The influence of an individual exercise program on stability and proprioception improvement in a patient after ankle sprain

Abstract

Background. Among the most common ankle injuries in volleyball players are sprains. They often occur during the jumping and landing phases. The injury may lead to proprioceptive disorders and stability issues. The aim of this study was to present the influence of an individual exercise program on improving stability and proprioception in a patient after experiencing a sprained ankle. Material and methods. The case study included a 20-year-old patient who suffered a right ankle sprain. The patient, an active volleyball player, reported instability and periodically occurring pain. After conducting an objective assessment of stability and proprioception using the diagnostic and therapeutic system with a stabilometric platform and camera 3D, the patient underwent an individual exercise program. The patient also reported a pain level of 6 on the VAS scale. Results. The initial overall stability of the patient, measured as the ellipse surface, improved from 337.04 mm² to 190.94 mm². Proprioception, assessed as the average tracking error (ATE), changed from 21.78% to 21.17% for the left lower limb and from 38.52% to 27.43% for the right lower limb. The pain level on the VAS scale decreased to 4. Conclusion. The conducted exercise program has a positive impact on improving stability and proprioception, as well as reducing the level of chronic pain.