Altered postural control variability in older-aged individuals with a history of lateral ankle sprain.

TitleAltered postural control variability in older-aged individuals with a history of lateral ankle sprain.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2018
AuthorsTerada M, Kosik KB, Johnson NF, Gribble PA
JournalGait Posture
Volume60
Pagination88-92
Date Published2018 02
ISSN1879-2219
KeywordsAged, Ankle Injuries, Ankle Joint, Case-Control Studies, Entropy, Female, Humans, Leg, Male, Middle Aged, Postural Balance, Posture
Abstract

The current study aimed to examine postural control performance during a single-leg balance task in elderly individuals with and without a previous history of lateral ankle sprain (LAS). Eighteen adults with a previous history of LAS (mean age = 66 years old) and 12 healthy controls (mean age = 65 years old) were included in the study. Participants performed three trials of a single-leg balance task during an eyes-opened condition for 20-s. Center of pressure (COP) trajectories in the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions were collected with a force plate. The following postural control measures were calculated in the AP and ML directions: 1) Sample Entropy (SampEn); 2) Approximate Entropy (ApEn); 3) mean of Time-to-Boundary minima (mean TTB); and 4) COP velocity (COPV). Older-age participants with a history LAS exhibited lower ApEn-AP, SampEn-AP, and SampEn-ML values compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). The information gained from this investigation indicates more rigid postural control patterns, less adaptability, and more difficulty maintaining COP during a single-leg balance task in adults with a previous history of LAS. Our data suggest that there is a need to consider history of musculoskeletal injury when evaluating factors for postural control and fall risk in the elderly. Future investigations are needed to assess the effect of LAS on age-related declines in postural control and discern associations between potential risk factors of fall-related injuries and LAS in an elderly population.

DOI10.1016/j.gaitpost.2017.11.009
Alternate JournalGait Posture
PubMed ID29169097