Hip Strength and Chronic Ankle Instability – What Do We Know in 2026?

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) develops in approximately 46% of individuals who have sustained an ankle sprain and affects the entire sensorimotor system. This poster presents a targeted narrative synthesis of selected original research, including the author’s recent studies, and systematic reviews on the role of hip muscle strength in CAI diagnosis and treatment, with emphasis on recent meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials from 2024–2026 (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science). Isometric measurements showed hip strength deficits in CAI, whereas isokinetic testing at 60°/s showed no significant differences. Hip strengthening interventions improved dynamic balance, static balance, hip abductor strength and self-reported outcomes (FAAM, CAIT), yet the clinical importance of the improvements remains unclear because mean differences may not exceed the minimal clinically important difference. Isometric assessment of hip strength is recommended as part of functional evaluation in CAI.