A 4-week neuromuscular training program and gait patterns at the ankle joint.

CONTEXT: Previous research into the rehabilitation of ankle sprains has primarily focused on outcome measures that do not replicate functional activities, thus making it difficult to extrapolate the results relative to the weight-bearing conditions under which most ankle sprains occur.

OBJECTIVE

To measure the effects of a training program on gait during walking and running in an active athletic population.

DESIGN

Matched-pairs, controlled trial.

SETTING

University motion analysis laboratory.

PATIENTS OR OTHER

PARTICIPANTS

Ten subjects from an athletic population (7 healthy, 3 with functional ankle instability: age = 25.8 +/- 3.9 years, height = 177.6 +/- 6.1 cm, mass = 66.8 +/- 7.4 kg) and 10 controls matched for age, sex, activity, and ankle instability (7 healthy, 3 with functional ankle instability: age = 27.4 +/- 5.8 years, height = 178.7 +/- 10.8 cm, mass = 71.6 +/- 10.0 kg).

INTERVENTION(S): A 4-week neuromuscular training program undertaken by the treatment group.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): We measured ankle position and velocity in the frontal (x) and sagittal (y) planes in all subjects during treadmill walking and running for the periods 100 milliseconds before heel strike, at heel strike, and 100 milliseconds after heel strike.

RESULTS

A 4-week neuromuscular training program resulted in no significant changes in ankle position or velocity during treadmill walking and running.

CONCLUSIONS

The mechanisms by which neuromuscular training improves function in normal subjects and those with functional ankle instability do not appear to result in measurable changes in gait kinematics. Our findings raise issues regarding methods of ankle sprain rehabilitation and the measurement of their effectiveness in improving functional activities. Further research in a larger population with functional ankle instability is necessary.