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Document Type

Abstract

Publication Date

12-1-2024

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Dynamic stability deficit is one of the strongest risk factors for ankle sprains. Proprioception and strength are crucial for maintaining dynamic stability and preventing sprains during sports and daily activities. The mechanisms by which humans maintain anteroposterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) stability are different. The correlations of AP and ML dynamic stability with its two factors, namely, proprioception and strength, may explain the recurrent sprains among individuals with functional ankle instability (FAI). The purpose of this project was to investigate the correlations of AP and ML dynamic stability with proprioception and strength within the two populations.

Method: This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 80 participants were recruited into FAI (n = 40) or non-FAI (n = 40) groups. Dynamic stability was represented by time to stability (TTS) in the AP and ML directions and was measured by a force plate (AMTI, Inc., Watertown, MA, USA). Ankle muscle strength was tested by a strength testing system (D. & R. Ferstl GmbH, Hemau, Germany). Ankle proprioception was assessed by a proprioception test device (Proprioception device, Sunny, China). Pearson or Spearman correlations were used to determine the correlations of proprioception and strength to dynamic stability within the two groups.

Results: Individuals with FAI (ankle plantarflexion, r = -0.409, p = 0.009) and those without FAI (ankle plantarflexion, r = -0.348, p = 0.028; ankle dorsiflexion, r = -0.473, p = 0.002) both demonstrated correlations of strength to TTSAP; Individuals without FAI demonstrated correlations of proprioception (ankle inversion, r = 0.327, p = 0.040; ankle eversion, r = 0.354, p = 0.025) and strength (ankle eversion, r = -0.479, p = 0.002) to TTSML, whereas those with FAI did not.

Conclusion/Discussion: The ankle dorsiflexors and plantar flexors could control backward and forward movements of the body to prevent the center of mass from moving out of the posterior and anterior edges of the support base, helping to maintain and restore AP dynamic stability during movements. The disappearance of the relationship among individuals with FAI infers that proprioception and strength deteriorated to a point where they could not provide meaningful functional assistance to the ML dynamic stability. Since most ankle sprains occur in the ML plane (mostly during ankle inversion), this might reasonably explain the increased risk of ankle sprains among individuals with FAI. In conclusion, strength was correlated to AP dynamic stability among individuals with and without FAI; Proprioception and strength were correlated to ML dynamic stability among individuals without FAI, but not among those with FAI.

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