title: Effects of ankle destabilization devices and rehabilitation on gait biomechanics in chronic ankle instability patients: A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI) have altered gait patterns, which are characterized by increased inversion positioning during gait. Ankle destabilization devices increase peroneus longus muscle activation during gait, which may increase eversion.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether incorporating destabilization devices into a 4-week impairment-based rehabilitation program has beneficial effects on gait biomechanics and surface electromyography (sEMG) compared to impairment-based rehabilitation without destabilization devices in CAI patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six CAI patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients completed baseline gait trials and were randomized into no device or device groups. Groups completed 4-weeks of rehabilitation with or without devices, and then completed post-intervention gait trials. Lower extremity sagittal and frontal plane kinematics and kinetics and sEMG activity were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The device group increased dorsiflexion during mid-late stance and had lower normalized sEMG amplitude for the peroneus longus during early stance and mid-swing after rehabilitation. The no device group had less peroneus brevis sEMG activity during early stance after rehabilitation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incorporating destabilization devices in a 4-week rehabilitation program was an effective method of improving dorsiflexion during the stance phase of gait. However, impairment-based rehabilitation, regardless of instability tool, was not effective at improving frontal plane motion.
authors.affiliation: University of Toledo, Department of Kinesiology, 2801 W. Bancroft St, HH-2505H Mail Stop 119, Toledo, OH 43606, USA. Electronic address: luke.donovan@utoledo.edu.
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Department of Kinesiology, 210 Emmet St. South, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA; University of Virginia, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 545 Ray C Hunt Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. Electronic address: jmh3zf@virginia.edu.
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Department of Kinesiology, 210 Emmet St. South, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA. Electronic address: saf8u@virginia.edu.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saliba
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 545 Ray C Hunt Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. Electronic address: jsp3x@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Department of Kinesiology, 210 Emmet St. South, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA. Electronic address: mf3de@virginia.edu.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Feger
authors.affiliation: Weber State University, Department of Athletic Training and Nutrition, 3848 Harrison Blvd, Ogden, UT 84408, USA. Electronic address: collinherb@weber.edu.
authors.forename: C Collin
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Herb
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Department of Kinesiology, 210 Emmet St. South, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA. Electronic address: jnh7g@virginia.edu.
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hertel
mesh_terms: D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002908:Chronic Disease; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D012775:Shoes; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Neuromuscular control; Self-reported function; Surface electromyography