HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 35/8/1289    most recent 0363546507300059v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by McHugh, M. P. Articles by Nicholas, S. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by McHugh, M. P. Articles by Nicholas, S. J. Related Collections Children and Adolescents Ankle Football

The Effectiveness of a Balance Training Intervention in Reducing the Incidence of Noncontact Ankle Sprains in High School Football Players

Malachy P. McHugh, PhD^,*, Timothy F. Tyler, MSPT^,, Michael R. Mirabella, ATC, Michael J. Mullaney, DPT and Stephen J. Nicholas, MD

From the Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, New York, and Pro Sports Physical Therapy of Westchester, Scarsdale, New York

^* Address correspondence to Malachy P. McHugh, PhD, Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma, 130 East 77th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10021 (e-mail: mchugh{at}nismat.org).

Background: A high body mass index and previous ankle sprains have been shown to increase the risk of sustaining noncontact inversion ankle sprains in high school football players.

Hypothesis: Stability pad balance training reduces the incidence of noncontact inversion ankle sprains in football players with increased risk.

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods: Height, body mass, history of previous ankle sprains, and current ankle brace/tape use were documented at the beginning of preseason training in 2 high school varsity football teams for 3 consecutive years (175 player-seasons). Players were categorized as minimal risk, low risk, moderate risk, and high risk based on the history of previous ankle sprain and body mass index. Players in the low-, moderate-, and high-risk groups (ie, any player with a high body mass index and/or a previous ankle sprain) were placed on a balance training intervention on a foam stability pad. Players balanced for 5 minutes on each leg, 5 days per week, for 4 weeks in preseason and twice per week during the season. Postintervention injury incidence was compared with preintervention incidence (107 players-seasons) for players with increased risk.

Results: Injury incidence for players with increased risk was 2.2 injuries per 1000 exposures (95% confidence interval, 1.1–3.8) before the intervention and 0.5 (95% confidence interval, 0.2–1.3) after the intervention (P < .01). This represents a 77% reduction in injury incidence (95% confidence interval, 31%–92%).

Conclusion: The increased risk of a noncontact inversion ankle sprain associated with a high body mass index and a previous ankle sprain was eliminated by the balance training intervention.

Key Words: inversion injury • proprioception • stability pad • body mass index (BMI)