Effects of Balance Training Combined with Plyometric Exercises on Proprioception,Posture Control, and Tendon Property in Athletes with Functional Ankle Instability

• Main Authors: Pi-YinHuang, 黃璧瑩
• Other Authors: Cheng-Heng Lin
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/84263460208593246169

碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 物理治療研究所 === 98 === Background: Ankle sprains are the most prevalent musculoskeletal injuries that occur in athletes, and the ankle instability is a rather common consequence. Hypothesis: An isolated plyometric training and a balance combined with plyometric program can positively improve the proprioception, postural control ability, and tendon property in athletes with ankle instability. Study Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial Methods: Thirty collegiate recreational athletes with bilateral or unilateral functional ankle instability were randomly assigned to a plyometric group (P group, 8M2F, n=13) or to a balance combined with plyometric group (BP group, 8M2F, n=13) or to a control group (C group, 7M3F, n=12). The outcome measures were the lower limb joint angle, ground reaction force (GRF), loading rate, time to stabilize (TTS), adjusting time and integral electromyography (IEMG) of neronmuscular signal during drop landing, postural sway during one-leg balance, and mechanical property of Achilles tendon. Results: Isolated plyometric training and balance combined with plyometric training improved the plantar flexion of joint position sense [F=12.595, p=.001], reduced the standard deviation of center of pressure (COP) sway in the medial-lateral (ML) direction [F=8.222, p=.001], increased tendon stiffness [F=7.535, p=.002]. During medial and lateral drop landing tasks, both trainings increased maximum angles of sagittal plane and decreased maximum angle of frontal and transverse plane of lower extremity, and reduced TTS of knee flexion, increased the activations of the ankle plantar flexors and knee extensors in the pre-landing and post-landing, and increased the co-contraction level of dorsiflexors and plantar flexors. Additionally, balance combined with plyometric training improved the inversion of joint position sense [F=3.370, p=.046], reduced maximum sway range in ML direction[F=6.435, p=.002], reduced the TTS of knee rotation. Isolated plyometric training reduced the COP sway area [F=4.412, p=.015], reduced peak anterior-posterior [F=4.012, p=.021] and vertical ground reaction force (GRF) [F=8.367, p＜.001] and vertical loading rate [F=5.574, p=.005]. Conclusion: Isolated plyometric exercise and balance combined with plyometric program reduced postural sway in one-leg stance without vision, and improved the ability of regain equilibrium after landing from the one leg hopping. The Achilles tendon became stiffer after these training, but did not strongly improve the dynamic joint stiffness during dynamic movements. One important finding in our study is the plyometric training can modify the neuromuscular control strategies and improve static and dynamic postural control. Therefore, plyometric exercise should be integrated into a common rehabilitation program for functional ankle instability.