Detecting Movement Errors in Chronic Ankle Instability Patients: Comparing Fusionetics to the LESS

Lateral ankle sprains are the most common injuries in sport, and many who have an initial lateral ankle sprain go on to experience recurrent sprains and instability; defined at chronic ankle instability (CAI). The purpose was to determine whether Fusionetics or the Landing Error Scoring System (LESS), movement efficiency exams, are able to detect differences between collegiate athletes with and without CAI. Lower extremity Fusionetics tests (overhead squat, overhead squat with heel lift, and single limb squat) and the LESS were performed. Nonparametric analyses found no differences between groups for any of the five outcome measures. Further, no correlations were found between injury characteristics (questionnaires and number of sprains) and outcome measures within the CAI group. The results indicate that Fusionetics and LESS exams are not able to detect differences between those who have CAI and healthy controls. Neither task are likely ankle specific enough to detect differences.Master of Art