Study Design Randomised Controlled Trial.

Objectives To determine effects of three ankle rehabilitation programs on hopping ability of high-school athletes with Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI).

Background CAI interventions have been evaluated; however, a specific program that is most effective has not been determined.

Methods and Measures Thirty-six patients with ‘giving way’ and history of ankle sprains (i.e. CAI) were randomised into four rehabilitation groups: Resistance band (RB) (n=12, 171.24±10.13 cm, 65.75±11.16 kg, 16.42±0.99 years), Biomechanical Ankle Platform System (BAPS) (n=9, 178.22±10.36 cm, 77.52±22.84 kg, 16.133±1.00 years), Combination (BAPS/RB) (n=7, 172.00±12.16 cm, 68.61±17.94 kg, 16.57±1.13 years), and Control (CON) (n=8, 171.45±11.52 cm, 71.78±25.66 kg, 16.75±0.89 years). Two tests were used to assess hopping abilities: figure-of-8-test (FET) and side-hop-test (SHT). FET required patients to hop 5-metre distance in a figure-of-8 pattern two times. SHT required patients to hop 30 centimetres medially/laterally 10 times. Hopping ability was measured in time to complete (sec). Shorter time indicated improvement. Rehabilitation programs were completed 3/week for four weeks. RB completed 3 sets of 10 repetitions of ankle dorsiflexion/plantarflexion/inversion/eversion. BAPS completed 5 sets of 40 s trials of clockwise/counterclockwise rotations, changing direction every 10 s. BAPS/RB completed both programs and CON completed no exercises. After 4 weeks, baseline measurements were repeated. Two 4 × 2 mixed-model ANOVAs were used for data analysis (α=0.05). Tukey’s HSD post-hoc tests were conducted on significant interactions.

Results Main effects for time were significant for FET (p<0.00001) and SHT (p<0.003). Main effects for group were not significant for FET (p=0.608) or SHT (p=0.229). Significant group by time interaction was found for FET (F_1,32=4.08, p=0.015) but not SHT (F_1,32=2.10, p=0.119). FET post-hoc testing showed BAPS/RB (p<0.003) improved pretest to posttest whereas CON, RB and BAPS did not.

Conclusion All rehabilitation programs showed improvement from pretest to posttest with BAPS/RB showing more improvement. Each can be used to improve hopping abilities in individuals suffering from CAI.