A novel method of assessing proprioception in the foot-ankle joint complex after lateral ankle sprain
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: To investigate the validity of a novel method for assessing intra-foot proprioception impaired by chronic ankle instability (CAI) and its association with perceived ankle instability, and to include a conventional joint position reproduction (JPR). Case-control study. University laboratory. Eleven controls and 19 individuals with CAI. A circumduction reproduction test was developed to evaluate proprioception by measuring absolute errors between eyes-opened and closed conditions during ankle circumduction movement, consisting of inversion and eversion phases. Errors in hallux marker trajectory and intra-foot joint relative angles were analyzed. Additionally, the JPR was administered to comparison with the novel method. During the eversion phase, the CAI group had significantly more errors in the X and Y component than the control group. The Pearson's r between the X component and IdFAI was 0.354 (p = 0.054). The X component correlated with the movement of the rearfoot, midfoot and forefoot, with correlations of r > 0.4. However, the JPR did not detect differences between two groups (p > 0.05). The circumduction reproduction test has discriminant validity for distinguishing between two groups and may provide an advantage over JPR. • Joint position reproduction with a dynamometer detects proprioceptive differences in CAI however does not reflect perceived ankle instability. • The absolute error of the hallux trajectories has high specificity and can detect the proprioception of individuals with CAI, which involves intra-foot joint movements. • Reducing absolute errors in hallux trajectory may require addressing dysfunction in the related intra-foot joints.
Source: Physical Therapy in Sport
Authors: Takahiro Watanabe, Eiichi Kuroyanagi, Hinata Furusawa, Masahiro Tsutsumi, Shintarou Kudo
Institution: Morinomiya University of Medical Sciences
Language: English
Topic: Foot and Ankle Surgery
Subfield: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,990
OpenAlex ID: W4409906335