Advertisement

Reason for benefits of balance training eludes ankle instability investigators

By Jordana Bieze Foster

Eight pathological factors do not explain the self-reported improvements in perceived disability associated with balance training for functional ankle instability (FAI), according to research from the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City.

The investigators assessed eight pathological factors (joint position sense at 15° and 30° of ankle inversion, isometric and isokinetic peroneal muscle strength, and inversion/eversion stiffness and neutral zone) in 24 individuals with unilateral FAI, 12 of whom were randomized to four weeks of balance training. The training was associated with significant improvement on the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) questionnaire, but the eight pathological variables combined explained only 27% of the variance in CAIT score improvement.

“There was a limited role for the factors we tested, so we will need to look at additional outcome measures,” said Tarang Jain, PT, PhD, DPT, a former University of Kansas graduate student who is now an assistant professor of physical therapy and athletic training at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.

Jain presented the findings in February at the APTA Combined Sections Meeting.

Source:

Jain TK, Wauneka CN, Liu W. Contributing factors to balance training in people with functional ankle instability. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2015;45(1):A22.

Advertisement