Brain activity during ankle movements in female athletes with chronic ankle instability: A pilot fMRI investigation.

OBJECTIVE

This pilot study aimed to evaluate brain activity in sensorimotor regions during a unilateral ankle movement (dorsiflexion/plantarflexion) task using functional magnetic resonance imaging in female collegiate athletes with and without chronic ankle instability.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study

SETTING

Sports Performance and Research Center

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-two female soccer athletes from a Division III university (chronic ankle instability: n = 11; control: n = 11) MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Brain activity during a unilateral ankle movement functional magnetic resonance imaging task

RESULTS

Neuroimaging analyses revealed significant differences in sensorimotor brain activity, with greater activity in the ipsilateral primary motor cortex in the chronic ankle instability group compared to the control group (p = .039).

CONCLUSIONS

Altered brain activity during unilateral ankle movements in athletes with chronic ankle instability could reflect disruptions in central nervous system processing. These preliminary findings offer a potential mechanistic target for rehabilitation strategies aimed at restoring central nervous system function and improving motor control in athletes with chronic ankle instability.