The effect of G-max and G-med muscles fatigue on functional performance and balance in athletes with and without chronic ankle instability

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have reported that athletes with chronic ankle instability have altered gluteal muscles activation; however: there has not been an investigation that study the effect of hip musculature fatigue on ankle functional performance. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to study the effect of gluteal muscles fatigue on functional performance testing and balance in athletes with and without chronic ankle instability. Methods: In this semiexperimental study, we recruited 24 physically active participants. We separated the participants into 2 groups: 12 female with chronic ankle instability (CAI) and 12 control subjects. We applied gluteal muscles fatigue protocol and immediately after that functional performance tests were measured. Results: Our results showed that, the difference in the scores of figure 8 tests was significant but there were no significant differences between groups. Also, scores of side hop test were significantly different after fatigue, and significant differences existed between groups. 6-meters cross test had similar results to figure 8, and the square test had similar results to side hop test. The difference in results of Romberg test scores for assessment of static balance and Y-test scores for assessment of dynamic balance were significant in after fatigue protocol, with no significant differences between groups. Conclusions: The results showed that hip muscles fatigue increased the time of all functional performance tests, but two test scores had significant differences between groups, so gluteal fatigue should be considered as a risk factor for recurrent ankle sprains.