The Effect of Strain-counterstrain on Ankle Instability

The Effectiveness of Strain Counterstrain in the Treatment of Patients With Chronic Ankle Instability: a Randomized Clinical Trial

This study seeks to determine the effectiveness of Strain Counterstrain in the treatment of chronic ankle instability.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Other Instability, Ankle and Foot
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Strain Counterstrain; Other: Sham strain counterstrain

Detailed Description

This study aimed to determine the effect of Strain Counterstrain (SCS) on dynamic balance and subjective sense of instability in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Although many studies have been published on CAI, the cause for this common clinical dysfunction remains inconclusive. No studies have assessed the effectiveness of SCS on CAI. Baseline information on all participants includes a demographic questionnaire, the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), and the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM). Participants were randomized into the SCS intervention group or the sham SCS control group. All participants received an intervention (as assigned) once a week for four weeks in addition to performing a prescribed home exercise program. At week four all participants repeated the outcome measures and completed a Global Rating of Change (GROC) form. The primary aim was examined with a 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 27
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • New York
    • Brooklyn, New York, United States, 11201
      • Long Island University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 55 years (ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• history of at least 1 ankle sprain, with pain and/or limping for more than 1 day, at least 3 months earlier
• 3 of more episodes of ankle giving way in the last 12 months
• chronic instability attributed to the original sprain injury
• age between 18-55

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of fracture or surgery in the affected ankle
• any other lower extremity musculoskeletal injury on the side of the involved ankle
• vestibular dysfunction or disorder
• history of balance dysfunction
• history of stroke or any other neurological pathology or disease
• history of ACL injury
• current participation in physical therapy or rehabilitation for the ankle injury
• evidence of CNS dysfunction

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: DOUBLE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Experimental group; Strain counterstrain intervention	Other: Strain Counterstrain
SHAM_COMPARATOR: Control Group; Sham Strain Counterstrain intervention	Other: Sham strain counterstrain

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Star Excursion Balance Test	A measure assessing dynamic standing balance as the individual stands on one leg and reaches, with the other leg, in eight different directions. The distances reached with the non-stance leg are measured.	baseline
Star Excursion Balance Test	A measure assessing dynamic standing balance as the individual stands on one leg and reaches, with the other leg, in eight different directions. The distances reached with the non-stance leg are measured.	4 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Foot and Ankle Ability Measure	This measures assesses ankle function skills subjectively via a questionnaire	baseline
Foot and Ankle Ability Measure	This measures assesses ankle function skills subjectively via a questionnaire	4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Long Island University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Cristiana K Collins, PhD, Long Island University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2008
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): July 1, 2009
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): July 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 24, 2013
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 30, 2013
• First Posted (ESTIMATE): January 1, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE): January 1, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 30, 2013
• Last Verified: December 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: manual therapy; chronic ankle instability; star excursion balance test; lateral ankle sprain; strain and counterstrain
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Sprains and Strains
• Other Study ID Numbers: CKCollins-SCS