Effect of Functional Rehabilitation Exercise on Chronic Ankle Instability in Elite Athletes

Abstract

A functional evaluation (FE) of the effect of a 6-week functional rehabilitation (FR) in elite athletes with chronic ankle instability (CAI) was conducted. Forty-seven athletes (26 male, 21 female) were recruited who trained at Taereung National Training Centre, Seoul in various sport and who had been diagnosed with CAI by means of a medical examination, radiography, ultrasonography, computerised tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. FR consisting of a 4-week neuromuscular training protocol and 6-week dynamic neuromuscular training protocol and was performed 3 to 5 times per week. FE included the Cumberland ankle instability tool (CAIT), stability (static and dynamic), gait (single limb support time; %SLST), isokinetic ankle strength, and kinematic rear foot inversion (RFI) as measured at baseline and at weeks 2, 4, and 6. Descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA was applied to identify differences across measurement times. CAIT score increased significantly (p<0.001). Both overall stability index (static stability) and test completion time (dynamic stability) decreased significantly (p<0.001). Peak torque/body weight (PT/BW) of dorsiflexion and eversion with eccentric contraction at 60°/s, as well as 120°/s increased significantly (p<0.001). The gait analysis (%SLST) increased significantly (p<0.001), while the RFI angle decreased significantly (p<0.001) during fast walking and running. The 6-week FR was effective.

Keywords: Ankle Sprain, Elite Athletes, Chronic Ankle Instability, Functional Rehabilitation, Functional Evaluation