The effect of three different ankle braces on local dynamical stability of individuals with chronic ankle instability during Running

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of three different ankle braces using the Maximum Lyapunov exponent on local dynamical stability of individuals with chronic ankle instability during running. Twelve subjects with chronic ankle instability as injured group and 12 healthy individuals participated in this study. Injured group performed 70 strides of treadmill running in shoe and rigid, semi-rigid and soft braces as well as no-brace conditions. The healthy group performed the test only in no-brace condition. Kinematics data were used to calculate the short time (λ_S) and long time (λ_L) maximum Lyapunov exponent. The results showed that λ_S of running in semi-rigid brace is significantly different with running in other braces in chronic ankle instability group; but it was not different with the control group. It seems running in semi-rigid brace in chronic ankle instability group provides stability like healthy control group.