Ankle Stability And Single-leg Balance Control In Collegiate Female Soccer Players Versus Non-soccer Players

PURPOSE: Ankle sprains are very common in female soccer players. After ankle injuries, compromised proprioception and neuromuscular control may lead to chronic ankle instability and balance control deficits in female soccer players. This study aimed to examine if female collegiate soccer players exhibited worse ankle stability and static/dynamic single-leg balance than female non-soccer players, and whether there was a correlation between ankle stability and static/dynamic single-leg balance in those participants. METHODS: Eighteen female collegiate soccer players (aged 18-21 years) and 22 female non-soccer players (aged 19-27 years) participated in the study. The Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) was used to evaluate ankle stability. The Athletic Single Leg Stability Test (ASLST) of the Biodex Balance System was used to examine static single-leg balance, and the Y-Balance Test (YBT) was used to examine dynamic single-leg balance. RESULTS: 55.56% of soccer players and 9.09% of non-soccer players exhibited chronic ankle instability. The CAIT score of soccer players was significantly lower (worse ankle stability) than non-soccer players (p = .016) with a large effect size of .847 (Hedge's g). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the ASLST and the YBT (p > .152 in all comparisons). Lastly, very low correlations were found between the CAIT score and single-leg balance measures (r < .086 for all comparisons). CONCLUSION: Female collegiate soccer players had a higher prevalence of chronic ankle instability than non-soccer players. However, those players who exhibited worsened ankle stability might not exhibit compromised single-leg balance. It is possible that soccer players might have established better motor control of single-leg standing through years of training to compensate for worse ankle stability. In addition, ankle stability status alone might not accurately represent static or dynamic single-leg balance control in female collegiate soccer players. Graduate Research Fellowship