| The effect of six weeks of short foot training on balance and proprioception in female handball players with chronic ankle instability |
| Paper ID : 1655-SPORTCONGRESS |
| Authors |
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Melika Ghanbary *1, حمید طباطبایی2 1کارشناسی ارشد، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد تهران جنوب 2استادیار، دانشکده علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد تهران جنوب |
| Abstract |
| Introduction: Given the dynamic and physically demanding nature of handball, players often experience sensorimotor deficits and mechanical instability, which contribute to the development of chronic ankle instability (Spennacchio et al., 2018). Ankle instability can lead to changes in neuromuscular function within the nervous system and result in undesirable consequences. This is because ankle joint instability, through disruptions in proprioception, can cause both local and global alterations in motor control programs related to balance (Donovan et al., 2020). Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of a six-week short-foot exercise program on balance and proprioception in female handball players with chronic ankle instability. Methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest control group design. Thirty female handball players aged 20 to 30 years with chronic ankle instability from Tehran were purposefully selected and randomly assigned to two groups: short-foot exercises (n=15) and control (n=15). Participants’ balance and proprioception were assessed during the pretest and posttest phases using the Y Balance Test, Stork Test, and a goniometer, respectively. The intervention lasted six weeks, with six 30-minute sessions per week, during which participants in the experimental group performed short-foot exercises, while those in the control group continued their routine daily activities. The collected data were analyzed using paired t-tests and covariance analysis. Results: The results showed that short-foot exercises significantly improved static balance, dynamic balance, 10° dorsiflexion, and 20° plantarflexion in female handball players with chronic ankle instability (P < 0.05). However, the exercises did not have a significant effect on proprioception during 20° inversion and 10° eversion movements (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Based on these findings, short-foot exercises are recommended as an effective method to improve balance and proprioceptive function related to dorsiflexion and plantarflexion in female handball players with chronic ankle instability. |
| Keywords |
| Short Foot Exercises, Balance, Proprioception, Chronic Ankle Instability, Handball |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |
