Correlates of Perceived Ankle Instability in Healthy Individuals Aged 8 to 101 Years.
To provide reference data for the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) and to investigate the prevalence and correlates of perceived ankle instability in a large healthy population.



Cross-sectional observational study.



University laboratory.



Self-reported healthy individuals (N=900; age range, 8-101y, stratified by age and sex) from the 1000 Norms Project.



Not applicable.



Participants completed the CAIT (age range, 18-101y) or CAIT-Youth (age range, 8-17y). Sociodemographic factors, anthropometric measures, hypermobility, foot alignment, toes strength, lower limb alignment, and ankle strength and range of motion were analyzed.



Of the 900 individuals aged 8 to 101 years, 203 (23%) had bilateral and 73 (8%) had unilateral perceived ankle instability. The odds of bilateral ankle instability were 2.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7-3.8; P<.001) times higher for female individuals, decreased by 2% (95% CI, 1%-3%; P=.001) for each year of increasing age, increased by 3% (95% CI, 0%-6%; P=.041) for each degree of ankle dorsiflexion tightness, and increased by 4% (95% CI, 2%-6%, P<.001) for each centimeter of increased waist circumference.



Perceived ankle instability was common, with almost a quarter of the sample reporting bilateral instability. Female sex, younger age, increased abdominal adiposity, and decreased ankle dorsiflexion range of motion were independently associated with perceived ankle instability.
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, Australia. Electronic address: jennifer.baldwin@sydney.edu.au.
Jennifer N
JN
Baldwin
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, Australia.
Marnee J
MJ
McKay
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, Australia.
Claire E
CE
Hiller
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, Australia.
Elizabeth J
EJ
Nightingale
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, Australia; Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
Niamh
N
Moloney
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, Australia; Paediatric Gait Analysis Service of New South Wales, The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Randwick and Westmead, Australia.
Joshua
J
Burns
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D064368:Healthy Volunteers / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D015995:Prevalence; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012737:Sex Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult
Ankle; Joint instability; Rehabilitation; Self report