Correlates of Perceived Ankle Instability in Healthy Individuals Aged 8 to 101 Years

Abstract

ObjectivesTo provide reference data for the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) and to investigate the prevalence and correlates of perceived ankle instability in a large healthy population. DesignCross-sectional observational study. SettingUniversity laboratory. ParticipantsSelf-reported healthy individuals (N=900; age range, 8–101y, stratified by age and sex) from the 1000 Norms Project. InterventionsNot applicable. Main Outcome MeasuresParticipants completed the CAIT (age range, 18–101y) or CAIT-Youth (age range, 8–17y). Sociodemographic factors, anthropometric measures, hypermobility, foot alignment, toes strength, lower limb alignment, and ankle strength and range of motion were analyzed. ResultsOf the 900 individuals aged 8 to 101 years, 203 (23%) had bilateral and 73 (8%) had unilateral perceived ankle instability. The odds of bilateral ankle instability were 2.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7–3.8; P<.001) times higher for female individuals, decreased by 2% (95% CI, 1%–3%; P=.001) for each year of increasing age, increased by 3% (95% CI, 0%–6%; P=.041) for each degree of ankle dorsiflexion tightness, and increased by 4% (95% CI, 2%–6%, P<.001) for each centimeter of increased waist circumference. ConclusionsPerceived ankle instability was common, with almost a quarter of the sample reporting bilateral instability. Female sex, younger age, increased abdominal adiposity, and decreased ankle dorsiflexion range of motion were independently associated with perceived ankle instability.