ABSTRACT
Purpose@#This study examined the effects of heel raise exercises combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on the muscle strength and postural control ability of subjects with functional ankle instability (FAI). @*Methods@#Twenty-two subjects with FAI participated in this study. They were assigned randomly to two groups: 11 each in the NMES and the sham-NMES groups. Heel raise exercise was applied, and NMES electrodes were attached to the peroneus longus muscles. The NMES group applied NMES during the heel raise exercise. NMES was applied for 20 minutes during the heel raise exercise. The heel raise exercise was performed four times a week for five weeks. The muscle strength and balance error scoring system (BESS) were measured before and after the intervention. @*Results@#A comparison of before and after the intervention within the groups revealed improved muscle strength in the NMES and Sham-NMES groups, but the BESS was improved under all conditions only in the NMES group. The Sham-NMES group showed no improvement in the unstable support surface. Furthermore, when comparing the amount of change before and after the intervention between the groups, there were significant differences in the total score and unstable support in the BESS and muscle strength. @*Conclusion@#NMES had a positive effect on the functional activities of the functional ankle instability subjects, such as balancing on an unstable support surface during postural control and increasing muscle strength.
ABSTRACT
Purpose@#This study examined the effects of heel raise exercises combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on the muscle strength and postural control ability of subjects with functional ankle instability (FAI). @*Methods@#Twenty-two subjects with FAI participated in this study. They were assigned randomly to two groups: 11 each in the NMES and the sham-NMES groups. Heel raise exercise was applied, and NMES electrodes were attached to the peroneus longus muscles. The NMES group applied NMES during the heel raise exercise. NMES was applied for 20 minutes during the heel raise exercise. The heel raise exercise was performed four times a week for five weeks. The muscle strength and balance error scoring system (BESS) were measured before and after the intervention. @*Results@#A comparison of before and after the intervention within the groups revealed improved muscle strength in the NMES and Sham-NMES groups, but the BESS was improved under all conditions only in the NMES group. The Sham-NMES group showed no improvement in the unstable support surface. Furthermore, when comparing the amount of change before and after the intervention between the groups, there were significant differences in the total score and unstable support in the BESS and muscle strength. @*Conclusion@#NMES had a positive effect on the functional activities of the functional ankle instability subjects, such as balancing on an unstable support surface during postural control and increasing muscle strength.