Functional ankle instability (FAI) has been associated with impaired sensorimotor
function; however individual studies have produced conflicting results. In an attempt
to reduce this ambiguity, a systematic review with meta-analysis was undertaken to
determine which sensorimotor deficits exist with FAI. Fifty-three studies assessing
sensorimotor factors in subjects with FAI were included from 465 identified articles.
Studies were rated for methodological quality and data were pooled for peroneal reaction
time, joint position sense, and postural sway during single-leg stance and time to
stabilisation from a single-leg jump. Data on joint movement sense were unable to
be pooled. When subjects with unstable ankles were compared to healthy controls, sensorimotor
impairments were demonstrated for passive joint position sense (mean difference (MD)=0.7
degrees , 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.2-1.2 degrees , p=0.004), active joint position
sense (MD=0.6 degrees , 95% CI: 0.2-1.0 degrees , p=0.002), postural sway in single-leg
stance (standardised MD (SMD)=0.6, 95% CI: 0.2-1.0, p=0.002), the star excursion balance
test (SMD=0.4, 95% CI: 0.1-0.7, p=0.009), and time to stabilisation from a single-leg
jump in a medio-lateral (MD=0.6 ms, 95% CI: 0.4-0.8, p<0.0001) and an antero-posterior
direction (MD=0.7 ms, 95% CI: 0.4-1.0, p<0.0001). Peroneal reaction time was not affected.
Sensorimotor deficits occur for joint position sense and postural control in subjects
with FAI. Deficits in peroneal muscle reaction time following perturbation are not
evident.
Copyright (c) 2009 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights
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