Functional ankle instability

NewsBot · Sep 24, 2025

The Immediate Effect of Kinesiotaping on Lower Limb Movement Patterns
in Soccer Athletes with Chronic Ankle Instability: A Quasi-Experimental
Study
Harem Abdalqadir Mohammed
Journal of Sport Biomechanics.2026;11(4):378-390. https://doi.org/10.61882/JSportBiomech.11.4.378

Objective In soccer players with chronic ankle instability, lower limb movement
patterns are altered, which may increase the risk of injuries, particularly ankle sprains.
The present study aimed to evaluate the immediate effect of kinesiotaping on
functional movement patterns of the lower limb in soccer players with chronic ankle
instability.
Methods Thirty male soccer players with chronic ankle instability participated in this
study. Functional movement patterns of the lower limb—including deep squat, hurdle
step, and in-line lunge—were assessed before and after tape application. Repeated-
measures ANOVA was used to compare the results between the pre- and post-
intervention phases.
Results Statistical analysis revealed significant improvements after kinesiotaping in
the deep squat (P < 0.001, ES = 0.582), hurdle step (P < 0.001, ES = 0.800), and in-
line lunge (P < 0.001, ES = 0.810).
Conclusion The findings indicate that kinesiotaping immediately enhances functional
movement patterns of the lower limb in soccer players with chronic ankle instability.
These improvements are likely mediated by increased proprioception, enhanced joint
stability, and re
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NewsBot · Sep 28, 2025

Comparison of treatment outcomes for patients with chronic lateral ankle instability with subtle cavus foot: Is calcaneal osteotomy an essential procedure?
Shaoling Fu et al
J Orthop Traumatol. 2025 Sep 26;26(1):61.

Background: Chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI), frequently resulting from ankle sprains, is often associated with undiagnosed hindfoot varus deformities, specifically subtle cavus foot (SCF). While ligament reconstruction remains the standard treatment for CLAI with SCF, there is ongoing debate regarding the need for adjunctive calcaneal osteotomy to correct the underlying malalignment. Our study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy and necessity of minimally invasive calcaneal osteotomy combined with arthroscopic modified Broström procedure in patients with CLAI with SCF.

Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis of 102 patients with CLAI and SCF was conducted from November 2016 to November 2022. Patients undergoing arthroscopic modified Broström procedure were assigned to the control group, while those receiving arthroscopic modified Broström procedure with minimally invasive calcaneal osteotomy were placed in the experimental group. General data and complications were documented. Preoperative and postoperative imaging included calcaneal pitch angle, Meary's angle, arch height, and calcaneus valgus angle. Clinical outcomes were measured using the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Score and visual analogue scale (VAS).

Results: A total of 81 patients with 2-year follow-up were included, with 46 in the experimental group and 35 in the control group. Significant differences in imaging indicators were observed in the experimental group at all follow-up points (P < 0.001), while no significant changes were noted in the control group (P > 0.05). Both groups demonstrated improvements in AOFAS and VAS scores (P < 0.001), with differences between 3- and 24-month follow-up (P < 0.001). Significant differences in imaging indicators and AOFAS scores were found between groups at both follow-up intervals (P< 0.01). The complication rate was 6.52% in the experimental group and 11.43% in the control group.

Conclusions: For patients with CLAI with SCF, arthroscopic modified Broström procedure with minimally invasive calcaneal osteotomy is an effective treatment that minimizes bone and soft tissue damage. Our study suggests that it is necessary to correct hindfoot alignment while stabilizing the ankle joint to enhance function and reduce recurrence of chronic ankle instability.
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NewsBot · Sep 29, 2025

Effect of Foot Orthoses on patients with chronic ankle instability: A Systematic Review
ali smaeeli et al
Source

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a disabling condition often encountered after ankle injury. Foot orthoses have been shown to be clinically effective in the prevention and treatment of CAI, yet the physical effect of this intervention remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to systematically review and appraise studies assessing the effects of foot orthoses on patients with CAI. A systematic search of electronic databases including WOS, Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, occurred on 15 April 2023. The keywords of foot orthoses, foot orthotics, ankle brace and ankle instability were used to extract articles. 378 relevant articles were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. After reviewing 122 articles, the number of 34 articles that were close to the research title met the criteria for inclusion in the present study. After re-examining the articles, 12 articles were selected with the aim of investigating the effect of foot orthoses on patients with CAI. Foot orthoses have been shown to have a positive influence on subjects who have recently experienced an ankle sprain and on subjects with chronic ankle instability.
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NewsBot · Oct 4, 2025

Test-retest reliability, sensory weighting and clinical efficacy indicators of sensory organization test in chronic ankle instability
Yijie Li et al
Physical Therapy in SportVolume 75, September 2025, Pages 151-157

Highlights

•
The sensory organization test shows reliable results in postural control assessment.
•
This test can evaluate balance function in chronic ankle instability and healthy individuals.
•
Somatosensory input is the main source of balance control in both participant groups.

