Effects of a Four Week Biomechanical Ankle Platform System Protocol on Balance in High School Athletes with Chronic Ankle Instability.

CONTEXT: Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI) describes the residual symptoms present after repetitive ankle sprains. Current rehabilitation programs in the high school population focus on a multi-station approach or general lower extremity injury prevention program. Specific rehabilitation techniques for CAI have not been established.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of a 4-week Biomechanical Ankle Platform System (BAPS) Board protocol on balance of high school athletes with CAI.

DESIGN: Randomized control trial.

SETTING: Athletic Training Facility Patients: Twenty-two high school athletes with "giving way" and a history of ankle sprains (i.e. CAI) were randomized into a rehabilitation (REH) (166.23±0.93cm, 67.0±9.47kg, 16.45±0.93yrs) or control (CON) (173.86±8.88cm, 84.51±21.28kg, 16.55±1.29yrs) group.

INTERVENTIONS: After baseline measures, the REH group completed a progressive BAPS rehabilitation program (3 times a week for 4 weeks) whereas the CON group had no intervention. Each session consisted of 5 trials of clockwise/counterclockwise rotations changing direction every 10 seconds during each 40 second trial. After four weeks, baseline measurements were repeated.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Dependent measures included longest time (Time In Balance Test), average number of errors (Foot Lift Test), average reach distance (cm) normalized to leg length for each reach direction (Star Excursion Balance Test) and fastest time (Side Hop Test).

RESULTS: Significant group by time interactions were found for TIB (F1,20=9.89, P=0.005), FLT (F1,20=41.18, P<0.001), SEBT-AM (F1,20=5.34, P=0.032), SEBT-M (F1,20=7.51, P=0.013), SEBT-PM (F1,20=12.84, P=0.002), SHT (F1,20=7.50, P=0.013). Post-hoc testing showed that the REH group improved performance on all measures at posttest, whereas the CON group did not.

CONCLUSIONS: A 4-week BAPS rehabilitation protocol improved balance in high school athletes suffering from CAI. These results can allow clinicians to rehabilitate in a focused manner by utilizing one rehabilitation tool that allows benefits to be accomplished in a shorter time period.