A Test Battery for Evaluation of Muscle Strength, Balance and Functional Performance in Subjects With Chronic Ankle Instability

Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to investigate subjects with chronic ankle instability regarding strength, balance and functional performance with an easily used test battery that required minimal equipment. A second aim was to evaluate which of these tests that has the highest ability to discriminate impaired function between injured and non-injured ankle in CAI subjects.Methods: This study was conducted with a cross-sectional design. A total of 20 (11 women) CAI subjects, engaged in sports, were tested for assessment of strength, balance and functional performance using the following tests; isometric strength in inversion and eversion, the single leg stance test (SLS), single leg hop for distance (SLHD) and side hop test. Additionally, 15 healthy subjects were tested with the same test battery for the evaluation of

Inclusion Criteria:Unilateral ankle problemsAged 15-40 yearsMinimum three recurrent sprains in the past yearExclusion Criteria:previous ankle fracture with internal fixation surgerydisease / illness that could have a general effect on the balance or strengthnewly sprained/injured in the current ankle within a period of eight weeks before the test