The correlation between chronic ankle instability and strength deficit of the hip and knee musculature: a review of the literature

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of the present study is to analyze the correlation between people that suffer from chronic ankle instability and muscle strength deficits of the proximal joints of the lower limb, which are the hip and knee. Methods: The narrative review was conducted on MEDLINE using the selected keywords to build the search string. After inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, the articles were independently screened by two authors reading the titles and abstracts or full articles. The quality assessment was conducted using the NIH quality assessment tool for observational cohort and cross-sectional studies, the methodological index for non-randomized studies scale, the risk-of-bias tool for non-randomized trials, and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist. Result: From 506 papers originally identified through database search, six studies were finally selected. The quality score was medium to low in all studies according to selected tool. Major of the included studies underlined that the lower limb strength deficits represent a key factor in the rehabilitation path in patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI) and, in addition to predictable ankle’s muscle impairments, hip strength was a significant weakness in performance evaluation in this type of patients. Conclusion: It’s not possible to confirm to our knowledge a strictly significant correlation between strength deficit of hip and knee, when appreciated. These results, however, might suggest another time that the difference between people who suffer from CAI and coper is the rehabilitation program that patients follow after an injury. Keywords: Strength, Lower Extremity, Ankle Injury, Joint Instability