Balance deficits in recreational athletes with chronic ankle instability.
BACKGROUND
Deficits in static and dynamic stability during single-leg stance have been noted in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI), but few investigators have tested subjects for subtle deficits in dynamic balance. Subtle deficits in dynamic balance during a double-leg stance may reveal changes in the sensorimotor system because of CAI.


OBJECTIVE
To use a standardized tibial nerve stimulation as a perturbation to test for dynamic balance deficits between a group of recreational athletes with CAI and a group of recreational athletes with stable ankles.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
Laboratory.


METHODS
Twenty recreational athletes with CAI and 20 recreational athletes with stable ankles.


METHODS
Balance deficits were assessed for each subject during static and dynamic trials.


METHODS
Time to stabilization and center-of-pressure excursion path length, velocity, and area from ground reaction forces during double-leg stance were collected through a forceplate. We used an accelerometer to measure tibial acceleration. Data were collected during static stance and during a bilateral perturbation using maximal motor neuron recruitment elicited by electric stimulation of the tibial nerve.


RESULTS
Only time to stabilization in the anterior-posterior direction was significantly different between groups ( P = .04), with the CAI group taking longer to return to a stable range of ground reaction forces. We found no other differences in stability measures between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Dynamic balance in double-leg stance as measured by time to stabilization appears to be affected in individuals with CAI. Deficits in the response to external perturbation may indicate subtle central sensorimotor changes.
Department of Kinesiology, University of Georgia, Ramsey Center, 300 River Road, Athens, GA 30602-6554, USA. browncn@uga.edu
Cathleen N
CN
Brown
Richard
R
Mynark
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance; D011434:Proprioception; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013979:Tibial Nerve