, single, and in tandem). Each condition lasted 20 seconds. The number of errors were calculated for each individual condition and then summed to produce a total BESS score.


RESULTS
We found a significant group by condition interaction (F5,290 = 5.12, P < 0.001) and significant main effects for group (F1,58 = 16.01, P < 0.001) and condition (F5,290 = 228.88, P < 0.001). Post hoc analyses revealed that subjects with functional ankle instability scored more errors (poorer balance) on the single stancefirm condition (2.9 +/- 2.1 versus 1.6 +/- 1.3 errors), tandem stancefoam condition (4.3 +/- 2.4 versus 2.7 +/- 1.6 errors), single stancefoam condition (7.0+/-1.6 versus 5.6 +/- 1.8 errors), and total BESS score (15.7 +/- 6.0 versus 10.7 +/- 3.2).


CONCLUSIONS
Postural control deficits were identified in participants with functional ankle instability using the BESS. These deficits could be a contributing factor to the repeated episodes of instability and giving way that often occurs following an inversion ankle sprain. These results suggest the BESS, traditionally used for monitoring recovery from mild head injury, may also be useful in screening athletes for postural deficits following lower extremity injury.
Docherty
Carrie L
CL
Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47408, USA. cdochert@indiana.edu
Valovich McLeod
Tamara C
TC
Shultz
Sandra J
SJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000503:physiopathology*