title: Laboratory Measures of Postural Control During the Star Excursion Balance Test After Acute First-Time Lateral Ankle Sprain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  No researchers, to our knowledge, have investigated the immediate postinjury-movement strategies associated with acute first-time lateral ankle sprain (LAS) as quantified by center of pressure (COP) and kinematic analyses during performance of the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the kinematic and COP patterns of a group with acute first-time LAS and a noninjured control group during performance of the SEBT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University biomechanics laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 81 participants with acute first-time LAS (53 men, 28 women; age = 23.22 ± 4.93 years, height = 1.73 ± 0.09 m, mass = 75.72 ± 13.86 kg) and 19 noninjured controls (15 men, 4 women; age = 22.53 ± 1.68 years, height = 1.74 ± 0.08 m, mass = 71.55 ± 11.31 kg).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants performed the anterior (ANT), posterolateral (PL), and posteromedial (PM) reach directions of the SEBT.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed 3-dimensional kinematics of the lower extremity joints and associated fractal dimension (FD) of the COP path during performance of the SEBT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The LAS group had decreased normalized reach distances in the ANT, PL, and PM directions when compared with the control group on their injured (ANT: 58.16% ± 6.86% versus 64.86% ± 5.99%; PL: 85.64% ± 10.62% versus 101.14% ± 8.39%; PM: 94.89% ± 9.26% versus 107.29 ± 6.02%) and noninjured (ANT: 60.98% ± 6.74% versus 64.76% ± 5.02%; PL: 88.95% ± 11.45% versus 102.36% ± 8.53%; PM: 97.13% ± 8.76% versus 106.62% ± 5.78%) limbs (P < .01). This observation was associated with altered temporal sagittal-plane kinematic profiles throughout each reach attempt and at the point of maximum reach (P < .05). This result was associated with a reduced FD of the COP path for each reach direction on the injured limb only (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acute first-time LAS was associated with bilateral deficits in postural control, as evidenced by the bilateral reduction in angular displacement of the lower extremity joints and reduced reach distances and FD of the COP path on the injured limb during performance of the SEBT.
authors: School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin, Ireland;
authors: Cailbhe
authors: C
authors: Doherty
authors: Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Institute, Ulster Sports Academy, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, County Antrim, United Kingdom;
authors: Chris M
authors: CM
authors: Bleakley
authors: Department of Kinesiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville;
authors: Jay
authors: J
authors: Hertel
authors: School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin, Ireland;
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: Caulfield
authors: St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland;
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Ryan
authors: School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin, Ireland;|Institute for Sport and Health, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Eamonn
authors: E
authors: Delahunt
mesh_terms: D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ankle joint; biomechanics; kinematics; kinetics; postural balance