Integrating Contemporary Models of Motor Control and Health in Chronic Ankle Instability: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Numerous structural and functional alterations have been identified as contributing factors associated with chronic ankle instability (CAI). However, little evidence has connected local instability with self-reported disability or functional loss. The dynamical-systems theory of motor control offers a constraints-led approach for interpreting movement dysfunction based on organismic, task-specific, and environmental factors. These factors interact to organize sensorimotor coordination, creating functional variability to complete movement goals. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) is a model of health, examining function at the level of the body or body parts, the whole person, and the whole person in his or her environment. Combining the fundamental components of both theories offers a model that may recognize the link between instability and function. The purpose of this literature review is to discuss the dynamic systems theory, the ICF model, and how integrating both concepts can be used to address, track, and interpret deficits associated with CAI.