More on Balance

I am using this post to gather a few referenes togther for a piece I am writing for TGO on balance.

Is Balance Training Clinically Effective

Balance training can be used prophylactically or after an acute ankle sprain in an effort to reduce future ankle sprains,

Ankles can be strengthened to resist sprain

Sprained ankles can be avoided by those at high risk through a weekly balance training program, according to new research released today at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine at the HERSHEY(R) Lodge and Convention Center.

The Effectiveness of a Balance Training Intervention in Reducing the Incidence of Noncontact Ankle Sprains in High School Football Players

Conclusion: The increased risk of a non-contact inversion ankle sprain associated with a high body mass index and a previous ankle sprain was eliminated by the balance training intervention.

The intervention in this study was simple:

Players balanced for 5 minutes on each leg, 5 days per week, for 4 weeks in preseason and twice per week during the season.

Balance training improves function and postural control in those with chronic ankle instability.

Four weeks of balance training significantly improved self-reported function, static postural control  and dynamic postural control

Proprioception and Muscle Strength in Subjects With a History of Ankle Sprains and Chronic Instability

Conclusions: We suggest that the possible cause of chronic ankle instability is a combination of diminished proprioception and evertor muscle weakness. Therefore, we emphasize proprioception and strength training in the rehabilitation program for ankle instability.