09-05-2024 | Research
Neurofeedback training can increase the effectiveness of neuromuscular training on balance and limit of stability of athletes with chronic ankle instability: three arms and single-blind randomized control trial
Authors:
Ali Yalfani, Masoud Azizian, Behnam Gholami-Borujeni
Published in:
Sport Sciences for Health
|
Issue 4/2024
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Abstract
Introduction
Chronic ankle instability can impair balance, ankle range of motion, and strength. Neurofeedback training was recently used to rehabilitate musculoskeletal injuries. This study investigated the effectiveness of adding neurofeedback training to neuromuscular training on the balance, limit of stability, ankle range of motion, and strength of athletes with chronic ankle instability.
Methods
This study was three arms and a single-blind randomized control trial. Participants were 62 young male athletes with chronic ankle instability who were randomly divided into 3 groups; combination group, neuromuscular group, and control group. Eight weeks of intervention were carried out in training groups. Outcome measures were balance control, the limit of stability, ankle range of motion, and strength.
Results
The study results indicated that neurofeedback training + neuromuscular training and neuromuscular training alone improved balance, the limit of stability, ankle range of motion, and strength. Also, neurofeedback training + neuromuscular training was more effective than neuromuscular training alone in variables of dynamic balance in anterior–posterior (p = 0.031), the limit of stability in the left (p = 0.003), forward-left (p = 0.045), and backward-right (p = 0.048).
Conclusion
Considering that the improvement in dynamic balance in anterior–posterior, the limit of stability in the left, forward-left, and backward-right was greater in the combined (neurofeedback training + neuromuscular training) group compared to neuromuscular training alone, neurofeedback training can be considered as a complementary program to rehabilitation protocols for chronic ankle instability.
Trial registration
IRCTID, IRCT20211018052799N1. Registered 1 December 2021