Article

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of a four-week balance training programme on
ankle kinematics during walking and jogging in those with chronic ankle
instability. A secondary objective was to evaluate the effect of balance training
on the mechanical properties of the lateral ligaments in those with chronic ankle
instability. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial.
SUBJECTS/PATIENTS: Twenty-nine participants (12 males, 17 females) with
self-reported chronic ankle instability were randomly assigned to a balance
training group or a control group.Intervention: Four weeks of supervised
rehabilitation that emphasized dynamic balance stabilization in single-limb
stance. The control group received no intervention. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Kinematic measures of rearfoot inversion/eversion, shank rotation, and the
coupling relationship between these two segments throughout the gait cycle during
walking and jogging on a treadmill. Instrumented ankle arthrometer measures were
taken to assess anterior drawer and inversion talar tilt laxity and stiffness.
RESULTS: No significant alterations in the inversion/eversion or shank rotation
kinematics were found during walking and jogging after balance training. There
was, however, a significant decrease in the shank/rearfoot coupling variability
during walking as measured by deviation phase after balance training (balance
training posttest: 13.1 degrees +/- 6.2 degrees , balance training pretest: 16.2
degrees +/- 3.3 degrees , P = 0.03), indicating improved shank/rearfoot coupling
stability. The control group did not significantly change. (posttest: 16.30
degrees +/- 4.4 degrees , pretest: 18.6 degrees +/- 7.1 degrees , P40.05) There
were no significant changes in laxity measures for either group. CONCLUSIONS:
Balance training significantly altered the relationship between shank rotation
and rearfoot inversion/eversion in those with chronic ankle instability.

Langue : ANGLAIS