title: [Effects of electroacupuncture on the proprioception of athletes with functional ankle instability].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the efficacy differences between electroacupuncture and physiotherapy on the proprioception of athletes with functional ankle instability (FAD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty athletes with FAI were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture group and a physiotherapy group. The electroacupuncture group was treated with electroacupuncture at Jiexi (ST 41), Kunlun (BL 60), Qiuxu (GB 40) and Ashi acupoints, and the physiotherapy group was treated with low frequency electrical stimulation and infrared radiation at medial malleolus and lateral malleolus, thrice each week for consecutive 8 weeks. The Joint Position Sense: Active (JPSA), Joint Position Sense: Passive (JPSP) and Kinaesthesia (KT) were assessed at the ankle by use of Biodex System-III isokinetic dynamometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The JPSA of 11.090 +/- 3.1 degrees and the JPSP of 9.67 degrees +/- 2.8 degrees before the treatment reduced to 9.14 degrees +/- 4.0 degrees and 6.89 degrees +/- 3.3 degrees, respectively, after the treatment in the electroacupuncture group, with significant differences in JPSA and JPSP (both P < 0.05), compared with those in the physiotherary group, there were significant differences (both P < 0.05) and with no significant difference in KT (P > 0.05). There was no significant differences in the indices of JPSA, JPSP and KT in the physiotherapy group after 8 weeks than those before treatment (all P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electroacupuncture can effectively improve the proprioception of athletes with FAI and achieves a superior efficacy as compared with the conventional physiotherapy.
authors: Department of Rehabilitation, Shanghai Hospital of TCM Affiliated to Shanghai University of TCM, Shanghai 200071, China. zhuyankm@yahoo.com.cn
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Zhu
authors: Min-lei
authors: ML
authors: Qiu
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Ding
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Qiang
authors: Bei-ying
authors: BY
authors: Qin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D056352:Athletes; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011434:Proprioception; D055815:Young Adult