Chronic ankle instability, cumberland ankle instability tool, cervical proprioception, cervical reposition error, ankle ligaments, cervical active repositioning accuracy

Abstract

Background and Objective: Cervical proprioception has an important role in maintaining normal spinal movement, stability and maintaining the balance of the body as a whole. Lateral ankle sprains are considered one of the most prevalent injuries in sports or in daily lives even. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of chronic ankle instability on cervical active repositioning accuracy. Materials and Methods: Thirty subjects of both sexes (16 females and 14 males) were selected and assigned into 2 groups, Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI) group consisting of 7 females and 8 males and control group (9 females and 6 males). Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) was used to determine the severity of functional ankle instability. Cervical proprioception was evaluated by CROM device in the sagittal, frontal and horizontal planes. Manual testing including talar tilt and anterior drawer tests was used to determine the integrity of ankle ligaments to identify subjects with ankle mechanical instability. Results: There was a significant effect of chronic ankle instability on cervical reposition error in all cervical movements of the three planes; cervical flexion reposition error (p = 0.0001), cervical extension reposition error (p = 0.0001), cervical Rt side bending reposition error (p = 0.0001), cervical Lt side bending reposition error (p = 0.0001), cervical Rt rotation reposition error (p = 0. 0001) and cervical Lt rotation reposition error (p = 0.006). Conclusion: There was a relation between CAI and the increase in cervical reposition error compared with healthy subjects. This effect should be considered in the rehabilitation program of patients with CAI.