EFFICACY OF BALANCE TRAINING PROGRAM IN REDUCING ANKLE INSTABILITY AMONG RUNNERS

Introduction: Ankle sprains are prevalent injuries within physically active individuals. Even a single ankle injury can lead to balance impairments, recurring instability, and subsequent sprains. Recurrent ankle sprain leads to ankle instability. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the alterations of balance parameters among runners with ankle instability and to determine efcacy of balance training program in reducing ankle instability among runners. Methods: The study was experimental in nature in which 30 runners, both males (mean age 23.6±2.14) and females (mean age 21.5±1.305) from Punjabi University Patiala were selected as per inclusion criteria with ankle instability and divided into two equal groups, an intervention group and a control group with and without balance training respectively. Pre and post assessments were conducted for both groups using the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) and balancing parameters, such as A/P and M/L oscillation range and average speed, on a force platform (BTS bio-engineering) followed by data analysis done by using software SPSS-20. Results: The intervention group showed statistically signicant reduction in A/P and M/L oscillation range and average speed (P<0.05) and statistically signicant increase in CAIT scores (P<0.05) as compared to control group. Conclusion: The intervention group showed statistically signicant improvement in the CAIT and balance parameters after the balancing exercises. The runners who were part of the intervention group exhibited signicantly reduced ankle instability compared to the control group when they performed balancing exercises.