Return to Preinjured Function Following Ankle Injury

Aaron D. Sciascia, Arthur J. Nitz, Patrick O. McKeon, Jennifer Havens, Timothy L. Uhl

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Athletic preinjury function is typically determined via subjective recall; however, obtaining preinjury function before injury occurs should be attempted in order to establish an individual baseline for postinjury comparison. The purpose of this study was to obtain preinjury baseline values for the Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI) and Foot and Ankle Disability Index sport version (FADISP), single-leg hop for distance, and Star Excursion Balance Test anterior reach and determine if athletes returned to those values following ankle injury. Out of 41 qualifying injuries, FADI/FADISP scores were significantly reduced at initial injury compared with baseline and all other time points (p <.001) but recovered by discharge. Single-leg hop and Star Excursion Balance Test recovered to baseline values by the discharge time point (p ≥.98). Subjective and objective preinjury function can be reestablished by discharge from supervised treatment following low-grade ankle injury and maintained for at least 6 months following the cessation of treatment. However, testing metrics should be reviewed on an individual athlete basis, because group data may mask individual patient needs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)201-211
Number of pages11
JournalInternational Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training
Volume26
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Human Kinetics, Inc.

Keywords

  • athlete
  • outcome
  • return to play

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
  • Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
  • Rehabilitation

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