Abstract

Background: functional ankle instability (FAI) is one of the consequences that often follow an ankle sprain. Balance is one of the important aspects of the functional capacity of these patients and has been related to recurrences. To clinically assess the balance in different conditions is important to detect differences between healthy subjects and subjects with FAI. Objective: to compare the unipodal lower limb balance on different surfaces and with open eyes (OE) and close eyes (CE) conditions between subjects after FAI and healthy subjects. Material and method: a comparative cross-sectional descriptive study was designed between two groups: FAI Group (n = 15) and Control Group (n = 15). The maintenance time in the balance test was evaluated on a firm surface, foam and bosu with OE and CE conditions. Results: The FAI Group showed a lower balance capacity than Control Group on a firm surface (p < 0.01) and foam (p < 0.05) under CE conditions and on the bosu surface under OE conditions (p < 0.01). In both groups when comparing the different surfaces statistically significant differences were found between the hard surface and bosu, and between foam and bosu with OE and between all surfaces with CE. The bosu was the most demanding support followed by the foam. Conclusions: the balance in unipodal support in subjects with functional ankle instability is decreased showing less capacity to maintain the unipodal support test on a firm surface and foam with CE and in bosu with EO.