Compare the Effect of Traditional and Virtual Reality Training on Subjective-sense of Instability and Balance in Basketball-players with Functional Ankle Instability: Matched Randomized Clinical Trial

Functional ankle instability (FAI) is a common injury. Traditional training improved the reported balance impairment and subjective sense of instability in athletes with FAI.

This study aims to compare the effects of traditional and virtual reality training on a subjective sense of instability and balance in athlete with FAI.

In this single-blinded matched randomized clinical trial design, Fifty-four basketball players were randomly assigned in the virtual reality (n=27) or control (n=27) groups. All athletes performed 12 sessions Wii exercises or traditional training in the virtual reality and the control group, respectively, for three days a week. To assess the subjective-sense of instability and balance, we used Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) and Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), respectively. Measures were taken at pre- and post-test and one month after training as a follow-up. The between-group comparisons were done by the analysis of Covariance.

At the pre-test, the CAIT score was 22.37, 22.04 in the control and virtual reality groups, respectively and at the post-test, these scores increased to 26.63, 27.26. The involved limb showed significant differences in posteromedial and posterior directions of the SEBT and CAIT score in the post-test and in the posterior direction and CAIT score in the follow-up. The virtual reality group had better performance than the control group but the effect size is small (cohen’s d<0.2). 

Based on our results, both training protocols were effective in reducing the subjective-sense of instability and improved balance in athletes with FAI. Moreover, virtual reality training was very attractive for the participants.