Abstract
Objectives
To examined: (1) the reliability, minimum detectable change (MDC) and Minimum clinically important difference (MCID) of sensory organization test (SOT) in chronic ankle instability (CAI) individuals. (2) sensory reweighting system changes in individuals with and without CAI.
Design
cross-sectional study.
Setting
University laboratory.
Participants
80 individuals with CAI and 68 individuals without CAI.
Main outcome measure
We examined the equilibrium scores based on 6 environmental conditions of the SOT and calculated the test-retest reliability, MDC90 and MCID of the SOT in both groups. Additionally, we calculated the sensory weighting ratios among the somatosensory, vestibular, and vision systems based on specific SOT conditions.
Results
We observed the reliability (ICC) of SOT is 0.65–0.80 and 0.61–0.82 in the CAI and control group. The MDC90 of each index of SOT is 4.50–9.29 and 2.78–9.54 in the CAI and control group. The MCID of each index of the SOT is 3.78–7.80 in the CAI group, and 2.34–8.01 in the control group.
Conclusions
The SOT indices demonstrated fair to good reliability. Researchers can use it as a stable balance measurement tool. Although no significant difference in somatosensory weighting was found between the two groups, somatosensory remained the primary source of feedback in postural control.
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NewsBot · Oct 7, 2025

THE EFFECTS OF NEUROCOGNITIVE TRAINING ON PAIN, PROPRIOCEPTION, INJURY ANXIETY, AND FUNCTIONAL AND NEUROCOGNITIVE PERFORMANCE IN ATHLETES WITH CHRONIC ANKLE INSTABILITY- RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL
Ebru TEKIN et al
Physical Therapy in Sport 7 October 2025

Highlights

•
NT reduced instability severity and injury-related anxiety in CAI athletes
•
Proprioception and neurocognitive performance significantly improved after NT
•
NT enhanced reactive balance and reduced lateral hop test time
•
Control group showed limited gains in proprioception and post-training pain
•
NT may support multidimensional rehab by targeting both motor and cognitive skills

ABSTRACT
Objectives
Considering the rapid motor-cognitive changes and increased risk of injury in preadolescent athletes, this study investigated the effects of neurocognitive training (NT) on pain, proprioception, injury-related anxiety, and functional and neurocognitive performance in athletes with chronic ankle instability (CAI).
Design
Randomized controlled trial.
Setting
Sports training facilities in Balıkesir, Türkiye.
Participants
Thirty preadolescent athletes with CAI (mean age 11.10 ± 1.06 years) were randomly assigned to an NT group (n=15) or a control group (n=13).
Main Outcome Measures
The Identification of Functional Ankle Instability (IdFAI), Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT), pain severity, proprioception (dorsiflexion/plantarflexion), injury-related anxiety, Y Balance Test (YBT), Side Hop Test, Reactive Balance Test (RBT), and Upper Extremity Choice Reaction Time Test were evaluated pre- and post-intervention.
Results
The NT group demonstrated significant improvements in IdFAI (p<0.001), CAIT (p=0.004), dorsiflexion (p=0.003) and plantarflexion proprioception (p=0.018), injury-related anxiety (p=0.013), YBT anterior reach (p=0.048), RBT reaction time (p=0.030), and accuracy (p=0.003). The control group showed improvement only in plantarflexion proprioception (p=0.028), with an increase in post-training pain (p=0.030).
Conclusions
NT reduced ankle instability symptoms and injury-related anxiety while improving proprioception and neurocognitive performance. NT may enhance functional adaptation by addressing sport-specific cognitive-motor demands.
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NewsBot · Oct 9, 2025

Additional cartilage treatment for small defects in chronic ankle instability shows no mid-term benefit and delays recovery: a randomized controlled trial
Raúl Figa Barrios et al
J Orthop Traumatol. 2025 Oct 9;26(1):67.

Background: The presence of chondral lesions in patients with chronic ankle instability is common and has been suggested as a possible cause of persistent pain in some cases, even after successful ligament reconstruction. For this reason, some authors have proposed combining ankle stabilization with cartilage microfracture; however, the results reported in literature are contradictory.

Materials and methods: The study was designed as a prospective randomized clinical study with two parallel arms. Patients with an anterior talofibular ligament tear causing pain and instability, associated with a Berndt-Harty stage I-IIb talar osteochondral lesion of < 150 mm2 that had not responded to conservative treatment, were blindly assigned to either isolated ligament reconstruction (REC) or reconstruction plus microfracture (REC + MIC). Evaluators were also blinded.

