Conclusions The main findings from this systematic review were balance training provided the most consistent improvements in self-reported function for patients with CAI
Objective To identify which therapeutic intervention may be most effective for improving self-reported function in patients with chronic ankle instability ( CAI ) .
Effects of a 4-week dynamic-balance-training program supplemented with Graston instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization for chronic ankle instability.
CONTEXT A dynamic-balance-training ( DBT ) program supplemented with the Graston instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization ( GISTM ) technique has not been evaluated collectively as a treatment in subjects with chronic ankle instability ( CAI ) . OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of GISTM in conjunction with a DBT program on outcomes associated with CAI , including pain and disability , range of motion ( ROM ) , and dynamic postural control . DESIGN Pretest/posttest , repeated measures . SETTING High school and a Division I mid-Atlantic university . PARTICIPANTS Thirty-six healthy , physically active individuals ( 5 female , 31 male ; age 17.7 ± 1.9 y ; height 175.3 ± 14.6 cm ) with a history of CAI as determined by an ankle-instability question naire volunteered to be in this study . INTERVENTIONS Subjects were r and omly assigned to 1 of 3 intervention groups : both treatments ( DBT/GISTM , n = 13 ) , DBT and a sham GISTM treatment ( DBT/GISTM-S , n = 12 ) , or DBT and control-no GISTM ( DBT/C , n = 11 ) . All groups participated in a 4-wk DBT program consisting of low-impact and dynamic activities that was progressed from week to week . The DBT/GISTM and DBT/GISTM-S groups received the GISTM treatment or sham treatment twice a week for 8 min before performing the DBT program . Pretest and posttest measurements included the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure ( FAAM ) , FAAM Sport , the visual analog scale ( VAS ) , ankle ROM in 4 directions , and the Star Excursion Balance Test ( SEBT ) in 3 directions . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES FAAM and FAAM-Sport scores , VAS , goniometric ROM ( plantar flexion , dorsiflexion , inversion , eversion ) , and SEBT ( anterior , posteromedial , posterolateral ) . RESULTS Subjects in all groups posttest demonstrated an increase in FAAM , FAAM Sport , ROM , and SEBT in all directions but not in VAS , which decreased . No other results were significant . CONCLUSION For subjects with  CAI , dynamic postural control , ROM , pain and disability improved pretest to posttest regardless of group membership , with the largest effects found in most measures in the DBT/GISTM group
Conclusions The main findings from this systematic review were balance training provided the most consistent improvements in self-reported function for patients with CAI
Objective To identify which therapeutic intervention may be most effective for improving self-reported function in patients with chronic ankle instability ( CAI ) .