Twelve-week biomechanical ankle platform system training on postural stability and ankle proprioception in subjects with unilateral functional ankle instability

BackgroundFunctional ankle instability is defined as the subjective sensation of giving way or feeling joint instability after repeated episodes of ankle sprain. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 12-week biomechanical ankle platform system training on static postural stability and ankle reposition sense in subjects with unilateral functional ankle instability.MethodsTwelve university students (4 females and 8 males) with unilateral functional ankle instability volunteered as subjects. The active and passive reposition senses were assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer. The mean radius of the center of pressure excursion was recorded during single-leg standing with a force platform. A 12-week training program and a progression test for controlling the platform in certain directions and advancing to next training level was given to each subject. Repeated-measures 2-way analyses of variance were conducted to determine differences in postural stability and ankle proprioception between each limb before and after the training period.FindingsThe mean radius of center of pressure on unilateral standing and the absolute error from pre-selected ankle angle in the functional ankle instability limb were significantly reduced after 12 weeks of training.InterpretationThese improvements in postural stability appear to reflect improved neuromuscular ability along with enhanced functional joint stability, as ankle proprioception also demonstrated the same positive improvements after training.