• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.1791-1796
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• 2019

Background: Vibration exercise after ankle surgery improves proprioception and ankle muscle strength through vibration stimulation. Objective: To examine the effects of vibration exercise on the ankle stability. Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial (single blind) Methods: Twenty soccer players were randomly divided into experimental group and control group. The Vibration exercise program was conducted 12 weeks and 3 times a week. Ankle joint proprioceptive sensory test and Isokinetic muscle strength test were performed using Biodex system pro III to measure plantar flexion / dorsiflexion and eversion / inversion motion. Results: The result of isokinetic test of ankle joint is showed significant improvement in all measurement items, such as leg flexion, lateral flexion, external and internal muscle forces, compared to previous ones by performing vibration movements for 12 weeks. However, in the comparison group, plantar flexor ($30^{\circ}$), eversion muscle ($120^{\circ}$), inversion ($30^{\circ}$) of limb muscle strength were significantly improved compared with the previous phase; was no significant difference in dorsi-flexion. There was no significant difference between groups in all the items. Conclusions: In this study, we analyzed the effects of rehabilitation exercise on soccer players who had reconstructed with an ankle joint ligament injury through vibration exercise device. As a result, we could propose an effective exercise method to improve the ability, and confirmed the applicability as an appropriate exercise program to prevent ankle injuries and help quick return.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2019

Surgical treatment to restore stability in the ankle and hindfoot and prevent further degenerative changes may be necessary in cases in which conservative treatment has failed. Anatomical direct repair using native ligament remnants with or without reinforcement of the inferior retinaculum is the so-called gold standard operative strategy for the treatment of lateral ankle instability. Non-anatomical lateral ligament reconstruction typically involves the use of the adjacent peroneus brevis tendon and applies only those with poor-quality ligaments. On the other hand, anatomic reconstruction and anatomic repair provide better functional outcomes after the surgical treatment of chronic ankle instability patients compared to a non-anatomic reconstruction. Anatomical reconstruction using an autograft or allograft applies to patients with insufficient ligament remnants to fashion direct repair, failed previous lateral ankle repair, high body mass index, or generalized ligamentous laxity. These procedures can provide good-to-excellent short-term outcomes. Arthroscopic ligament repair is becoming increasingly popular because it is minimally invasive. Good-to-excellent clinical outcomes have been reported after short and long-term follow-up, despite the relatively large number of complications, including nerve damage, reported following the procedure. Therefore, further investigation will be needed before widespread adoption is advocated.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.189-194
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and radiologic results of arthrodesis between anterior approach and transfibular approach arthrodesis in ankle arthritis. Materials and Methods: There were 61 cases of ankle arthritis treated by anterior or transfibular ankle arthrodesis in our hospital from April 2008 to March 2012. We investigated 29 cases (27 patients) who underwent ankle arthrodesis with an anterior approach (15 cases) and transfibular approach (14 cases), and were followed for over two years. Clinically, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, pain visual analogue scale (VAS), and subjective satisfaction degrees were evaluated. In addition, ankle coronal and sagittal alignments were evaluated using plain radiographs at 6 and 24 months, postoperatively. Results: Clinically, preoperative mean AOFAS score and VAS was 41.3 and 6.4, and were changed to 58.9 and 3.3 postoperatively in the anterior approach group. In the transfibular approach group, preoperative mean AOFAS score was 36.6 and VAS was 7.1, and they were changed to 54.9 and 3.4 postoperatively. However, no significant differences in the clinical results were observed between the two groups (p=0.297). Duration of attaining union was 8.1 weeks in the anterior approach group and 10.4 weeks in the transfibular approach group. Complications were delayed union in one case, nonunion in three cases, cancellous screw breakage in three cases, and complex regional reflex syndrome in one case. Conclusion: After transfibular ankle arthrodesis as treatment of ankle osteoarthritis, the tendency for valgus angulation of the ankle at the final follow-up was observed and 6.5 mm cancellous screw breakage occurred frequently. Therefore, in order to achieve better stability, it is necessary to use 6.5 mm cannulated screws rather than 6.5 mm cancellous screws for ankle arthrodesis.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.135-141
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of functional ankle instability (FAI) and surgical treatment (ST) on postural stability and leg stiffness during vertical-drop landing. Method: A total of 21 men participated in this study (normal [NOR]: 7, FAI: 7, ST: 7). We estimated dimensionless leg stiffness as the ratio of the peak vertical ground reaction force and the change in stance-phase leg length. Leg length was calculated as the distance from the center of the pelvis to the center of pressure under the foot. Furthermore, the analyzed variables included the loading rate and the dynamic postural stability index (DPSI; medial-lateral [ML], anterior-posterior [AP], and vertical [V]) in the initial contact phase. Results: The dimensionless leg stiffness in the FAI group was higher than that of the NOR group and the ST group (p = .018). This result may be due to a smaller change in stance-phase leg length (p = .001). DPSI (ML, AP, and V) and loading rate did not show differences according to the types of ankle instability during drop landing (p > .05). Conclusion: This study suggested that the dimensionless leg stiffness was within the normal range in the ST group, whereas it was increased by the stiffness of the legs rather than the peak vertical force during vertical-drop landing in the FAI group. Identifying these potential differences may enable clinicians to assess ankle instability and design rehabilitation protocols specific for the impairment.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in muscle thickness and ground reaction force of the vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateral oblique muscles during squats at ankle angles of toe 0°, toe in 10°, and toe out 10°. Methods: In this study, 9 male and 17 female students in their 20s participated in a randomized controlled trial and were compared according to the ankle angles of toe 0°, toe in 10°, and toe out 10°. To determine the reliability and measurement of muscle thickness according to ankle angle using ultrasound equipment and muscle thickness, the participants' ankle angles-toe 0°, toe in 10°, and toe out 10°-were measured three times at the vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis oblique muscles during squats. At the same time, the maximum vertical ground reaction force was measured with a force plate. A total of three measurements were taken and averaged, and two minutes of squat movements were assessed between ankle angles to prevent target action. Results: The results of this study illustrated that the reliability of the vastus medialis oblique muscles and vastus lateralis oblique muscles in ankle angle was high. The difference in muscle thickness was significantly greater in comparing the toe out 10° angle with the toe 0° angle than between toe in 10° and toe out 10° in vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis oblique (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the ankle angle of toe 0° and toe in 10° (p > 0.05). The maximum vertical ground reaction force was significantly greater at toe out 10° than at the ankle angle of toe 0° and toe out 10° and between toe in 10° and toe out 10° (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the comparison between toe 0° and toe in 10° (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Squatting at an ankle angle of toe out 10° increases the dorsi flexion; thus, the stability of the ankle and the thickness of both oblique muscles increased to perform more effective squats. In addition, as the base of support widens, it is thought that the stability of the posture increases so that squat training can be performed safely.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.291-296
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• 2011

