Balance- and Strength-Training Protocols to Improve Chronic Ankle Instability Deficits, Part I: Assessing Clinical Outcome Measures

Context:  Functional rehabilitation may improve the deficits associated with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Objective:  To determine if balance- and strength-training protocols improve the balance, strength, and functional performance deficits associated with CAI. Design:  Randomized controlled clinical trial. Setting:  Athletic training research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants:  Participants were 39 volunteers with CAI, which was determined using the Identification of Functional Ankle Instability Questionnaire. They were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: balance-training protocol (7 males, 6 females; age = 23.5 ± 6.5 years, height = 175.0 ± 8.5 cm, mass = 72.8 ± 10.9 kg), strength-training protocol (8 males, 5 females; age = 24.6 ± 7.7 years, height = 173.2 ± 9.0 cm, mass = 76.0 ± 16.2 kg), or control (6 males, 7 females; age = 24.8 ± 9.0 years, height = 175.5 ± 8.4 cm, mass = 79.1 ± 16.8 kg). Intervention(s):  Each group participated in a 20-minute session, 3 times per week, for 6 weeks. ...