Article

Research indicates that balance is impaired in the involved limb following an
ankle injury. However, bilateral balance impairments are a viable reason for
previous non-significant findings between involved and uninvolved limbs. The
purpose of this investigation was to conduct a meta-analysis on studies reporting
the effects of lateral ankle trauma on balance of the involved and uninvolved
limb after acute ankle injury and chronic ankle instability.
Twelve studies
qualified for inclusion and assessed static balance for both the involved and
uninvolved limbs post-injury and a control group. Meta-analyses calculated
standardized mean difference effects and explored moderating variables for the
involved and uninvolved limbs relative to controls. A significant cumulative
effect size (ES=0.448, p<0.00001) indicated that balance of the involved limb is
impaired after a history of ankle injury. Moderator variable analysis revealed
that both acute (ES=0.529, p<0.0002) and chronic (ES=0.338, p<0.001) lateral
ankle trauma negatively affected balance. Analysis of the uninvolved limb also
revealed postural stability impairments (ES=0.275, p<0.003). Additional,
moderator analysis showed a significant acute effect (ES=0.564, p<0.0001), but
failed to find significance for individuals with chronic ankle instability
(ES=0.070, p=0.552). These findings provide strong evidence that balance is
bilaterally impaired after an acute lateral ankle sprain. However, these findings
suggest that bilateral balance deficits are not present in patients with chronic
ankle instability. Based on these findings, the uninvolved limb should not be
used as a reference for "normal balance" following an acute lateral ankle sprain.
Further, patients with acute lateral ankle sprains should undergo balance
training on both limbs.
CI - Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS