The Effect of Balance Training on Unloading Reaction in Individuals With Functional Ankle Instability

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of a balance training intervention on the change in hyper-reactivity to unloading reaction, ankle joint laxity, ankle joint proprioception and evertor muscle weakness in individuals with functional ankle instability (FAI) using quantitative biomechanical and neuromuscular measurements. We hypothesize that experimental FAI group will demonstrate a significant decline in unloading reaction following balance training while FAI control group will not show a significant decline in unloading reaction without training. We further hypothesize that experimental FAI group will demonstrate a significant improvement in the FAI score after the balance training measured by Ankle Instability questionnaire. Following balance training, there will be a significant correlation between the change in FAI score and change in the unloading reaction in the experimental group.