The influence of local pain on balance control in patients with chronic ankle instability

BACKGROUND: Local pain around the ankle joint is a common symptom in patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI). However, whether the local pain would impose any influence on the balance control performance of CAI patients is still unknown. METHODS: A total of twenty-six subjects were recruited and divided into the following two groups: pain-free CAI (group A) and pain-present CAI (group B). Subjects in both groups received two independent tests: the star excursion balance test and the single-leg stance test, in order to reflect their balance control ability more accurately. RESULTS: Compared with group A, the group B showed significantly more episodes of the history of sprains, decreased ankle maximum plantarflexion angle, and lower Cumberland scores (all p < 0.05). In the star excursion balance test, group B demonstrated a significantly reduced anterior reach distance than group A (p < 0.05). During the single leg stance test, group B showed a significant increase in the magnitude of electromyographic signals both in peroneus longus and soleus muscles than group A (each p < 0.05). Additionally, group B had a significantly more anterolaterally positioned plantar center of pressure than group A (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: CAI patients with local pain around the ankle joint had more episodes of sprains and lower functional scores when compared to those without pain. The balance control performance was also worse in the pain-present CAI patients than those without pain.