This study was designed to investigate the effects of an ankle foot orthosis(AFO) with variable ankle joint angles on balance performance in healthy adults. Eighteen healthy adults were recruited in this repeated measures design with subjects as their own controls. An AFO with four kinds of ankle joint angles(-5, 0, 5, and 10 degree) were used and balance performance was measured during single limb standing. Three trials were obtained and then averaged for data analysis. Foot pressure was measured using an F-scan system and muscle activity was measured using an MP150 system. There were significant differences in balance performance with ankle joint angles. An AFO with -5 degrees was associated with significant increases in postural sway(anterior-posterior), and in muscle activity for the medial gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior compared with other degrees of angle. Findings of this study show that angles of an AFO are related to balance performance and a joint angle of 10 degree is effective for promoting joint stability and postural control. This information can be used by clinicians to prescribe AFOs.

• Journal of Wellbeing Management and Applied Psychology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.29-32
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to observe the immediate effects of elastic taping and isometric exercises on balance ability in the elderly. Research design, data and methodology: 15 elderlies were participated in this study and randomly assigned into two group. The intervention group was applied elastic taping on ankle joint while the control group performed isometric ankle exercise in three sets for 30 seconds per set. Anterior-posterior and medial-lateral postural sway speed were measured after the experiment. To compare the change in balance ability between groups after the experiment, independent t-test was used. To investigate the change in balance ability between pre- and post-experiment within the groups, paired t-test was used. Results: A significant difference in medial-lateral postural sway speed was found after elastic taping application only in the intervention group (p>0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the groups. Conclusions: In conclusion, this finding supported that elastic taping would be helpful to support ankle stability and increase balance ability for the elderly as well as performance for sports athlete that was demonstrated in previous studies. Further studies will be necessary to confirm the long-term effects of elastic taping application on motor control and the risk of falling.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.430-433
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a four week unilateral isokinetic exercise program applied to ankle on the one-leg stance balance performance of ipsilateral and contralateral lower-limbs. Methods: Subjects were randomly assigned to either a right ankle training program (n=12) or a control group (n=12). The training group received unilateral ankle isokinetic exercise of the dominant side for 4 weeks, whereas control group did not. Ipsilateral and contralateral one-leg balance were measured before and after intervention using the Biodex Balance System. Results: Improvements of stability scores, such as APSI, MLSI, and OSI, from pre-test to post-test were significantly different greater for the training group when the control. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest unilateral ankle strengthening exercise transfers benefit to the untrained limb by a cross-education effect, and that this type of exercise should be considered to improve one-leg standing balance of trained and untrained lower-limbs.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.88-91
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• 2007

Persistent instability following an acute lateral ankle sprain eventually require ligamentous reconstruction in some cases. Over 50 surgical procedures have been described to reestablish lateral ankle stability varying from direct in situ repair of the anterior talofibular ligament and the calcaneofibular ligament to augmented reconstructions with either autograft or allograft tissue. The author describes the rationale and the technique of anatomic ankle ligament reconstruction with the 4th extensor digitorum longus tendon.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1387-1392
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of fall injuries on the balancing abilities and ankle flexibility. Fifteen of the voluntary participants had no experience of falling in the last two years (none falling group, NFG) and 15 others experienced at least one (falling group, FG). Static balance (sway length, sway area), dynamic balance (timed up and go (TUG), and functional to reach test (FRT) were measured in each group. In comparison of static balance, sway length was not significantly different between NFG and FG in both eyes open and eyes close, however the sway area of the FG was significantly wider than that of the NFG (p<.05). In dynamic balance comparisons, TUG of FG was significantly longer than that of NFG (p <.05), however FRT and STS were no significant difference between groups. Ankle flexibility was significantly higher in NFG than in FG. This study suggests that the fall prevention program should include methods for improving ankle stability and lower extremity function.