Structural and Functional Alterations with Proprioception Deficits in Chronic Ankle Instability

Motivation: Understanding the neuropathological mechanisms of chronic ankle instability (CAI) is clearly of interest to both the practicing clinician and researchers on sports medicine. Goal(s): Ankle proprioception deficits occur in patients with CAI. The underlying central neuropathology is unclear. This study examined cerebellar vermis structure/function in CAI patients vs controls and associations with proprioception deficits. Approach: This research is a cross-sectional laboratory investigation. Results: Patients with CAI showed reduced gray matter volume (VBM) and increased functional connectivity (fALFF) in cerebellar vermis subregions IV/V compared to controls. Proprioceptive deficits in CAI patients were associated with lower VBM and higher fALFF values in these subregions. Impact: We hope the similar strategies could be applied to modulate our observed compensatory overactivation of vermis, make cerebellum more more efficient when handling the increased proprioceptive demands, and finally bring optimal clinical function to the patients with CAI.