Effect of progressive balance training on motor cortical excitability, proprioception and balance in patients with chronic ankle instability
10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2026.06.010
- VernacularTitle:渐进式平衡训练对慢性踝关节不稳患者运动皮质兴奋性、本体感觉和平衡能力的影响
- Author:
Chuanbao CAO
1
;
Gang MA
2
;
Shifang YAN
1
Author Information
1. Department of Martial Arts, Hebei Sport University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050041, China
2. Department of Health Service, Logistics University of People's Armed Police Force, Tianjin 300309, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
chronic ankle instability;
progressive balance training;
motor cortical excitability;
proprioception;
balance
- From:
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice
2026;32(6):721-730
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of progressive balance training on motor cortical excitability, proprioception and balance in patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI). MethodsFrom September to December, 2024, 46 patients with CAI in Hebei Sport University were enrolled and randomly allocated into control group (n = 24) and intervention group (n = 22). Both groups received health education, while the intervention group completed a progressive balance training program additionally, for six weeks. Before and after intervention, the following indicators were measured: active motor threshold, latency, amplitude and cortical silent period of motor-evoked potentials of the soleus muscle; ankle joint inversion position sense; the anteroposterior and mediolateral velocities of the center of pressure (COP) on the affected side during single-leg standing with eyes open and closed; and reach distances in the Y-Balance Test. ResultsAfter intervention, significant group, time and interaction effects were observed in the cortical silent period and mediolateral COP velocity under eyes-closed condition (F > 7.877, P < 0.05). Significant time and interaction effects were found in motor-evoked potential amplitude, anteroposterior COP velocity with eyes open and eyes closed, as well as anterior and posteromedial reach distances of the Y-Balance Test (F > 4.333, P ≤ 0.05). Significant main time effects existed in motor-evoked potential latency and ankle inversion position sense (F > 4.711, P<0.05). Simple effect analysis revealed that after intervention, the observation group presented improvements in active motor threshold, motor-evoked potential amplitude, cortical silent period, ankle inversion position sense, anteroposterior COP velocity under eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions, mediolateral COP velocity with eyes closed, and anterior and posteromedial Y-Balance Test reach distances (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the observation group achieved superior outcomes relative to the control group in motor-evoked potential amplitude, cortical silent period, ankle inversion position sense, eyes-closed mediolateral COP velocity, and anterior Y-Balance Test reach distance (P < 0.05). ConclusionProgressive balance training may enhance corticospinal excitability, and improve ankle proprioception and static and dynamic balance performance in patients with CAI.
