title: Eccentric Training Improves Ankle Evertor and Dorsiflexor Strength and Proprioception in Functionally Unstable Ankles.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a combined eccentric-concentric exercise program of the ankle evertors and dorsiflexors on proprioception in functionally unstable ankles.
  
  
  
  Thirteen male recreational athletes with unilateral functional ankle instability were admitted to this study. The unaffected opposite ankles were used as controls. The functionnaly unstable ankle of the subjects performed an isokinetic exercise program of the ankle evertors and dorsiflexors in a combined eccentric-concentric mode for 3 days per week for 6 wks. Before and after the isokinetic exercise program, active and passive joint position sense and kinesthesia and isokinetic strength of the ankle joint were evaluated.
  
  
  
  Active and passive joint position sense error scores for inversion (P < 0.01-0.001) and plantarflexion (P < 0.05-0.001) direction and kinesthesia scores for inversion (P < 0.001) and plantarlexion (P < 0.01) direction showed significant reductions after 6 wks of intervention in the functionnaly unstable ankle. In addition, eccentric peak torques for the ankle evertor and dorsiflexors represented significant (P < 0.001) increases in the functionnaly unstable ankle compared with the control ankle.
  
  
  
  The results of this study suggest that it is possible to improve proprioceptive acuity of the ankle joint after a 6-wk eccentric-concentric isokinetic training program in functionally unstable ankles.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Sports Medicine, Bursa Sevket Yilmaz Education and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey (EH); and Department of Sports Medicine, Medical Faculty of Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey (US, HG, BA).
authors.forename: Erdal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hanci
authors.forename: Ufuk
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sekir
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gur
authors.forename: Bedrettin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Akova
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D056352:Athletes; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D019415:Torque; D055815:Young Adult