The impact of whole-body vibration training and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on biomechanical characteristics of lower extremity during cutting movement in individuals with functional ankle instability: A parallel-group study.

BACKGROUND: We compared the effects of whole-body vibration training and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on the biomechanical characteristics of the lower limbs in functional ankle instability patients during cutting movement to ascertain the superior rehabilitation method. METHODS: Twenty-two male College students with unilateral functional ankle instability volunteered for this study and were randomly divided into whole-body vibration training group and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation group. Kinematics data and ground reaction forces were collected using infrared motion capture system and 3-D force plates synchronously during cutting. Repeated measures two-way ANOVA was performed to analyze the data. FINDINGS: Both training methods reduced the maximum hip abduction angle (p = 0.010, effect size: proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation = 0.69; whole-body vibration training = 0.20), maximum knee flexion angle (p = 0.008, effect size: proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation = 0.39, whole-body vibration training = 1.26) and angular velocity (p = 0.014, effect size: proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation = 0.62, whole-body vibration training = 0.55), maximum ankle inversion angular velocity (p = 0.020, effect size: proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation = 0.52, whole-body vibration training = 0.81), and knee flexion angle at the time of maximum vertical ground reaction forces (p = 0.018, effect size: proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation = 0.27, whole-body vibration training = 0.76), and increased the maximum ankle dorsiflexion moment (p = 0.049, effect size: proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation = -0.52, whole-body vibration training = -0.22). Whole-body vibration training reduced the maximum ground reaction forces value in the mediolateral directions (p = 0.010, effect size = 0.82) during cutting movement. INTERPRETATION: These findings suggested that the two types of training might increase neuromuscular conduction function around the ankle. After these two types of training, functional ankle instability patients showed a similar risk of injury to the lateral ankle ligaments during cutting.

Acute effects of Kinesio Taping on lower-limb coordination of gait in hemiplegic patients.

BACKGROUND: Kinesio taping can effectively strengthen weakened muscles, increase walking speed, and improve dynamic balance in hemiplegic patients, but its effect on lower-limb coordination is not clear. Improving lower-limb coordination in hemiplegic patients can decrease risk of fall during walking. RESEARCH QUESTION: This study utilized continuous relative phase to depict the pattern and variability of lower-limb coordination in hemiplegic patients and healthy subjects during walking, and investigate whether it has the acute effect of Kinesio Taping on lower-limb coordination in hemiplegic patients during walking. METHODS: Gait was measured by a three-dimensional motion capture system for 29 hemiplegic patients (KT group) and 15 healthy subjects (control group). Mean continuous relative phase (MCRP) and mean continuous relative phase variability (MCRPV) were calculated to describe and evaluate lower-limb coordination. RESULTS: KT intervention only changed the coordination between the bilateral ankle joints in hemiplegic patients. Before the intervention, the MCRP of the two ankles (AA-MCRP) in the stance period of the control group was greater than the KT group (P < 0.001), the MCRPV of the two ankles (AA-MCRPV) in the swing period was lower than that in KT group (P < 0.001). After the intervention, the AA-MCRP in the stance period of the KT group increased (P < 0.001), the AA-MRPV in the swing period of KT group significantly decreased (P = 0.001). SIGNIFICANCE: Immediate ankle KT intervention can result in the in-phase or anti-phase coordination between the two ankles developing to out-of-phase coordination during the stance period of the affected limb during walking, and increase the stability of the out-of-phase coordination between the two ankles during the swing period of the affected limb. KT can be used in rehabilitation treatment for hemiplegic patients to improve acute coordination between the patients' ankles.