Effect of an Eight-week Slide Board Exercise Program on Functional Performance of Female Basketball Players With Chronic Ankle Instability

 Ankle sprain is the most common lower limb musculoskeletal injury in athletes, which can be improved with low-cost and non-invasive rehabilitation programs. The present study aimed to determine the effect of eight weeks of slide board exercises on the center of pressure (COP) displacement, ankle proprioception, and ankle muscle strength of female basketball players with chronic ankle instability (CAI). 

 This is quasi-experimental with a pre-test/post-test design. Participants were 28 professional female basketball players with CAI, who were randomly divided into two groups: Exercise (age:14.00±0.78 years, height: 167.78±6.45 cm, weight: 59.57±7.18 kg) and control (age:14.07±0.82 years, height: 167.08±3.85 years, weight: 62.92±3.45 kg). Before and after the training period, the variables of COP displacement (using a foot scan device), ankle proprioception and ankle muscle strength (using Biodex system 3 pro) were measured. The exercise group performed the slide board exercises for 8 weeks, three sessions per week, each for 60 minutes under the supervision of the examiner. For statistical analysis, the analysis of covariance test was used. The significance level was set at 0.05.

 The results showed a significant difference in COP displacement (P≤0.001), ankle proprioception (P≤0.001), and ankle muscle strength (P≤0.001) after exercises between the two groups, and confirmed the higher effectiveness of the slide board exercises.

 The slide board exercises for eight weeks can reduce the COP displacement and ankle proprioception and improve ankle muscle strength in professional female basketball players with CAI. Therefore, slide board exercises are recommended for the rehabilitation of female athletes with CAI.