Assessing Balance in Young Athletes With and Without Chronic Ankle Instability

Background and Purpose Chronic ankle instability is a common condition following ankle sprains. While the condition is well-documented in adult and collegiate athletes, its impact on pediatric populations, particularly those engaged in high-intensity sports, remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate static and dynamic balance performance in young athletes between 8 and 16 years of age with and without chronic ankle instability. Design and Methods Thirty young athletes were categorized into three groups: ten participants with no history of ankle sprains, called healthy, ten participants with a history of ankle sprain but without persistent symptoms, called copers, and ten participants with clinically diagnosed chronic ankle instability. Static balance was assessed using the Single Leg Stance Test, and dynamic balance was evaluated using the Y-Balance Test (YBT). A one-way ANOVA was analyzed to compare differences among groups, followed by post hoc tests for comparing between groups. Results Significant group differences were found in static balance under eyes-open conditions on both firm and foam surfaces (p=0.001 and 0.039, respectively). The chronic ankle instability group demonstrated significantly poorer performance compared to the healthy and coper groups. For dynamic balance, significant differences were observed in the anterior, posterolateral reach direction, and the composite YBT score (p=0.009, 0.031, and 0.010, respectively), with the chronic ankle instability group performing significantly worse than the healthy group. Conclusion Young athletes with chronic ankle instability exhibit impaired static and dynamic balance performance. Therefore, it is crucial to emphasize appropriate rehabilitation and recovery strategies to prevent long-term consequences and enhance physical performance in this population.