Date of Award

Fall 12-1-2006

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Athletic Training

First Advisor

Jody Brucker

Second Advisor

Kellie Huxel

Third Advisor

Jeffrey Edwards

Abstract

Context: It is not known if functionally unstable ankles have a different medial to lateral center of pressure placement compared to the contralateral uninjured limb. Objective: To compare the average medial/lateral position of the center of pressure, from the midline of the foot, in functionally unstable ankles to the contralateral uninjured ankle. Design: A 1 X 2 within subject design guided this study. The independent variable was ankle health (functional ankle instability or uninjured). Setting: Laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Twenty-six, physically-active, volunteers who suffer from unilateral functional ankle instability (F AI) [M: 10 F: 16 age: 21±2.1 y ht: 1 72.9± 7 .1 cm, mass: 75.8±15.lkg]. Main Outcome Measure(s): The average of 3 center of pressure displacement trials in the medial/lateral directions normalized by subject's height (cm) and mass (kg). Intervention(s): Data trails were collected following 6 practice trials (3 on each leg) with the start limb randomized according to subject number. Results: Functional ankle instability had no effect (P > 0.05) on the medial/lateral center of pressure position, from the midline of the foot, in F AI compared to uninjured ankles. Conclusions: The important finding in this study was that in college-aged, physically active subjects the mean medial/lateral center of pressure position, in relation to the midline of the base of support, was not different between functionally unstable and uninjured ankles.

Download

Share

COinS