Effects of a Lower Extremity Complex Exercise Program on Proprioception and Postural Balance in Patients with Chronic Ankle Instability

• Published in: Physical therapy rehabilitation science Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 116 - 129
• Main Authors: Myeong-Gyu Kim, Changho Song
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 물리치료재활과학회 01.03.2025; Korean Academy of Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• Subjects: 물리치료학; Ankle; Joint instability; Proprioception; Postural Balance
• ISSN: 2287-7576; 2287-7584
• DOI: 10.14474/ptrs.2025.14.1.116

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a lower-extremity complex exercise program on proprioception and postural balance in patients with chronic ankle instability Design: Randomized controlled trial Methods: This study recruited 30 patients with chronic ankle instability. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 15) or a control group (n = 15). The experimental group participated in a lower-extremity complex exercise program consisting of 60 minutes of exercise per session three times a week for 4 weeks. In contrast,the control group received no intervention. Proprioception, static balance, and dynamic balance (assessed using the Y-balance test) were evaluated before and after intervention. Within-group pre- and post-intervention differences were analyzed using paired t-tests, and between-group differences were assessed using independent t-tests (α = 0.05). Results: The experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in proprioception and static balance, as well as in posteromedial and posterolateral reach distances during the dynamic balance test (p < 0.05). In contrast, there was no significant change in forward reach distance. The control group exhibited no significant pre-post changes. Between-group comparisons revealed significantly greater improvements in the experimental group than in the control group for all measures except forward reach distance (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study confirmed that the lower-extremity complex exercise program was effective in improving proprioception and static balance in patients with chronic ankle instability, suggesting that this program can be used as a general intervention method for patients with chronic ankle instability.