title: Dynamic postural stability in subjects with braced, functionally unstable ankles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research concerning prophylactic ankle stabilizers (PASs) has focused on healthy subjects, and the results cannot be generalized to the functional ankle instability (FAI) population, a population that has an increased risk of reinjury and is likely to wear PASs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether PASs improve dynamic postural stability in FAI subjects as compared with a control (no-brace) condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  A crossover design was used to determine the effects of PASs on dynamic postural stability and vertical ground reaction forces.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biomechanics laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight subjects with unilateral FAI, 13 men (age = 21.5 +/- 1.2 years, height = 181.5 +/- 10.5 cm, mass = 77.6 +/- 17.2 kg) and 15 women (age = 20.5 +/- 1.1 years, height = 169.4 +/- 8.2 cm, mass = 67.9 +/- 8.8 kg).
  
  
  METHODS
  A jump protocol required subjects to perform a 2-legged jump to a height equivalent to 50% of their maximum vertical leap and land on a single leg.
  
  
  METHODS
  The dynamic postural stability index, the directional components (medial-lateral, anterior-posterior, and vertical), and vertical ground reaction force after a jump landing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control condition, only the vertical component score was reduced (improved) with the application of a soft or semirigid PAS (P < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Soft and semirigid PASs did not improve dynamic postural stability as measured by the Dynamic Postural Stability Index. However, PASs may help with the attenuation of vertical forces.
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. ewikstrom@hhp.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Erik A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Wikstrom
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Arrigenna
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Tillman
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Borsa