Effects of 6 Weeks of Balance Training on Chronic Ankle Instability in Athletes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The objective of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of a 6-week balance training program on patients with Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI) in relation to the results obtained in Dynamic Balance, subjective feeling of instability and pain using a single-blind randomized controlled trial. 70 athletes were randomly assigned to control or intervention group. The control group performed their usual training, and the intervention group was administered the same usual activity in addition to a balance program. The paired t-test was performed to evaluate the change scores in each group. The t-test for independent samples was performed to evaluate between-group differences in change scores. Significance level was assigned for p-values less than 0.05 for all analyses. There were significant differences between groups in change scores in CAIT and all of the SEBTs reach distances (p<0.001) but not in Pain (p=0.586). The effect sizes were larger for the outcomes measures that showed significant differences. In the within-group change, the experimental groups showed larger effect sizes in CAIT, SEBT posteromedial and SEBT posterolateral, and moderate effect sizes in SEBT anterior. Exercise therapy training based on multi-station balance tasks led to significant improvements in dynamic balance and self-reported sensation of instability in patients with CAI.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Spanish version of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT): an instrument to assess unilateral chronic ankle instability

The Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) is a valid instrument to determine the presence of chronic ankle instability (CAI) and to assess its severity. Self-report test is very useful for researchers and clinical practice, and CAI is a widespread tool. Nevertheless, there is lack of measurement instruments validated into Spanish, which represents a major difficulty for research dealing with a Spanish-speaking population. The questionnaire was cross-culturally adapted into Spanish. The psychometric properties tested in the Spanish version of the CAIT were measured for internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity, criterion validity, and responsiveness in 108 participants who were recruited from several fitness centers. The Spanish version of the CAIT had high internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.766) and reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.979, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 0.958-0.990). Correlation with the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) physical component summary score (rho = 0.241, p = 0.012) was greater than the SF-36 mental component summary score (rho = -0.162, p = 0.094). The construct validity shows three different factors in the questionnaire and good responsiveness with a mean change of -2.43 (95 % CI = -3.12 to 1.73, p < 0.0001) and a size effect of Cohen's d = 1.07. The Spanish version of the CAIT has been shown to be a valid and reliable instrument for measuring chronic ankle instability and constitutes a useful instrument for the measurement of CAI in the clinical setting in Spain.