Results: A total of 71 patients were included in the study, with 36 in the REC group and 35 in the REC + MIC group. The groups were comparable in terms of anthropometry and pathology. The operating time was significantly longer in the REC + MIC group (48.0 ± 4.5 min) compared with the REC group (24.9 ± 3.9 min; p < 0.001). At the end of follow-up, both patient groups showed similar results on the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score (p = 0.755), Self-Reported Foot and Ankle Score (SEFAS) (p = 0.862), Karlsson score (p = 0.993), and visual analog scale (VAS) (p = 0.870). However, the time to recovery differed between the groups, with patients in the REC group recovering faster from before the operation (pre-op) through the third month after the operation (post-op). The difference in recovery at 3 months post-op was statistically significant on the AOFAS (p < 0.001), SEFAS (p < 0.001), and Karlsson (p < 0.001) scores. No statistically significant difference was observed in terms of pain (p = 0.342). The failure rate was also comparable between the groups, with four (11.1%) reoperations in the REC group and five (14.3%) in the REC + MIC group (p = 0.735).

Conclusions: At 2 years post surgery, no differences were observed in function (according to the AOFAS, SEFAS, and Karlsson scores), pain, or complications in patients with ankle instability and associated chondral damage treated with or without microfractures. However, patients who underwent microfractures experienced a significantly slower recovery of function.
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NewsBot · Oct 9, 2025

Association between postural control deficits and alterations in network connectivity in chronic ankle instability ——A case control study
Zheng, Shanshan MSc
American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation ():10.1097/PHM.0000000000002835, September 10, 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000002835

Objectives

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is prevalent among physically active individuals and leads to significant functional limitations, yet the neuroplastic mechanisms underlying this condition remain poorly understood. This study examines alterations in brain network connectivity related to CAI and explores how these changes associate with postural control deficits.
Methods

This cross-sectional study included 29 patients with CAI and 29 controls without ankle sprain history. All participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. The connectivity between the sensorimotor network (SMN) and other brain networks were compared between groups, and their correlations with the postural control outcomes were also explored.
Results

Patients with CAI exhibited significantly higher functional connectivity(FC) between the SMN and the ventral attention network, central executive network (CEN), and default mode network. A significant negative correlation between SMN–CEN FC and postural sway area was observed in CAI patients (r = –0.380, p = 0.042).
Conclusions

These results suggest that large-scale brain network reorganization may occur in CAI, which could be associated with postural control deficits. The identified relationship between FC and center of pressure trajectories offers insights into neurobiological changes.
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NewsBot · Oct 12, 2025

Region-specific textured insoles enhance static stability in young adults with chronic ankle instability
Yunqi Tang et al
J Biomech. 2025 Nov:192:112974.

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) impairs postural control through sensorimotor deficits, yet region-specific plantar stimulation strategies remain underexplored. This randomised crossover trial examined the differential effects of textured insoles targeting specific foot regions on static and dynamic stability in 24 young adults with CAI (age: 22.3 ± 2.5 years; Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool score: 16.0 ± 3.3). Participants completed three functional assessments (static single-leg stance, Y-balance test, and jump-landing task) under four experimental conditions: forefoot-textured, midfoot-textured, rearfoot-textured, and smooth control insoles. Results showed that forefoot-textured insoles significantly improved static postural control, reducing total centre of pressure (COP) sway velocity by 8.9 % (54.2 ± 11.7 vs. 49.4 ± 9.3 mm/s, p = 0.024) and COP ellipse area by 15.6 % (223.6 ± 60.8 vs. 188.8 ± 48.3 mm2, p = 0.012) compared to control. However, no significant improvements were observed in dynamic stability metrics during jump landing (all p > 0.05) or Y-balance test composite scores (p = 0.075). Subjective stability and comfort ratings did not significantly differ across conditions (p > 0.05). These findings indicate an acute, task-dependent effect of plantar stimulation; the apparent forefoot advantage may reflect a general cutaneous facilitation of balance rather than a CAI-specific mechanism. Dynamic tasks may require complementary training or longer exposure, and the clinical significance remains to be established.
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NewsBot · Oct 27, 2025

Dynamic neuromuscular stabilization, balance, and conventional training for chronic ankle instability in amateur athletes: a randomised controlled trial
Sevval Yesilkir & Gizem Ergezen Sahin
BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation volume 17, Article number: 286 (2025)

Objectives
The aim of this study was to compare the effects of three distinct rehabilitation approaches, namely Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) training, balance training and conventional physiotherapy, on neuromuscular control and functional performance in amateur athletes with chronic ankle instability (CAI).

Trial design and framework
A single-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial with a superiority framework was conducted.

