Whole-body-vibration training and balance in recreational athletes with chronic ankle instability

Abstract

Context: Deficits in the propioceptive system of the ankle contribute to chronic ankle instability (CAI). Recently, whole-body-vibration (WBV) training has been introduced as a preventive and rehabilitative tool. Objective: To evaluate how a 6-week WBV training program on an unstable surface affected balance and body composition in recreational athletes with CAI. Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial. Setting: Research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Fifty recreational athletes with self-reported CAI were randomly assigned to a vibration (VIB), nonvibration (NVIB), or control group. Intervention(s): The VIB and NVIB groups performed unilateral balance training on a BOSU 3 times weekly for 6 weeks. The VIB group trained on a vibration platform, and the NVIB group trained on the floor. Main Outcome Measure(s): We assessed balance using the Biodex Balance System and the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT). Body composition was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Results: After 6 weeks of training, improvements on the Biodex Balance System occurred only on the Overall Stability Index (P ¼ .01) and Anterior-Posterior Stability Index (P ¼ .03) in the VIB group. We observed better performance in the medial (P ¼ .008) and posterolateral (P ¼ .04) directions and composite score of the SEBT in the VIB group (P ¼ .01) and in the medial (P, .001), posteromedial (P ¼ .002), and posterolateral (P ¼ .03) directions and composite score of the SEBT in the NVIB group (P, .001). No changes in body composition were found for any of the groups. Conclusions: Only the VIB group showed improvements on the Biodex Balance System, whereas the VIB and NVIB groups displayed better performance on the SEBT.