Single leg balance test to identify risk of ankle sprains

Abstract

Background: Ankle sprains are a common and potentially disabling injury. Successful prediction of susceptibility to ankle sprain injury with a simple test could allow ankle sprain prevention protocols to be initiated and help prevent disability in the athletic population. Objective: To investigate the ability of the single leg balance (SLB) test, carried out at preseason physical examination, to predict an ankle sprain during the autumn sports season. Design: Prospective cohort study Setting: High school varsity athletics and intercollegiate athletics. Main outcome measure: Ankle sprains in athletes with positive SLB tests. Results: The association between a positive SLB test and future ankle sprains was significant. Controlling for confounding variables, the relative risk for an ankle sprain with a positive SLB test was 2.54 (95% confidence interval, 1.02 to 6.03). Athletes with a positive SLB test who did not tape their ankles had an increased likelihood of developing ankle sprains. The relative risk for ankle sprain for a positive SLB test and negative taping was 8.82 (1.07 to 72.70). A history of previous ankle injury was not associated with future ankle sprains in this study. The k value for interrater reliability for the SLB test was 0.898 (p,0.001).Conclusions: An association was demonstrated between a positive SLB test and ankle sprain. In athletes with a positive SLB test, not taping the ankle imposed an increased risk of sprain. The SLB test is a reliable and valid test for predicting ankle sprains.

Management and prevention of acute and chronic lateral ankle instability in athletic patient populations

“…Other studies utilizing clinical assessments of postural stability have reported similar results, which underscores the likelihood of a neuromuscular predisposition for injury in certain athletes [33] . Muscle fatigue and loss of pre-injury strength may exacerbate neuromuscular impairment, resulting in the subsequent development of ankle instability [34] .…”

Relação entre testes funcionais e plataforma de força nas medidas de equilíbrio em atletas

“…Neste sentido, a discussão dos resultados se torna difícil em relação a uma comparação direta com resultados da literatura. Entretanto, Trojian et al 17 20,21 , o que corrobora com os resultados do presente estudo nas correlações com o parâmetro A-COP. Este parâmetro identifica o deslocamento do COP em uma área correspondendo às direções anteroposterior e médio-lateral para manter o centro de massa do corpo dentro da base de sustentação 4 .…”

A narrow bimalleolar width is a risk factor for ankle inversion injury in male military recruits: A prospective study

“…A narrower bimalleolar width is indicative of a smaller support base and reduced single-leg stability, which has been associated with increased ankle inversion injury occurrence (Trojian and McKeag, 2006). Royal Marine recruits regularly carry load during training activities (Beck et al, 1996;Blacker et al, 2008), thereby increasing the height of their centre of gravity, and reducing stability.…”