Effect of rearfoot orthotics on postural sway after lateral ankle sprain.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of different rearfoot orthotics on postural sway during unilateral stance after lateral ankle sprain.

DESIGN

Repeated-measures 3-factor analysis of variance on postural sway length and velocity in the frontal and sagittal planes with factors being stance leg (injured, uninjured), session (within 3 d, 2 wk, 4 wk postinjury), and condition (6 orthotic conditions).

SETTING

University biomechanics laboratory.

PATIENTS

Fifteen collegiate athletes with acute, unilateral first- or second-degree lateral ankle sprain.

INTERVENTIONS

Balance testing was performed under 6 conditions: (1) shoe only, (2) molded Aquaplast orthotic, (3) lateral heel wedge, (4) 7 degrees medially posted orthotic, (5) 4 degrees laterally posted orthotic, and (6) neutral orthotic.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Postural sway length and postural sway velocity in the frontal and sagittal planes.

RESULTS

Significant main effects were found for side and session, but not orthotic condition, for all 4 dependent variables. Postural sway length and velocity were greater on the injured limbs as compared with the uninjured limbs during the first 2 sessions but not during the third session. None of the orthotics significantly reduced postural sway compared with the shoe-only condition after lateral ankle sprain.

CONCLUSIONS

Rearfoot orthotics, irrespective of design or posting, were ineffective at improving postural sway after lateral ankle sprain.