Effects of Balance Training on Postural Control in Athletes with Chronic Ankle Instability: A Systematic Review

The Objective Ankle sprains are among the most common injuries in athletes. One of the limitations of people with chronic ankle instability is the lack of postural control. Balance and coordination training are among the most common interventions for people with chronic ankle instability. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of balance training on postural control in athletes with chronic ankle instability.

Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that examined the effects of balance training on postural control in athletes with chronic ankle instability were searched through the Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane and PEDro databases using keywords and concepts of postural control, balance training, and ankle instability from inception until April 2022. The quality of studies was assessed using the PEDro scale.

Eight RCTs were included in this study, based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Balance exercises reduced postural sway, decreased the distribution of center of mass, improved the overall body balance index and anterior-posterior balance index in the Biodex balance system, increased the duration of balance maintenance, and reduced the number of errors in the foot lift test when checking static postural control, and improved the reaching distance in the star balance test when checking dynamic postural control.

Four to six weeks of balance training can improve postural control in both static and dynamic situations in athletes with chronic ankle instability.