Balance Training vs. Balance Training w/ STARS

University of North Carolina, Charlotte

Status: Completed

Conditions: Ankle (Ligaments); Instability (Old Injury)

Treatments: Behavioral: STARS; Behavioral: Balance Training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01790581

UNCC12-09-16

Details and patient eligibility

About

Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI) is a health condition that results in repeated ankle sprains and other residual impairments. CAI has been linked to many different causative factors including sensory and motor deficits that affect the global function of the sensorimotor system as well as the patient. Over the past 20 years, strong evidence has been generated to support balance training as an effective intervention strategy in the CAI population. Unfortunately, most investigations have focused solely on maximizing motor output through balance training, while ignoring the full spectrum of sensorimotor dysfunction associated with CAI. There may be advantageous sensory-targeted interventions that augment the effects of balance training and lead to greater enhancements of functional outcomes for CAI. However, this possibility has not been systematically explored. Sensory-targeted ankle rehabilitation strategies (STARS), such as joint mobilization and plantar massage have resulted in improved sensorimotor function in those with CAI. However, only a single STARS (i.e. stochastic resonance) has been investigated in combination with balance training. While the combined effects were greater than those of balance training alone, stochastic resonance requires relatively expensive equipment that is not commercially available. Thus, the purpose of this investigation is to test the hypothesis that combining low cost STARS (e.g. plantar massage and joint mobilizations) with balance training will result in greater sensorimotor and functional improvements in those with CAI than balance training alone.

Enrollment: 24 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 35 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Males and females between the ages of 18 and 35.
• A history of at least one episode of "giving way" within the past 3 months.
• Answering 4 or more questions of "Yes" on the Ankle Instability Instrument (AII).
• Score of <90% on the self-reported Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM).
• Score of <80% on the FAAM Sport.

Exclusion criteria

• Failing to meet the inclusion criteria.
• Known balance and vision problems.
• Acute lower extremities and head injuries that occurred <6 weeks ago.
• Chronic musculoskeletal conditions known to affect balance.
• A history of ankle surgeries to fix internal derangements.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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24 participants in 2 patient groups

Balance Training

Active Comparator group

Treatment:

Behavioral: Balance Training

Balance Training w/ STARS

Experimental group

Treatment:

Behavioral: STARS

Behavioral: Balance Training