RESUMO
ObjectiveTo investigate the immediate effect of wearing a soft ankle brace on dynamic and static balance function and biomechanics of affected lower limbs during walking in chronic ankle instability (CAI) patients. MethodsFrom January to August, 2021, 40 CAI patients from Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Center, Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital, Capital Medical University were measured dynamic and static balance indexes with Zebris FDM-System and Y balance test, before and after wearing a soft ankle brace; while the kinetics indexes and surface electromyography of the affected lower extremities during walking were collected with Zebris FDM-System and a surface electromyography telemeter simultaneously. ResultsThe velocity and area of center of pressure reduced in both open and closed eye modes (|t| > 2.876, P < 0.01), the Y-balance scores increased in all the directions (|t| > 21.212, P < 0.001) after wearing brace; while the peak pressures and impulses increased in the midfoot and medial forefoot regions (|t| > 2.057, P < 0.05), and decreased in the lateral heel, lateral forefoot and toe regions (|t| > 2.464, P < 0.05), and the root mean square of surface electromyography increased in the tibialis anterior and lateral gastrocnemius (|t| > 2.159, P < 0.05) during walking. ConclusionWearing soft brace can immediately improve dynamic and static balance of CAI patients, and optimize plantar kinetic distribution and enhance activation of the anterior tibial and the lateral head of gastrocnemius of the affected limb during walking, to improve motor control of CAI patients.
RESUMO
Objective To study the effects of different types of ankle brace on human body static postural stability.Method Ten male subjects with unilateral functional ankle instability (FAI)were enrolled in the study.The FlexiForce pressure control system was used to control the pressure on the ankles when wearing the soft brace.The static postural stability without braces as well as with soft and semi-rigid braces was measured using WIN-POD system.Results (1)In eye-open testing,no significant difference was found in indexes of COP sway between wearing or not wearing braces (P＞0.05).Compared with wearing semi-rigid brace,significant increase was observed in the average X dev when wearing soft braces (P＜0.05).(2)In eye-close testing,no significant differences were found in COP sway either wearing braces or not,as well as wearing different braces.Conclusion Wearing soft and semi-rigid brace had no effects on the static postural stability of FAI patients.But the static balance ability of wearing semi-rigid braces is better than that of wearing soft braces.