Applicability of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool in Elite Volleyball Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: The ease of administration of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) could represent a methodology for periodically evaluating athletes, preventing ankle instability injuries. This study aimed to achieve three objectives: (a) to evaluate the applicability of the CAIT scale in volleyball; (b) to explore whether ankle instability presents a greater risk in lower-level volleyball categories and whether elite athletes demonstrate an ability to mitigate this risk; and (c) to identify potential predictors of ankle instability.

METHODS: Eighty female volleyball players participated in this cross-sectional observational study. The CAIT was administered to evaluate the athletes belonging to some teams in Series A, B, and C.

RESULTS: The Spearman's ranks correlation coefficient showed significant correlations between CAIT items. Additionally, the Cronbach's α showed a high internal consistency. Our results showed a significant difference between athletes who reported pain and those who did not ( p < 0.001). The multiple linear regression model analysis showed that pain was a predictor of ankle instability ( p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the CAIT can be used to evaluate ankle stability in volleyball players. This scale could represent a valuable tool for implementing specific intervention programs to prevent ankle injuries in athletes.