The change of corticomotor excitability in individuals with functional
ankle instability following progressive balance exercises: A randomized
clinical trial
Abstract
Progressive balance exercises may change corticomotor excitability
during the learning process of postural stability control. The primary
purpose of the present study was to assess corticomotor excitability
corresponding to the peroneus longus muscle under transcranial magnetic
stimulation following 6 weeks of progressive balance exercises in
individuals suffering from functional ankle instability. Eligible
volunteers with functional ankle instability were randomly and equally
assigned to either the intervention or control groups. The intervention
group participated in progressive balance exercises every other day for
6 weeks, while the control group continued their daily activities and
refrained from new physical activities. The variables were measured in
the intervention group before and after the progressive balance
exercises, and in the control group twice at an interval of 6 weeks. The
primary variables included the active and resting corticomotor
thresholds, motor evoked potential, and cortical silent period, which
were measured using an electromyography device under a transcranial
magnetic stimulator. The corticomotor thresholds and cortical silent
period of the peroneus longus muscle significantly decreased in the
intervention group following progressive balance exercises (p-value
< 0.001), whereas the normalized motor evoked potential
significantly increased in the same group (p-value < 0.001).
Conversely, no significant changes were detected in the control group
(p-value > 0.086). The present study revealed, for the
first time, that 6 weeks of progressive balance exercises significantly
increased corticomotor excitability corresponding to the peroneus longus
muscle and improved balance control in individuals suffering from
functional ankle instability.