Single Leg Balance Test To Identify Risk Of Ankle Sprains

Thomas H Trojian ^1* and Douglas B McKeag ²

¹ University of Connecticut Health Center, United States
² Indiana University School of Medicine, United States

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ttrojian{at}stfranciscare.org.

Accepted 28 March 2006

Abstract

Objectives: Ankle sprains are a common and potentially disabling injury. The current prospective study investigates the single-leg balance (SLB) test performed at preseason physicals ability to predict an ankle sprain during the fall sports season. Successfully predicting susceptibility to ankle sprain injury with this simple test could allow ankle sprain prevention protocols to be initiated. This would potentially prevent disability in the athletic population.

Design: Prospective cohort study

Setting: High school varsity athletics and intercollegiate athletics

Main Outcome Measure: Ankle sprains in athletes with positive SLB tests.

Results: The association between positive SLB test and future ankle sprains was significant. Controlling for confounder the relative risk for an ankle sprain with a positive SLB test was 2.54 (95% CI = 1.02 - 6.03). Athletes with a positive SLB test but did not tape their ankles, were found to have a significant association with ankle sprains. The relative risk for ankle sprain for a positive SLB test and negative taping was 8.82 (95% CI = 1.07 - 72.70). Athletes with a history of an ankle did not show an association with future ankle sprains in the study. Interrater reliability for the SLB test was performed; the Kappa statistic was 0.898 (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: In this cohort study, we were able to demonstrate an association between a positive SLB test and ankle sprains. In athletes with a positive SLB test, we found that not taping ankles was a higher risk for sprains. We were able to demonstrate that the SLB is a reliable and valid test for predicting ankle sprains.

Key Words: Ankle Injury, Musculoskeletal Equilibrium, Posture, Proprioception, Risk Factors

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Sankey, R. A., Brooks, J. H. M., Kemp, S. P. T., Haddad, F. S. (2008). The Epidemiology of Ankle Injuries in Professional Rugby Union Players. Am J Sports Med 36: 2415-2424 [Abstract] [Full Text]