Clinical and laboratory measures associated with health-related quality of life in individuals with chronic ankle instability

• Individuals with chronic ankle instability exhibit functional and mechanical impairments.
• Postural control, sensation, and dorsiflexion range of motion explained patient-reported outcome scores.
• Targeting physical impairments known to contribute to the patient's perception of function may improve quality of life.

ObjectiveTo identify clinician and laboratory-oriented measures of function capable of explaining health-related quality of life in individuals with chronic ankle instability.DesignCross-sectional.SettingLaboratory.ParticipantsForty physically active individuals with chronic ankle instability attended a single testing session.Main outcome measuresParticipants completed health-related quality of life, postural control, strength, sensory, and mechanical assessments. Health-related quality of life assessments included the Short Form-12 Physical and Mental Summary Components, Disablement in the Physically Active Scale, Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, and the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure.ResultsA combination of mechanical and functional impairments accounted for 18–35% of the variance associated with health-related quality of life related to physical function and fear. Although physical impairments accounted for 7% of the variance associated with mental health-related quality of life, the overall model was associated with a weak effect size.ConclusionMeasures of postural control, dorsiflexion range of motion, plantar cutaneous sensation, and ankle arthrometry contributed to a significant proportion of the variance associated with health-related quality of life in those with chronic ankle instability. Other variables should be examined to address mental components of health-related quality of life.