Association between Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool score and postural stability in collegiate soccer players with and without functional ankle instability.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) scores and postural stability during a diagonal landing, and to investigate whether postural stability is altered in collegiate soccer players with and without functional ankle instability (FAI).

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Laboratory.

PARTICIPANTS

Ninety-one soccer players were classified into a FAI group (history of at least two ankle sprains and a CAIT-Japanese version score ≤25, n = 28), a copers group (history of one ankle sprain and a CAIT-Japanese version score ≥26, n = 32), or a control group (no history of ankle sprain, n = 31).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Time to anteroposterior stabilisation (TTSAP) and mediolateral stabilisation (TTSML) were measured during the diagonal single-leg landing.

RESULTS

The CAIT scores were correlated with TTSAP (P < 0.05, rs = -0.214) and TTSML (P < 0.01, rs = -0.566). TTSAP was longer in the FAI group than in the control group, and TTSML was longer in the FAI group than in the other groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate the presence of an association between the CAIT-J score and TTSML, as well as postural stability deficits in collegiate soccer players with FAI during diagonal landings.