Context: Ankle-joint mobilization and neuromuscular and strength training have been deemed beneficial in the management of patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI). CrossFit training is a sport modality that involves these techniques.
Objective: To determine and compare the influence of adding self-mobilization of the ankle joint to CrossFit training versus CrossFit alone or no intervention in patients with CAI.
Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial.
Setting: Research laboratory.
Patients or other participants: Seventy recreational athletes with CAI were randomly allocated to either self-mobilization plus CrossFit training, CrossFit training alone, or a control group.
Intervention(s): Participants in the self-mobilization plus CrossFit group and the CrossFit training-alone group pursued a CrossFit training program twice a week for 12 weeks. The self-mobilization plus CrossFit group performed an ankle self-mobilization protocol before their CrossFit training, and the control group received no intervention.
Main outcome measure(s): Ankle-dorsiflexion range of motion (DFROM), subjective feeling of instability, and dynamic postural control were assessed via the weight-bearing lunge test, Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool, and Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), respectively.
Results: After 12 weeks of the intervention, both the self-mobilization plus CrossFit and CrossFit training-alone groups improved compared with the control group (P < .001). The self-mobilization plus CrossFit intervention was superior to the CrossFit training-alone intervention regarding ankle DFROM as well as the posterolateral- and posteromedial-reach distances of the SEBT but not for the anterior-reach distance of the SEBT or the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool.
Conclusions: Ankle-joint self-mobilization and CrossFit training were effective in improving ankle DFROM, dynamic postural control and self-reported instability in patients with CAI.
Keywords: balance; range of motion; rehabilitation.