Correlation analysis between sensorimotor function and postural control abilities in patients with chronic ankle instability
CHEN Peng
HU Xiaomei
WEI Yaru
CHEN Dezheng
WANG Lin
Abstract：Objective To compare ankle sensorimotor function and postural control ability between patients with chronic ankle insta-bility(CAI)and healthy controls,and to further explore their relationship.Methods From March to June,2025,40 patients with CAI(observation group)and 40 healthy controls(control group)were recruited at Shanghai University of Sport.Peak muscle strength,position sense and force sense were mea-sured using the CON-TREX isokinetic muscle strength test system.Computerized dynamic posturography single-leg standing and Y-balance tests were used to assess static and dynamic postural control abilities.Correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationship between sensorimotor function and postural control ability in the observation group.Results The joint position sense and force sense errors were higher in the observation group than in the control group in all four movement directions(plantarflexion,dorsiflexion,inversion and eversion)(t>2.047,P<0.05).The me-diolateral center-of-pressure velocity(COPV)under eyes-open conditions,as well as anteroposterior and medio-lateral COPV under eyes-closed conditions were higher(t>2.609,P<0.01),and the Y-balance test reach dis-tances in all directions were lower(|t|>2.187,P<0.05)in the observation group than in the control group.Corre-lation analyses demonstrated significant positive associations of plantarflexion and eversion joint position sense errors,and plantarflexion force sense error,to COPV in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions under cer-tain conditions(eyes open/eyes closed)(r=0.318 to 0.508,P<0.05).Significant negative associations were found from plantarflexion and eversion joint position sense errors,as well as plantarflexion,dorsiflexion and eversion force sense errors,to Y-balance test reach distances in certain directions(r=-0.313 to-0.433,P<0.05).Furthermore,peak plantarflexor and dorsiflexor strength showed significant positive associations with Y-balance test reach distances in certain directions(r=0.316 to 0.470,P<0.05).Conclusion Patients with CAI exhibit diminished ankle position and force sense,which correlate with deficits in static and dynamic postural control abilities,suggesting that position and force sense deficits may be important factors limiting the corection of normal postural control after CAI.
Keywords：chronic ankle instabilityproprioceptionmuscle force perceptionmuscle strengthpostural control
Publication Date：2026-02-25
Online Publishing Date：2026-03-18(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：9( 206-214 )