A Study Investigating The Effects Of An Ankle Rehabilitation Program On High School Athletes With Ankle Instability

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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A randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of a 4-week ankle rehabilitation program on high school athletes with chronic ankle instability.

Detailed Description
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A randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of a three different 4-week ankle rehabilitation programs on high school athletes with chronic ankle instability. We will use questionnaires to assess subjective level of function and clinical measures to assess clinical functionality via static and functional balance.

Official Title
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A Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating The Effects Of A 4-Week Ankle Rehabilitation Program On High School Athletes With Chronic Ankle Instability

Conditions
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Chronic Ankle Instability, Ankle Sprains, Ankle Rehabilitation

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Resistance Band Ankle Rehabilitation
* Other: Biomechanical Ankle Platform System Rehabilitation
* Other: Combination Rehabilitation


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: active for at least 1.5 hours a week, a history of at least 1 significant ankle sprain that required medical intervention, repeated symptoms of pain, swelling, weakness, instability, and repeated episodes of giving way. Exclusion Criteria: presence of any current lower extremity injury (diagnosed by a medical professional within last 3 months with present symptoms), previous surgery to either leg, diagnosed ankle sprain within the past 6 weeks, history of ankle fractures and/or dislocations.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 15 Years
Maximum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: 4 independent groups
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Control Group<br>Each patient in the control group did not perform any rehabilitation exercises. Over the intervention time frame, the patient was required to check in with a member of the research team each week to discuss any changes in their ankle or report any injury incidence. | |
| Experimental: Resistance Band Group<br>Each session, patients completed resistance training using a resistance band in 4 directions of ankle motion (plantarflexion, dorsiflexion, inversion and eversion). Patients would complete 3 sets of 10 repetitions during each session. Every 3 sessions, the band resistance would increase. | Other: Resistance Band Ankle Rehabilitation<br>* Resistance Band - uses a tension band to provide resistance during ankle motion<br>|
| Experimental: Biomechanical Ankle Platform System<br>The Biomechanical Ankle Platform System board is an oval shaped board that utilizes a half-sphere on the bottom of the board to allow the patient to train on an unstable surface. A one legged stance on their involved limb was performed on the Biomechanical Ankle Platform System board while clockwise and counterclockwise circles were completed. The initial rotation of direction was selected by the patient and changed every 10 seconds of the 40-second trial. Five 40-second trials were completed with 1-minute rest intervals in between the trials. Progression was determined by the supervising clinician and was based on the patient's ability to make smooth transitions between direction changes and completion of smooth circular rotations in both directions. | Other: Biomechanical Ankle Platform System Rehabilitation<br>* Biomechanical Ankle Platform System Board Group - uses different levels of half spheres to increase the amount of motion allowed at the ankle.<br>|
| Experimental: Combination Group<br>Patients completing the combination protocol completed both the resistance band and Biomechanical Ankle Platform System board protocols during each session. The order of exercise completion was counterbalanced for each session. | Other: Combination Rehabilitation<br>* Combination Group - includes both the resistance band and Biomechanical Ankle Platform System programs.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Static Balance Assessments | Static Balance Clinical Tests | 4 weeks | 
| Functional Balance Assessments | Functional Balance Clinical Tests | 4 weeks | 
| Patient Self-reported Outcomes | Subjective Patient Reported Outcome Questionnaires | 4 to 12 weeks |