Effects of vibration feedback during gait on vertical ground reaction force in chronic ankle instability patients

Abstract

Lateral ankle sprains often lead to long-term impairments including altered gait biomechanics. The current interventions used to treat LAS are ineffective at modifying gait or preventing long-term deficits including PTOA.Does vibration feedback gait retraining result in a LR change, and is it retained? Do changes in kinetic variables associate with outcomes within CAI domains (perceptual, sensorimotor, mechanical)?We conducted a repeated measures design with 19 individuals with CAI. Participants completed laboratory and RW sessions. We assessed baseline, post-test, and retention gait kinetics.We found decreases in vGRF LR after laboratory gait retraining baseline-posttest (p=0.026) and posttest-retention (p=0.016), but they weren’t retained, and no RW differences existed. Positive correlations occurred between LR change and IdFAI (p=0.019), LR and plantar cutaneous threshold at 1MTP (p=0.013), and phase 1 COP change with eyes open balance (p=0.035). An association existed between phase 1 COP change with a cavus foot compared to neutral (p=0.040).Master of Art