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Differences of balance control ability of patients with functional and mechanical ankle instability

FENG Xu-hua1,6, ZHENG Jie-jiao2, LI Hong-yun3, HUA Ying-hui3, CAI Ye-hua4, ZHANG Jian3, TIAN Ye5   

  1. 1.School of Kinesiology， Shanghai University of Sport， Shanghai 200438， China; 2.Department of Rehabilitation， Huadong Hospital, Fudan University， Shanghai 200040， China; 3.Department of Sports Medicine， Huashan Hospital, Fudan University， Shanghai 200040， China; 4.Department of Medical Ultrasound， Huadong Hospital, Fudan University， Shanghai 200040， China; 5.China Institute of Sport Science， Beijing 100061， China; 6.Shanghai Research Institute of Sports Science， Shanghai 200030， China
  • Online:2014-09-28 Published:2014-09-26
  • Supported by:

    Key Research Field of General Administration of Sport of China, 2012B057; National Natural Science Foundation of China, 81101391

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Abstract:

Objective To observe the balance control ability of patients with mechanical ankle instability (MAI) and functional ankle instability (FAI). Methods Patients with MAI (the MAI group, n=12) and FAI (the FAI group, n=12) and normal controls (the control group, n=12) were selected. Single-limb postural sway tests were performed for all participants with eyes closed and opened. Three tests were performed for each leg and each test lasted for 10 s. Parameters relevant to displacements from the center of pressure (COP) were measured, including mensway Y axis (MSY), mensway X axis (MSX), circumference area (CA), path length (PL), unit time path length (UTPL), and unit area path length (UAPL). Results The difference of age, sex, height, and weight of three groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The MSY, CA, PL, and UTPL values of the MAI group with eyes closed were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The differences of each measurement index of the FAI group and control group were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The differences of MSY and CA of the MAI group and control group with eyes opened were statistically significant (P<0.05). The differences of each measurement index of unstable ankles and stable ankles of the MAI group and FAI group were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion Significant abnormal balance control ability exists in patients with MAI, while no significant abnormal balance control ability exists in patients with FAI.

Key words: chronic ankle instability, mechanical ankle instability, functional ankle instability, balance control