Abstract
Purpose: to determine whether subjects with chronic ankle instability (CAI) suffer proprioceptive deficits (joint position sense) in the proximal joint (knee) of the injured ankle.
Methods: Fourteen subjects with unilateral CAI and 14 healthy controls participated in this study. We tested knee joint position sense using an isokinetic dynamometer. Knee joint position testing was carried out at 30°, 45° and 70° knee flexion. The difference between perceived angle and actual angle was recorded as the error.
Results: Mean value of error was statistically significant in subjects with CAI compared with control subjects (30° p< 0.001, 45° p< 0.023 and 70° p< 0.050). Mean error value at 30° was also statistically greater than mean error value at 70° (p< 0.015).
Conclusions: Changes in knee joint position sense in subjects with CAI suggest further emphasis on assessment of the joint proximal to the level of injury and subsequent planning of a rehabilitation program. Further research is required to determine the exact contributions to knee joint proprioception.