Abstract
Ankle destabilizing devices were developed to improve the recruitment of the
evertor muscles. Nevertheless, the activity of lower-leg muscles has never been
compared to each other during functional tests performed with destabilization.
The objectives were i) to compare the electromyographic activity between the
lower-leg muscles during four functional tests performed with ankle
destabilization, and ii) to determine sex-related differences in neuromuscular
activation. Twenty-six healthy volunteers (13 males, 13 females) performed the
modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT), unipedal balance and
weight-bearing inversion and eversion tests with a destabilizing device, while
recording electromyographic activity of the peroneus longus and brevis, tibialis
anterior, gastrocnemius lateralis and gluteus medius. The activity of peroneal
muscles was significantly greater than other muscles during all functional
tests. Furthermore, the anterior direction of the mSEBT was the one implying the
greatest activity of the peroneus longus muscle compared to the posteromedial
(p=0.003) or posterolateral (p<0.001) directions. Finally, no
significant sex-related differences in neuromuscular activity were reported.
This study highlights the effectiveness of the destabilizing device to involve
specifically the peroneal muscles when performing various functional tests. This
device should be used by clinicians to be more specific to the stabilizers of
the ankle joint during functional exercises.
Key words
postural control - inversion - eversion - prevention
