Effects of Therapeutic Exercise on Pain, Range of Motion, Strength and Balance Ability in a Patient with Anterior Ankle Impingement: A Case Study

Abstract

| Abstract |1) PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of therapeutic exercise on pain, range of motion and strength, and balance ability in a patient with an anterior ankle impingement (AAI). METHODS: A-32-year-old male presented limited ankle motion and pain with forced dorsiflexion at both ankle joints. In response, a therapeutic exercise program consisted of ankle joint mobilization, strength exercises using an elastic band, and proprioceptive exercises including semi-squats and a one-legged standing exercise with open and closed eyes. The program was performed for 40 min/day, twice per week, for 8 weeks. Pain, range of motion (ROM), and muscle strength (ankle dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, inversion, and eversion), †Corresponding Author : magga7@naver.com This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. as well as a one-legged standing test of both ankles, were measured before and after 4 and 8 weeks of therapeutic exercise. RESULTS: VAS decreased in both ankles after 8 weeks of exercise, respectively, compared to baseline levels. Range of motion and strength increased in both ankles for dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, inversion, and eversion after 8 weeks of exercise compared to baseline levels. In addition, the ability to perform a one-legged standing test with eyes opened and closed improved in both legs after 8 week of exercise compared to baseline levels. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that therapeutic exercise improves pain, ROM, muscle strength, and balancing ability in patients with AAI.