Effects Of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined With Short-Foot Exercise On Proprioception And Dynamic Balance In People With Chronic Ankle Instability

Background: Proprioception and balance decline are highly general in people with chronic ankle instability(CAI).Because the control of proprioception and balance functions depends on a variety of neurophysiological systems,including the activation of the cerebral cortex(such as the primary sensorimotor cortex).According to research,the excitability of the primary sensorimotor cortex of CAI population will be reduced.In this double-blind randomized controlled study,we aimed to observe the effect of high-precision transcranial direct current stimulation on the sensorimotor cortex combined with short-foot training on proprioception and dynamic balance performance of CAI population.Methods: Thirty young subjects completed baseline assessments including the Active Movement Extent Discrimination Apparatus(AMEDA),Joint Position Reproduction(JPR)test,Y-balance test,and the Sensory Organization Test(SOT).Then randomly receive anode HD-tDCS in combination with SFE or sham HD-tDCS(i.e.,control)stimulation for a four-week intervention.Baseline assessments were repeated onceweekly throughout the intervention and during a two-week follow-up period.Results: Both groups showed significant improvement in the AMEDA test(p<0.05).In the JPR test,when the inversion was 15°,the HD-tDCS group had a significant improvement(p<0.05),and the control group had no improvement effect(p>0.05);when the valgus was 15°,the two groups had a significant improvement(p<0.05);There was no improvement effect in both groups at 10° inversion(p>0.05).In the Y balance test,only the HD-tDCS group showed a significant increase(p<0.05).In the SOT test,the HD-tDCS group showed a significant improvement effect(p<0.05)in the 4-6conditions,and the control group only showed the improvement effect in the sixth condition(p<0.05).Conclusion: Through central nerve regulation combined with peripheral nerve regulation,HD-tDCS combined with short foot exercise can more quickly improve the proprioception function of CAI people,and can mobilize the visual and vestibular sensory systems to promote the improvement of the dynamic balance performance of CAI people,and these improvement effects can be maintained for a long time.