EFFECT OF CHRONIC ANKLE SPRAIN ON PROPRIOCEPTION AND EVERTOR TO INVERTOR STRENGTH RATIOS IN THAI MALE FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Abstract

Ankle sprain is the most common injury in football players, resulting in ankle instability and recurrent ankle sprain which can lead to chronic ankle instability. Risk factors associated with chronic ankle instability are proprioceptive deficit, and weakness of ankle evertor and invertor muscles.

                The purpose of the present study was to examine joint position sense (JPS), threshold for detection of passive motion (TDPM), and evertor and invertor (E/I) strength ratios (concentric and eccentric contraction) in Thai male football players. Fifteen Thai male football players with unilateral ankle sprain were tested JPS (at 15° inversion and maximal inversion minus 5°) TDPM (starting position at 0°, 10°, 20°, 30° inversion and at 0°, 10°, 20° eversion)  and E/I strength ratios (at 60°/s and 120°/s), using an isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex system III).

                Findings showed no statistically significant difference of JPS, TDPM and E/I strength ratios between chronic sprained ankle and non-sprained ankle (p > 0.05). Only passive joint position sense at maximal inversion minus 5° was found to be statistically significantly different between chronic sprained ankle and non-sprained ankle (p = 0.032).

                Although there were no difference of proprioception and evertor to invertor strength ratios between chronic sprained ankle and non-sprained ankle, a treatment and rehabilitation program for chronic ankle sprain is necessary to prevent chronic ankle instability.

(J. Sports Sci. Technol 2011; 11 (2): 199–210)

Key words : Chronic ankle sprain , Proprioception, Muscle strength