title: Lower extremity biomechanics in athletes with ankle instability after a 6-week integrated training program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plyometric exercise has been recommended to prevent lower limb injury, but its feasibility in and effects on those with functional ankle instability (FAI) are unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of integrated plyometric and balance training in participants with FAI during a single-legged drop landing and single-legged standing position.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  University motion-analysis laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty athletes with FAI were divided into 3 groups: plyometric group (8 men, 2 women, age = 23.20 ± 2.82 years; 10 unstable ankles), plyometric-balance (integrated)-training group (8 men, 2 women, age = 23.80 ± 4.13 years; 10 unstable ankles), and control group (7 men, 3 women, age = 23.50 ± 3.00 years; 10 unstable ankles).
  
  
  METHODS
  A 6-week plyometric-training program versus a 6-week integrated-training program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postural sway during single-legged standing with eyes open and closed was measured before and after training. Kinematic data were recorded during medial and lateral single-legged drop landings after a 5-second single-legged stance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reduced postural sway in the medial-lateral direction and reduced sway area occurred in the plyometric- and integrated-training groups. Generally, the plyometric training and integrated training increased the maximum angles at the hip and knee in the sagittal plane, reduced the maximum angles at the hip and ankle in the frontal and transverse planes in the lateral drop landing, and reduced the time to stabilization for knee flexion in the medial drop landing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After 6 weeks of plyometric training or integrated training, individuals with FAI used a softer landing strategy during drop landings and decreased their postural sway during the single-legged stance. Plyometric training improved static and dynamic postural control and should be incorporated into rehabilitation programs for those with FAI.
authors.affiliation: National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pi-Yin
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wen-Ling
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Cheng-Feng
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Heng-Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000842:Ankle / Q000502:physiology; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D056352:Athletes; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006615:Hip / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007717:Knee / Q000502:physiology; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D059385:Plyometric Exercise; D011187:Posture; D055815:Young Adult