Article

Studies investigating peroneal muscle reaction times in chronically
unstable ankle joints present conflicting results. The degree of reliability and
accuracy of these measurements is unknown in patients with chronic ankle
instability (CAI). METHODS: 40 patients with CAI and 30 healthy subjects were
tested using a sudden ankle inversion of 50 degrees while standing on a trapdoor
device. Sudden ankle inversion measurements were registered using
electromyography, accelerometry and electrogoniometry. For reliability testing,
intra-class coefficients (ICCs; model 3,1) and standard errors of measurements of
the latency time, motor response time and electromechanical delay of the peroneus
longus muscle, the time and angular position of onset of decelerations, the mean
and maximum inversion speed and the total inversion time were calculated in 15
patients with CAI. To assess between-group differences, t-tests for independent
samples (p<.05) were used. RESULTS: ICCs ranged from .20 (angular position of
onset of the second deceleration) to .98 (electromechanical delay of the peroneus
longus muscle). Significant between-group differences were observed in only 2 of
the 12 variables (for the electromechanical delay of the peroneus longus muscle,
p=.001; time of onset of the second deceleration, p=.040). CONCLUSIONS: The
latency time and motor response time of the peroneus longus muscle, the total
inversion time and the mean inversion speed demonstrate acceptable reliability in
healthy subjects and patients. The latency time and motor response time of the
peroneus longus muscle are not delayed in patients with CAI. Ankle inversion
measurements are not discriminative for CAI.

Langue : ANGLAIS