Effects of ankle destabilization devices and rehabilitation on gait biomechanics in chronic ankle instability patients: A randomized controlled trial

27 patients with chronic ankle instability were randomized to a 4-week rehabilitation program to be completed with or without the use of ankle destabilization devices. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of ankle destabilization devices on ankle, knee, and hip joint kinematics, vertical ground reaction force, and surface electromyography of the anterior tibialis, peroneus brevis, peroneus longus, and medial gastrocnemius after 4 weeks of therapy. The only significant post-intervention difference observed within the ankle destabilization group for kinematic variables was a significant increase in mid-gait ankle dorsiflexion. Neither group demonstrated a significant pre- to post-intervention change in inversion-eversion angle or moment.