Dynamic postural stability in subjects with braced, functionally unstable ankles.
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.
Wikstrom
Erik A
EA
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. ewikstrom@hhp.ufl.edu.
Arrigenna
Mark A
MA
Tillman
Mark D
MD
Borsa
Paul A
PA