title: Vibration training improves balance in unstable ankles.
abstract: Functional ankle instability (FAI) is a common condition following ankle injury characterised by increased risk of injury. Ankle sprains are a common acute form of injury suffered in dancing and loss of balance can affect not only risk of injury risk but also performance aesthetics. Whole body vibration training (WBVT) is a new rehabilitation method that has been linked with improving balance and muscle function. 38 female dancers with self reported unilateral FAI were randomly assigned in 2 groups: WBVT and control. Absolute centre of mass (COM) distribution during single leg stance, SEBT normalised research distances and Peroneus longus mean power frequency (f(med)) where measured pre and post 6-week intervention. There was a significant improvement in COM distribution over the 6 weeks from 1.05 ± 0.57 to 0.33 ± 0.42 cm² (P<0.05), and 4 of the 8 planes of direction in the SEBT Ant, Antlat, Med and Antmed from 77.5 ± 7.1 to 84.1 ± 5.8% (P<0.05) compared to control groups during the course of the 6 week training intervention. There was no evidence of improvement in peroneus longus (f(med)) over time (P=0.915) in either group. WBVT improved static balance and SEBT scores amongst dancers exhibiting ankle instability but did not affect peroneus longus muscle fatigue.
authors.affiliation: The University of Wolverhampton, School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure, Walsall, United Kingdom. r.cloak@wlv.ac.uk
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cloak
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Nevill
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wyon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000473:pathology; D003615:Dancing; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000628:therapy*; D018763:Muscle Fatigue; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D014732:Vibration; D055815:Young Adult