%0 Journal Article
%T Dynamic balance deficits 6 months following first-time acute lateral ankle sprain: a laboratory analysis
%J Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy
%D 2015
%A Doherty, Cailbhe
%A Bleakley, Chris
%A Hertel, Jay
%A Caulfield, Brian
%A Ryan, John
%A Delahunt, Eamonn
%V 45
%N 8
%P 626-633
%X Study Design Controlled laboratory study. <br><br>OBJECTIVE To utilize kinematic and stabilometric measures to compare dynamic balance during performance of the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) between persons 6-months post first-time lateral ankle sprain (LAS) and a non-injured control group. Background Biomechanical evaluation of dynamic balance in persons following first-time LAS during SEBT performance could provide insight into the mechanism(s) by which individuals proceed to recover fully, or develop chronic ankle instability. <br><br>METHODS Sagittal-plane kinematics of the lower extremity and the center of pressure (COP) path during the performance of the anterior (ANT), posterior-lateral (PL) and posterior-medial (PM) reach directions of the SEBT were obtained from 69 participants, 6 months following first-time acute LAS. Data also were obtained from 20 non-injured controls. <br><br>RESULTS The LAS group displayed lower normalized reach distances in all 3 reach directions compared to control participants on their injured and non-injured limbs with the largest observed effect size in the PL direction (p = 0.001, ηp(2) = 0.07). The performance impairment was associated with less hip and knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion at the point of maximum reach (p<0.02) for all 3 reach directions, and coincided with less complexity of the COP path (p<0.05) in the PL direction only. <br><br>CONCLUSION Participants with a 6-month history of LAS exhibit persistence of deficits previously established in the acute phase of injury. Level of Evidence Level 4. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther, Epub 24 Jun 2015. doi:10.2519/jospt.2015.5653.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Orthopaedic Section and Sports Physical Therapy Section of the American Physical Therapy Association
%@ 0190-6011
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2015.5653