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Context: Strength deficits and decreased scores on generic, dimension-specific, and region-specific health-related quality of life (HRQL) PRO measures are commonly documented among individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). However, it is unknown if there is a relationship between hip strength and self-reported patient-reported outcome (PRO) scores. Objective: To compare isometric peak torque for hip-extension (H-EXT) and hip-abduction (H-ABD), as well as PRO scores between CAI, lateral ankle sprain copers (LAS copers), and uninjured controls (UC). The secondary purpose was to examine the relationship between isometric hip peak torque and PROs in participants with CAI. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Laboratory. Participants: Sixty-three individuals, 45 women (23.02 [3.83] y, 165.91 [7.55] cm, 67.28 [11.95] kg) and 18 men (26.28 [5.43] y, 179.28 [9.01] cm, 83.87 [13.26] kg), grouped as uninjured control (n = 26), LAS coper (n = 15), or CAI (n = 22). Main Outcome Measures: The Foot and Ankle Ability Measure was used to assess region-specific HRQL. The Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire was used to assess injury-related fear. The Disablement in Physically Active was used to assess global HRQL. Isometric peak torque was measured with a handheld dynamometer for H-EXT and H-ABD. Results: No group differences were observed for H-ABD (P = .34) or H-EXT (P = .35). The CAI group had significantly worse scores on all PROs compared with LAS coper (P < .001) and HC (P < .001). Moderate-weak correlations were found between H-ABD and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure--activities of daily living (P = .047; ρ = .392) and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-Sport (P = .013; ρ = .482) and H- EXT and Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire-Work (P = .007; ρ = -.517). Conclusions: Individuals with CAI displayed lower HRQL based on worse scores on generic, dimension-specific, and region-specific PROs compared with LAS copers and uninjured controls. There were no significant between-group differences for H-EXT and H-ABD isometric peak torque production, but there was a moderate positive relationship between isometric H-ABD and self-reported ankle disability in individuals with CAI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Static postural control deficits are commonly documented among individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Evidence suggests individuals with CAI who seek medical attention after an ankle sprain report fewer subjective symptoms. It is unknown if seeking medical attention and receiving supervised physical rehabilitation has a similar effect on objective outcomes, such as static postural control. Objective: To compare measures of single-limb postural control and center of pressure (COP) location between participants with CAI who did or did not self-report attending supervised rehabilitation at the time of their first lateral ankle sprain. Design: Retrospective cohort. Setting: Laboratory. Patients (or Other Participants): Twenty-nine participants with CAI who did (n = 14) or did not (n = 15) self-report attending supervised rehabilitation. Intervention(s): Self-reported attendance or not of supervised rehabilitation at the time of initial injury. Main Outcome Measures: Participants performed three 20-second trials of single-limb stance on a force plate with eyes open. Main outcome measures included the COP velocities, time-to-boundary (TTB) absolute minima, mean of TTB minima, and SD of TTB minima in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions. The spatial distribution of the COP data points under the foot was quantified within 4 equally proportional sections labeled anteromedial, anterolateral, posteromedial, and posterolateral. Results: Participants who reported attending supervised rehabilitation after their initial ankle sprain had a lower COP velocity in the anterior–posterior direction (P =.030), and higher TTB anterior–posterior absolute minimum (P =.033) and mean minima (P =.050) compared with those who did not attend supervised rehabilitation. Conclusions: Among individuals with CAI, not attending supervised rehabilitation at the time of initial injury may lead to worse static postural control outcomes. Clinicians should continue advocating for patients recovering from an acute ankle sprain to seek medical attention and provide continued care in the form of physical rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have demonstrated that individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) have diminished dynamic stability. Jerk-based measures have been utilized to examine dynamic balance because of their ability to quantify changes in acceleration and may provide an understanding of the postural corrections that occur during stabilizing following a jumping task. The purpose of this study was to compare acceleration and jerk following a jump stabilization task between individuals with CAI and the uninjured controls. Thirty-nine participants volunteered to participate in this case control study. Participants completed a jump stabilization task requiring them to jump off 2 feet, touch a marker set at 50% of their maximal vertical jump height, land on a single limb, and maintain balance for 3 seconds. Acceleration was calculated as the second derivative, and jerk was calculated as the third derivative of the displacement of the resultant vector position. Participants with CAI had greater acceleration (mean difference = 55.6 cm/s2; 95% confidence interval, 10.3 to 100.90; P =.017) and jerk compared with the uninjured controls (mean difference = 1804.5 cm/s3; 95% confidence interval, 98.7 to 3510.3; P =.039). These results suggest that individuals with CAI made faster and more frequent active postural control corrections to regain balance following a jump compared with the uninjured controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than half of individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) experience lingering pain from a previous injury. However, there is little empirical evidence investigating the role pain has on health-related quality of life (HRQL). The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to compare physical and psychological HRQL between CAI individuals with and without pain. Group comparisons demonstrated that CAI individuals with pain displayed a lower physical and mental HRQL than those without pain. In addition, CAI individuals with pain reported greater injury-related fear. These findings suggest that persistent pain compounds the negative effect that ankle joint instability has on physical and mental HRQL outcomes. Therefore, conservative therapies should consider multimodal approaches rather than focusing on joint stability alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) present with alterations in the compositional structure of their talar articular cartilage. These alterations likely influence how the talar cartilage responds to the loading associated with activities of daily living, such as walking. Ultrasonography has emerged as an alternative imaging modality for assessing the amount of cartilage deformation in response to loading because it is clinically accessible and cost effective for routine measurements. To (1) compare talar-cartilage deformation in response to a standardized exercise protocol between those with and those without CAI and (2) examine the association between spatiotemporal walking gait parameters and cartilage deformation. Case-control study. Research laboratory. A volunteer sample of 24 participants with self-reported CAI (age = 23.2 ± 3.9 years, body mass index [BMI] = 25.1 ± 3.7 kg/m2) and 24 uninjured controls (age = 24.3 ± 2.9 years, BMI = 22.9 ± 2.8 kg/m2). Spatiotemporal walking gait was first assessed from 5 self-selected trials using an electronic walkway with data sampled at 120 Hz. An 8- to 13-MHz linear-array ultrasound transducer placed transversely in line with the medial and lateral malleoli captured 3 images before and after a standardized loading protocol consisting of 30 single- and double-limb squats, 2-minute single-limb balance, and 10 single-legged drops from a 40-cm-height box. After controlling for BMI, we found that the participants with CAI had greater deformation than the uninjured control participants (P =.034). No other between-groups differences were observed (P values >.05). No significant partial correlations were noted between talar-cartilage deformation and spatiotemporal gait parameters when controlling for BMI (P >.05). Individuals with CAI had greater talar-cartilage deformation in response to a standardized exercise protocol than control individuals. The amount of talar-cartilage deformation was not associated with the spatiotemporal walking gait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]