Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship among joint position sense (JPS), force sense (FS), and balance for athletes with suffering recurrent lateral ankle sprain. Methods: Nine healthy athletes and 13 athletes with recurrent lateral ankle sprain were participated in this study. Three variables of outcome measures were assessed, included angle and force reproduction for JPS and FS measurement and single-leg standing balance with eyeclose, respectively. The angle reproduction measures of plantar flexion and inversion were assessed by self-made ankle goniometry equipment. The force reproduction of 50% maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) was assessed in plantar flexor and evertor by micro FET 2 muscle tester. The body sway area and path length of body sway of center of foot pressure (COP) was measured by force platform in single-leg standing position. Independence T-test was used to analyze the difference of JPS and FS between healthy athletes and athletes with suffering recurrent lateral ankle sprain. Then, the Pearson product-moment correlation was used to analyze the relationship among three variables. Results: The result revealed significantly more angle reproduce error shown in plantar flexion for sprained athletes than healthy athletes; however, no significant difference was found in inversion angle reproduce. Force sense errors measured of plantar flexor and evertor had significantly decreased the accuracy in sprained athletes with compare to healthy athletes (p<.05). It also showed decreased the balance ability in sprained athletes than healthy athletes. Besides, it was no obvious relationship between JPS and balance; however, FS of plantar flexor and evertor had revealed moderate correlation (r=0.486~0.507). Conclusion: The recurrent ankle sprained athletes had less accuracy in force control than healthy athletes. It also may influence to balance control. We suggested that the clinicians could strength the force control in ankle proprioceptive training for athletes with suffering recurrent sprained ankles, especially in plantar flexor and evertor.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship among joint position sense (JPS), force sense (FS), and balance for athletes with suffering recurrent lateral ankle sprain. Methods: Nine healthy athletes and 13 athletes with recurrent lateral ankle sprain were participated in this study. Three variables of outcome measures were assessed, included angle and force reproduction for JPS and FS measurement and single-leg standing balance with eyeclose, respectively. The angle reproduction measures of plantar flexion and inversion were assessed by self-made ankle goniometry equipment. The force reproduction of 50% maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) was assessed in plantar flexor and evertor by micro FET 2 muscle tester. The body sway area and path length of body sway of center of foot pressure (COP) was measured by force platform in single-leg standing position. Independence T-test was used to analyze the difference of JPS and FS between healthy athletes and athletes with suffering recurrent lateral ankle sprain. Then, the Pearson product-moment correlation was used to analyze the relationship among three variables. Results: The result revealed significantly more angle reproduce error shown in plantar flexion for sprained athletes than healthy athletes; however, no significant difference was found in inversion angle reproduce. Force sense errors measured of plantar flexor and evertor had significantly decreased the accuracy in sprained athletes with compare to healthy athletes (p<.05). It also showed decreased the balance ability in sprained athletes than healthy athletes. Besides, it was no obvious relationship between JPS and balance; however, FS of plantar flexor and evertor had revealed moderate correlation (r=0.486~0.507). Conclusion: The recurrent ankle sprained athletes had less accuracy in force control than healthy athletes. It also may influence to balance control. We suggested that the clinicians could strength the force control in ankle proprioceptive training for athletes with suffering recurrent sprained ankles, especially in plantar flexor and evertor.