A 4-week neuromuscular training program and gait patterns at the ankle joint.
BACKGROUND
Previous research into the rehabilitation of ankle sprains has primarily focused on outcome measures that do not replicate functional activities, thus making it difficult to extrapolate the results relative to the weight-bearing conditions under which most ankle sprains occur.


OBJECTIVE
To measure the effects of a training program on gait during walking and running in an active athletic population.


METHODS
Matched-pairs, controlled trial.


METHODS
University motion analysis laboratory.


METHODS
Ten subjects from an athletic population (7 healthy, 3 with functional ankle instability: age = 25.8 +/- 3.9 years, height = 177.6 +/- 6.1 cm, mass = 66.8 +/- 7.4 kg) and 10 controls matched for age, sex, activity, and ankle instability (7 healthy, 3 with functional ankle instability: age = 27.4 +/- 5.8 years, height = 178.7 +/- 10.8 cm, mass = 71.6 +/- 10.0 kg).


METHODS
A 4-week neuromuscular training program undertaken by the treatment group.


METHODS
We measured ankle position and velocity in the frontal (x) and sagittal (y) planes in all subjects during treadmill walking and running for the periods 100 milliseconds before heel strike, at heel strike, and 100 milliseconds after heel strike.


RESULTS
A 4-week neuromuscular training program resulted in no significant changes in ankle position or velocity during treadmill walking and running.


CONCLUSIONS
The mechanisms by which neuromuscular training improves function in normal subjects and those with functional ankle instability do not appear to result in measurable changes in gait kinematics. Our findings raise issues regarding methods of ankle sprain rehabilitation and the measurement of their effectiveness in improving functional activities. Further research in a larger population with functional ankle instability is necessary.
Coughlan
Garrett
G
University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. gar@sportsmanagementireland.com
Caulfield
Brian
B
D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D011336:Probability; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome