The Effect of a Balance Training Programme on the Risk of Ankle Sprains in High School Athletes

Background&Objective: Ankle sprains are common sporting injuries that often lead to chronic pain, swelling, and functional instability that leads to physical limitations in sports performance. The Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) and Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) are commonly used to quantify the severity of balance impairments associated with FAI. Fewer reviews revealed moderate or limited evidence in favour of balance training programs to reduce the severity of initial or subsequent ankle sprains in subjects with functional instability.

Method: The study was conducted on 60 subjects with lateral ankle sprain with a mean age of 15.6500 ±1.79288 (SD) years.Subjects participated in a 4 week balance training programme based on a compilation of the rehabilitation and balance validated and published in prior studies. SEBT and CAIT score were taken to measure severity of FAI during pre and post balance training programme.

Results: The significant difference were found in reach distance of SEBT test score in direction of anterior ( t = -18.440, p < 0.05), posterior (t = -12.282, p < 0.05), lateral (t = -25.556, p < 0.05), medial (t = -15.419, p < 0.05), AL (t = -0.826, p < 0.05), PM (t = -12.280, p < 0.05) PL (t = -14.587, p < 0.05) and CAIT score (t = -46.542, p<0.05) while reach distance in AM (t = -0.826, p < 0.416) direction showed insignificant difference after post balance training.

Conclusion: A balance training program will significantly reduce the risk of ankle sprains in high school athletes with lateral ankle sprain.