چكيده لاتين
Background and purpose: Ankle sprains are the most common joint injuries among athletes, which can lead to chronic ankle instability (CAI) and alter movement patterns and increased asymmetry in limb function. Such asymmetry not only decrease athletic performance but also increase the risk of re-injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sports rehabilitation exercises, based on the approach developed by Donavan and Hertel, on lower limb asymmetry in athletes suffering from CAI.
Methodology: In this study, 32 soccer players with CAI were purposefully selected and randomly assigned into two training groups: A comprehensive group (age 21.69±3.20, height 178.19±7.89, weight 72.36±8.71) and a conventional resistance group (age 3.26 21.88±2, height 176.38±5.77, weight 64.42±7.15). Dorsiflexion range of motion (ROMD), muscle strength (dorsiflexor, plantarflexor, invertor, evertor), dynamic postural stability (DPS) during single-leg landing, single-leg hop (SLH), single-leg triple hop (SLTH), 90° change of direction (CUT), modified 505 (Mod505), and mental performance were evaluated in three stages of pre-test, post-test and follow-up test. Both The groups participated in an 8-week training proram, consisting of three sessions per week, with each session lasting one hour. To analyze the data, a mixed-design analysis of variance with repeated measures was used (P<0.05).
Results: The results indicated a significant interaction of group by time for DPS, CUT, and mental performance (P<0.05). Despite the lack of interaction between the groups in the Mod505 and SLTH tests, only the performance of athletes in the comprehensive progressive training group showed a significant improvement (P<0.05). Additionally, improvements in ROMD (in both positions), strength of dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, inversion, and eversion (at both speeds), as well as SLH and mental performance, were observed in both the experimental and control groups. Additionally, the results indicated that after detraining period, comprehensive progressive exercises had lasting effects compared to conventional resistance exercises in maintaining symmetry of DPS, performance (with the exception of SLH), and mental performance. However, both types of training demonstrated similar lasting effects in maintaining ROMD and strength symmetry. Nonetheless, comprehensive progressive training exhibited a slight relative superiority in effect size.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that comprehensive progressive exercises have more favorable effects than conventional resistance exercises in improving DPS, change of direction (CUT, Mod505), SLTH, and mental performance in soccer players with CAI. Furthermore, these exercises produced more lasting effects on performance metrics (DPS, hops, and change of direction) and mental performance during detraining period. However, both types of training exhibited similar effects in maintaining the symmetry of ROMD and strength after detraining period. These results are particularly beneficial for soccer players with CAI, as reducing asymmetry can enhance performance, lower the risk of re-injury, and increase uniform performance of sports movements. Therefore, coaches and rehabilitation specialists should consider incorporating comprehensive progressive training as a more effective approach to improve performance and sustain results in rehabilitation programs, especially for athletes undergoing periods of detraining.
Keywords: Asymmetry, Chronic ankle instability, Neuromuscular control, Isokinetic, Biomechanics, Functional performance
