Decreased dynamic balance and dorsiflexion range of motion in young and middle-aged adults with chronic ankle instability

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare dynamic balance and weight-bearing dorsiflexion range of motion between young and middle-aged adults with and without chronic ankle instability. Design: Cross-sectional. Methods: One hundred and two young adults were classified as either having chronic ankle instability (n = 38), coper (n = 27) or a healthy-control (n = 37). A total of 55 middle-aged adults were identified as having chronic ankle instability (n = 16), coper (n = 15) or a healthy-control (n = 24). Participants completed the weight-bearing lunge test and the anterior, posteromedial and posterolateral reach directions of the star excursion balance test. Results: Middle-aged adults had shorter reach distances for each direction of the star excursion balance test compared to the young adults (p < 0.001). Regardless of age, participants with chronic ankle instability performed worse on the star excursion balance test compared to the coper (p < 0.05) and healthy-control group (p < 0.05). Similarly, participants with chronic ankle instability had less dorsiflexion compared to healthy-controls (p < 0.05), but not the coper group (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Deficits in dynamic postural control do not continue to decline with advancing age in individuals with chronic ankle instability, however, these impairments appear to continue to persist compared to uninjured controls.