Author: Xiao-Hua Ke1, Dun-Bing Huang2, Yin-Yan Li3, Xiao-Mei Li4, Jin-Hua Guo4, Miao-Miao Guo4, Sheng-Xian Yu4, Sheng-Chao Ma4, Cai Jiang4,5,6, Zhong-Hua Lin4,5,6
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
<sup>2</sup> Rehabilitation Center, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, China.
<sup>3</sup> General Outpatient Department, Fujian Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Fuzhou, China.
<sup>4</sup> Shengli Clinical Medical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
<sup>5</sup> The Second Rehabilitation Department, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China.
<sup>6</sup> Fujian Institute of Clinical Geriatric, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China.
Conference/Journal: Front Neurol
Date published: 2022 Sep 21
Other:
Volume ID: 13 , Pages: 923669 , Special Notes: doi: 10.3389/fneur.2022.923669. , Word Count: 371
Background:
Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is a physical activity modality that originated in China and is now widely popular around the world. Although there are a series of articles reporting that TCC can improve balance and other functional symptoms in a variety of populations, including the elderly, patients with stroke, and patients with Parkinson's disease, its efficiency has not been scientifically and methodically evaluated in subjects with functional ankle instability (FAI). Moreover, there is no literature directly comparing TCC and conventional balance training (CBT) interventions for FAI. The objective of this study is to investigate the comparative effects of TCC intervention and CBT protocols in improving postural balance and subjective instability feelings in patients with FAI.
Methods:
This study will be a single-center, parallel group, randomized controlled trial. Sixty-eight patients with FAI will be included and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either an intervention group (n =34) or a control group (n = 34). The participants in the intervention group will complete 12 weeks of TCC intervention (40 min/time, 3 times/week for 12 weeks) on the basis of health education treatment. The control group will receive health education and 36 CBT sessions during a 12-week period. Outcome measures include postural stability and self-reported feelings of instability at baseline, after the end of the intervention, and 3-month follow-up. The postural stability assessment of patients with FAI will be detected by performing static and dynamic postural tests, which will be carried out through a specific balance platform (TecnoBody ProKin). Self-reported feelings of instability will be assessed by Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT), American Orthopedics Foot and Ankle Society's Ankle-Hindfoot Evaluation Scale (AOFAS-AHES), and the MOS item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36).
Discussion:
This trial will demonstrate whether a 12-week TCC intervention positively affects postural stability and self-reported outcomes in patients with FAI. At the same time, the superiority of its clinical efficacy will also be compared with that of CBT. This study may also help to redefine the value of traditional Chinese exercises in the treatment of chronic ankle instability.
Clinical trial registration:
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2100041790. Registration date: 22 March 2021. http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=119501&htm=4.
Keywords: Tai Chi Chuan; functional ankle instability; postural stability; protocol; self-reported instability.
PMID: 36212637 PMCID: PMC9535359 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.923669