Methods
Amateur athletes with chronic ankle instability were recruited from sports clinics in Istanbul. A total of 40 participants (18 males, 22 females) from football, gymnastics, rowing, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, and swimming were randomly assigned (1:1:1) using a computer-generated permuted block design to DNS training (DNSG) (n = 13), balance training (BTG) (n = 14), or conventional training (CTG) (n = 13). Interventions were delivered three times per week for six weeks. DNS involved breathing-centered stabilization exercises; balance training included structured proprioceptive and vestibular tasks; and conventional training used standard strength and posture control exercises. Outcome assessors were blinded, while participants and therapist were not.

Results
A total of thirty-six participants completed the trial, with the following group distributions: DNSG (n = 12), BTG (n = 13), and CTG (n = 11). Both DNSG and BTG showed significantly greater improvements than the CTG across all outcome measures (p < 0.001), with large effect sizes (FAAM-ADL η²=0.97; YBT-A η²=0.92; SHT η²=0.95). DNS was significant in postural control (p = 0.01), while balance training showed greater improvements in reaction time (RT) (p = 0.02). No significant between-group differences were observed in CAIT scores, though DNSG and BTG demonstrated large within-group improvements. No serious harms or adverse events were reported in any of the groups.

Conclusions
DNS and balance training are more effective than conventional physiotherapy in improving neuromuscular function, postural control, and performance in amateur athletes with CAI. These interventions offer complementary benefits and may be integrated into targeted rehabilitation protocols to optimize outcomes and support return-to-sport strategies.
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NewsBot · Nov 14, 2025 at 11:04 PM

Effects and dosage of exercise therapy on functional outcomes in chronic ankle instability: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Yanhao Liu et al
BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025 Nov 13;17(1):335.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of exercise therapy on patient-oriented function among individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) and analyze the influence of exercise dosage characteristics on these outcomes.

Methods: Literature searches were conducted in multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, EBSCO (MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus), Physiotherapy Evidence Database, CNKI, WANFANG, and VIP, from the earliest available time until May 22, 2025. The Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool was used to assess the risk of bias. Meta-analysis, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias analysis were conducted using RevMan 5.3.0 and Stata 14.0 software. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) approach was applied to evaluate the quality of evidence. Main outcomes were assessed using the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT), Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-Activities of Daily Living (FAAM-A), Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-Sports (FAAM-S), Foot and Ankle Disability Index-Activities of Daily Living (FADI-A), and Foot and Ankle Disability Index-Sports (FADI-S).

Results: Twenty-six randomized controlled trials (1,032 participants) were included. Exercise therapy significantly improved patient-oriented function compared to non-trial intervention control group, as measured by CAIT (14 studies, MD = 4.59, 95% CI: 4.16-5.03, p < 0.001, I²=45.5%), FAAM-A (13 studies, MD = 7.71, 95% CI: 6.36-9.05, p < 0.001, I²=42.5%), FAAM-S (14 studies, MD = 11.86, 95% CI: 7.86-15.85, p < 0.001, I²=83.4%), FADI-A (2 studies, MD = 8.65, 95% CI: 3.11-14.19, p = 0.002, I²=0%), and FADI-S (3 studies, MD = 13.88, 95% CI: 11.97-15.78, p < 0.001, I²=0%). Subgroup analyses suggested that manual therapy, delivered 1-2 times per week for ≤ 4 weeks, yielded the greatest improvements in CAIT, whereas multimodal training, performed 1-2 times weekly over 5-8 weeks, demonstrated superior effects for FAAM-A and FAAM-S.

Conclusions: This meta-analysis provides very low to moderate certainty evidence that exercise therapy improves patient-oriented function among individuals with CAI compared to comparator controls. Manual therapy of shorter duration may optimize CAIT outcomes, while longer multimodal training programs appear most effective for enhancing FAAM-A and FAAM-S scores.
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Functional ankle instability

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Short foot exercise for functional ankle instability

Functional relevance of the small muscles crossing the ankle joint

Comparison of Functional Ankle Motion Measures

Low-Lying FHL Muscle Belly in Functional Hallux Limitus

Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome Caused by Functional Venous Outflow Obstruction

The functional importance of human foot muscles for bipedal locomotion

A narrative review on the tests used in biomechanical functional assessment of the foot and leg

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Functional ankle instability

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Short foot exercise for functional ankle instability

Functional relevance of the small muscles crossing the ankle joint

Comparison of Functional Ankle Motion Measures

Low-Lying FHL Muscle Belly in Functional Hallux Limitus

Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome Caused by Functional Venous Outflow Obstruction

The functional importance of human foot muscles for bipedal locomotion

A narrative review on the tests used in biomechanical functional assessment of the foot and leg

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