Effect of a Unilateral Ankle Brace on Postural Sway and Limb Load Asymmetry.
- Author:
Sang Jin HAN
1
;
Sang Gun LEE
;
Si bog PARK
;
Ki Young OH
;
Kyu Hoon LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Korea. dumitru1@hanmail.net
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Ankle brace;
Balance;
Aircast
- MeSH:
Adult;
Ankle*;
Body Weight;
Braces*;
Extremities*;
Foot;
Humans
- From:Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine
2006;30(5):508-512
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of ankle bracing (Aircast) on postural sway and limb load asymmetry (LLA) in normal adults. METHOD: 263 healthy subjects volunteered. These subjects were performed the balance test on three different conditions, 1st test fulfilled without ankle brace, 2nd test with aircast on one ankle and 3rd test with aircast on the other ankle. All subjects were divided into two groups; younger(<65 years) and older (> or = 65 years) group. Postural sway and body weight distribution were recorded while the subjects were standing on two adjacent force platforms during 30 seconds trial. All subjects chose a comfortable stance with feet apart and asked to look straight ahead at a fixed point in a quiet room. RESULTS: There were significant differences not only in LLA but also in postural sway between younger and older group. The difference of postural sway and LLA in older group was more prominent that in younger group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results indicated that ankle bracing improved postural sway irrespective of age. Moreover in older group, ankle bracing on one ankle that was in the absence of LLA improved postural sway by far.
