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.

BACKGROUND:One-legged standing with eyes closed is a method to test the muscle strength and the ability of body balance, it is considered to be an important quality indicator for evaluation of adults and elderly balancing
capability in our country. A lot of works have been done in many provinces and cities, but there is a lack of in-depth studies.
OBJECTIVE:To review the research progress of one-legged standing with eyes closed, to analyze its problem used in the physical fitness test and to prospect the future direction of the related researches.
METHODS:A computer-based search on CNKI database and Elsevier database was undertaken to identify the article of balance capacity. The key words were“eyes closed and single legged standing, balance ability,
physical fitness test”. Total y articles were searched and checked primarily, and those meeting the criteria were looked up.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The standard of one-legged standing with eyes closed for the male is higher
than that for the female. Some elderly just stand for a short time in the test, and thus it is difficult to distinguish the balance ability. Elderly balance is significantly lower than that in young people. The same test method for adults and elderly people is employed, but whether it is scientific or not should be further studied. Various indicators in the test of one-legged standing with eyes closed have low correlation. For the above reasons, further studies
should be made before the test of one-legged standing with eyes closed becomes a valuable measurement of the balance ability in the national physique.

Objective To explore the static postural balance in individuals with or without functional ankle instability (FAI)by identifying and quantifying the spatial characteristics of center of pressure (COP),as well as rambling and trembling trajectory properties.Methods Twelve FAI patients was selected into the FAI group,while another 14 healthy students were chosen into the control group.The single-leg standing test with and without vision was conducted on the unstable side of the FAI group and the non-dominant side of the control group 3 trials with each trial lasting 30 s.The displacement of COP and the time and frequency domain of rambling and trembling were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Results There was no significant difference in the displacement of COP with opened eyes(P＞0.05).The area and the anterior-posterior length of COP of the FAI group were larger than those of the control group with eyes closed (P＜0.05).For the rambling and trembling trajectory,no significant differences were found in all the time domains between the two groups with eyes open or closed(P＞0.05),except the mean sway amplitude(MSA)(P＜0.05).Moreover,the mean square root and standard deviation of MSA of the FAI group were significantly bigger than the control group(P＜ 0.05).Significant differences were found in the MSA frequency between open and closed eyes(P＞0.05),but not between the FAI and control groups(P＜0.05).Conclusions The FAI patients are weaker than healthy people not only in the peripheral control,but also in the central control of the static postural balance.Therefore,injuries in the central neural system must also be considered when analyzing the reason for FAI.The imbalance of the FAI patients can be avoided by opening eyes.