title: Six-week combined vibration and wobble board training on balance and stability in footballers with functional ankle instability.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effectiveness of a combination of vibration and wobble board training against wobble board training alone in footballers suffering from functional ankle instability (FAI).
  
  
  METHODS
  A 2 × 3 prefactorial-postfactorial design.
  
  
  METHODS
  University research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three male semiprofessional footballers with self-reported unilateral FAI were randomly assigned in 3 groups: vibration and wobble board (mean age 22.2 years), wobble board (mean age 22.7 years), and control (mean age 23.1 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants in each intervention group performed a 6-week progressive rehabilitation program using a wobble board, either with or without the addition of vibration stimulus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Absolute center of mass (COM) distribution during single-leg stance, modified star excursion balance test (SEBT) reach distances, and single-leg triple hop for distance (SLTHD) were measured before and after 6-week intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Combined vibration and wobble board training resulted in reduced COM distribution [P ≤ 0.001, effect size (ES) = 0.66], increased SEBT reach distances (P ≤ 0.01 and P ≤ 0.002, ES = 0.19 and 0.29, respectively), and increased SLTHD (P ≤ 0.001, ES = 0.33) compared with wobble board training alone during the course of the 6-week training intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined vibration and wobble board training improves COM distribution, modified SEBT scores, and SLTHD among footballers suffering FAI compared with wobble board training alone.
authors: Research Center for Sport, Exercise and Performance, University of Wolverhampton, Walsall, United Kingdom. r.cloak@wlv.ac.uk
authors: Ross
authors: R
authors: Cloak
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Nevill
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Day
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Wyon
mesh_terms: D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D014732:Vibration; D055815:Young Adult