Positive Health Online

Abstract

WIKSTROM and COLLEAGUES, 1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA; University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA. Electronic address: wikstrom@unc.edu;

2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA using secondary data analysis set out to identify predictors of successfully improving postural control in chronic ankle instability participants.

Background

Sensory Targeted Ankle Rehabilitation Strategies that stimulate sensory receptors improve postural control in chronic ankle instability participants. However, not all participants have equal responses. Therefore, identifying predictors of treatment success is needed to improve clinician efficiency when treating chronic ankle instability. Therefore, the purpose was to identify predictors of successfully improving postural control in chronic ankle instability participants.

Methodology

Design: Secondary data analysis; Fifty-nine participants with self-reported chronic ankle instability participated. The condition was defined as a history of at least two episodes of "giving way" within the past 6 months; and limitations in self-reported function as measured by the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure. Participants were randomized into three treatment groups (plantar massage, ankle joint mobilization, calf stretching) that received 6, 5-min treatment sessions over a 2-week period. The main outcome measure was treatment success, defined as a participant exceeding the minimal detectable change score for a clinician-oriented single limb balance test.

Results

Participants with ≥3 balance test errors had a 73% probability of treatment success following ankle joint mobilizations. Participants with a self-reported function between limb difference <16.07% and who made >2.5 errors had a 99% probability of treatment success following plantar massage. Those who sustained ≥11 ankle sprains had a 94% treatment success probability following calf stretching.

Conclusion

Self-reported functional deficits, worse single limb balance, and number of previous ankle sprains are important characteristics when determining if chronic ankle instability participants will have an increased probability of treatment success. Copyright © 2016 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

References

Wikstrom EA1, McKeon PO2. Predicting balance improvements following STARS treatments in chronic ankle instability participants. J Sci Med Sport. 20(4):356-361. Apr 2017. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2016.09.003. Epub Sep 20 2016.