No description available.

Functional ankle instability (FAI) is characterized by the recurrent giving way of the ankle and the constant feeling of instability that affects the quality of life of its patients adversely. Kinesiology Tape (KT), differed from the traditional rigid athletic tape, becomes more popular as a new therapeutic tool for injuries management. It is reported to decrease pain, promote blood circulation and natural healing of muscular functioning. However, scientific evidence of KT’s effects on FAI remains very limited. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate if applying KT on the unstable ankle may improve static postural control in individuals with FAI. Twenty young adults with FAI performed a series of static quiet bipedal and unipedal stances on a force platform. Postural control was assessed by four measures derived from the centre of pressure (COP) data: 95% Confidence ellipse of total displacements (area), standard deviation of displacements (SD), mean velocity and mean power frequency (MPF). Measurements were taken at three different times: baseline or no tape, immediately after the application of KT on the unstable ankle, and 24 hours after the taping application with the tape remaining on the ankle. Results revealed only minor changes in mean velocity and MPF in unipedal stances immediately after KT application. However, the overall results indicated statistically insignificant improvements in postural control performance neither immediately after KT application nor after 24 hours. In conclusion, our results suggest that the use of KT did not affect bipedal and unipedal stances of individuals with functional ankle instability.

Context: Abdominal training may decrease the risk of lower extremity injuries through improved balance and postural control. Objective: To determine the effect of an eight-week abdominal-training program on center of pressure, lower extremity joint angles, and abdominal muscle activation during a single-leg drop landing. The effects of abdominal training on abdominal muscle thickness was assessed. Design: A cohort research design. Setting: Research laboratory. Other Participants: Sixty healthy physically active college-aged students participated. They were divided into three groups: Control, Chronic ankle instability (CAI), and Healthy. Nineteen Control (age = 22.0 ± 2.72 yrs, mass = 74.1 ± 13.8 kg, height = 172.6 ± 11.3 cm, BMI = 24.8 ± 3.1 %), 21 CAI (age = 22.1 ± 2.3 yrs, mass = 77.6 ± 14.0 kg, height = 175.4 ± 12.3 cm, BMI = 25.1 ± 2.6 %), and 20 healthy (age = 22.9 ± 3.4 yrs, mass = 70.9 ± 15.6 kg, height = 172.2 ± 8.9 cm, BMI = 23.7 ± 3.3 %). Subjects in the CAI group had a history of CAI and functional ankle instability (FAI). The Ankle Instability Index and the Functional Ankle Ability Measure were used to self-report CAI and FAI respectively. Interventions: The CAI and Healthy groups participated in an eight-week abdominal-training program while the Control group maintained their normal activities of daily living and level of physical activity. Main Outcome Measures: Abdominal muscle thickness was measured biweekly throughout the study. Center of pressure excursion, muscle activation, vertical ground reaction force, and lower extremity joint angles were measured during a single-leg drop landing, pre- and postabdominal training. Results: Muscle thickness at rest increased in the rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles follow training. Eight weeks of abdominal training decreased vertical ground reaction forces and muscle activation down the lower kinetic chain. Center of pressure excursion and velocity were increased following training. Conclusions: Eight-weeks of abdominal training increased abdominal muscle thickness. Training improved neuromuscular efficiency throughout the kinetic chain and may have improved dynamic postural control. Our data also suggest CAI subjects may utilize both feedforward and feedback mechanisms to maintain postural control.

No description available.

Context: It has been suggested that muscle fatigue can lead to injury, however, research investigating this phenomenon in functional ankle instability (FAI) subjects is lacking. Aim: The purpose of this thesis was to research postural sway and muscular latency in FAI subjects and healthy controls, both before and immediately after localised and globalised fatigue protocols. Subjects: All subjects used in this project were males, between the ages of 18 and 25 years, and participated in regular (>2 x week) aerobic exercise. Subjects were categorised into healthy subjects, or subjects with a history of FAI using the FAI questionnaire. Methods: Neuromuscular control was analysed in FAI subjects and healthy controls through measures of muscular latency and postural sway. These measures were repeated both before and immediately after localised and globalised fatigue protocols. Results: The induction of localised and globalised fatigue had no effect on muscle latency in the FAI or healthy subjects. However, postural sway was significantly increased in the FAI subjects, following localised and globalised fatigue, with globalised fatigue also significantly increasing postural sway in the healthy subjects. The globalised football-specific fatigue protocol caused the greatest deficits in the FAI subjects, but also the healthy controls. Conclusions: In terms of muscle latency individuals that participate in sports, as well as sports clinicians and coaches, should not be concerned about the theorised relationship between the onset of fatigue and an increased injury risk at the ankle. However, in terms of postural sway the globalised football-specific fatigue protocol caused the greatest deficits. This highlights that the fatigued individual may be at greater risk of musculoskeletal injury during prolonged exercise that involves multiple joints, such as a football match.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-06T17:06:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jaqueline Lourdes Rios.pdf: 2197397 bytes, checksum: 8b4d25d7991d87105a6adde5cf0b9f2a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-05-24 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Individuals with functional ankle instability (FAI) experience deficits in postural control. Such a postural instability have been demonstrated through increased Center of Pressure displacement or movement velocity when standing in single limb stance. It is unknown, however, the the anticipatory (APA) and compensatory (CPA) postural adjustments in these individuals during postural perturbations that are common during daily living, athletic and therapeutic activities. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to investigate the strategies of postural adjustment in individuals with FAI. The electromyographic (EMG) activity of postural muscles from a group of individuals with FAI and a matching control group were recorded and analyzed during the task of kicking a ball in single limb stance under different conditions of postural instability (even floor, foam and trampoline). The individuals with FAI showed a delay in the latency of the peroneus longus muscle (PL) when compared with the control group. The magnitude of APAs and CPAs were similar between groups, as well as within experimental conditions. However, the background muscle activity of the leg and thigh muscles was different between conditions, especially between even floor and trampoline conditions for both groups. These results suggest that therapeutic activities, functional exercises and balance training should aim in improving the reaction time of the PL muscle. / Indivíduos com instabilidade funcional de tornozelo (IFT) apresentam déficits de equilíbrio. Esses déficits são demonstrados, na maioria dos estudos, através do aumento do deslocamento ou velocidade de movimento do centro de pressão corporal durante apoio unipodal. Entretanto, pouco se conhece sobre os ajustes posturais antecipatórios (APA) e compensatórios (APC) desses indivíduos durante perturbações posturais, que são comuns durante atividades do cotidiano, esportivas ou terapêuticas. O principal objetivo deste estudo foi investigar as estratégias de ajuste postural de indivíduos com IFT. Para tanto, a atividade eletromiográfica (EMG) dos músculos posturais em indivíduos com e sem IFT foram registradas e analisadas durante a tarefa de chutar uma bola em apoio unipodal em diferentes condições de instabilidade postural (superfície plana, espuma e mini trampolim). Os indivíduos com IFT mostraram um atraso na latência do músculo fibular longo (FL) quando comparados ao grupo controle. As magnitudes dos APAs e APCs foram similares entre os grupos, bem como dentre as condições experimentais. No entanto, a atividade EMG basal para os músculos da perna e da coxa diferiram entre as condições, principalmente entre a superfície plana e o mini trampolim, para ambos os grupos. Sendo assim, atividades terapêuticas, exercícios ou treinamentos funcionais e de equilíbrio devem objetivar melhorar o tempo de reação do músculo FL.