title: Effects of a 4-Week Biomechanical Ankle Platform System Protocol on Balance in High School Athletes With Chronic Ankle Instability.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic ankle instability (CAI) describes the residual symptoms present after repetitive ankle sprains. Current rehabilitation programs in the high school population focus on a multistation approach or general lower-extremity injury-prevention program. Specific rehabilitation techniques for CAI have not been established.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effectiveness of a 4-wk biomechanical ankle platform system (BAPS) board protocol on the balance of high school athletes with CAI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized control trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Athletic training facility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two high school athletes with "giving way" and a history of ankle sprains (ie, CAI) were randomized into a rehabilitation (REH) (166.23 ± 0.93 cm, 67.0 ± 9.47 kg, 16.45 ± 0.93 y) or control (CON) (173.86 ± 8.88 cm, 84.51 ± 21.28 kg, 16.55 ± 1.29 y) group.
  
  
  METHODS
  After baseline measures, the REH group completed a progressive BAPS rehabilitation program (3 times/wk for 4 wk), whereas the CON group had no intervention. Each session consisted of 5 trials of clockwise/counterclockwise rotations changing direction every 10 s during each 40-s trial. After 4 wk, baseline measurements were repeated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dependent measures included longest time (time-in-balance test), average number of errors (foot lift test), average reach distance (cm) normalized to leg length for each reach direction (Star Excursion Balance Test [SEBT]), and fastest time (side hop test [SHT]).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant group-by-time interactions were found for TIB (F1,20= 9.89, P = .005), FLT (F1,20= 41.18, P < .001), SEBT-anteromedial (F1,20= 5.34, P = .032), SEBT-medial (F1,20= 7.51, P = .013), SEBT-posteromedial (F1,20= 12.84, P = .002), and SHT (F1,20= 7.50, P = .013). Post hoc testing showed that the REH group improved performance on all measures at posttest, whereas the CON group did not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 4-wk BAPS rehabilitation protocol improved balance in high school athletes suffering from CAI. These results can allow clinicians to rehabilitate in a focused manner by using 1 rehabilitation tool that allows benefits to be accomplished in a shorter time.
authors.forename: Mary Spencer
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cain
authors.forename: Stacy Watt
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Garceau
authors.forename: Shelley W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Linens
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D056352:Athletes; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance
keywords: dynamic balance; static balance; wobble board