Gait abnormalities in patients with chronic ankle instability can improve following a non-invasive biomechanical therapy: A retrospective analysis

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Shay Tenenbaum, Aviv University; Ofir Chechik, Sourasky Medical Center; Jason Bariteau, Emory University; Nathan Bruck, Tel Aviv University; Yiftah Beer, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center; Mazen Falah, Rambam Health Care Campus, Israe; Ganit Segal, AposTherapy Research Group; Amit Mor, AposTherapy Research Group; Avi Elbaz, AposTherapy Research Group
• Language: English
• Date: 2017-01-01
• Publisher: Society of Physical Therapy Science
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2017 The Society of Physical Therapy Science. Published by IPEC Inc.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1589/jpts.29.677
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Physical Therapy Science
• ISSN: 0915-5287
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 4
• Start Page: 677
• End Page: 684
• Grant/Funding Information: This study was not funded in any way.
• Keywords: Biomechanical device; Walking patterns; Neuromuscular control
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Rehabilitation and Therapy; Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in gait patterns and clinical outcomes of patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI) following treatment with a home-based non-invasive biomechanical device. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty-three patients with CAI were compared with 43 healthy controls. Patients underwent a spatiotemporal gait assessment before and three months following treatment. Clinical evaluation was recorded with SF-36 Health Survey and the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS). [Results] Significant baseline differences were found between groups. Patients with CAI showed a statistically significant improvement in velocity, cadence, symptomatic limb step length and single limb support over time. Significant improvements in SF-36 PCS and FAOS outcome scores were found in patients with CAI. [Conclusion] Patients with CAI have baseline spatiotemporal gait abnormalities as compared with healthy controls. However, clinical and gait metrics improvement can be expected after 12 weeks of perturbation training using a non-invasive biomechanical device.