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Background: Chronic ankle sprain is a common condition among football players, leading to functional instability and reduced athletic performance. Appropriate rehabilitation strategies are crucial to restore function and prevent recurrence.Objective: To compare the effects of closed-chain exercises versus neuromuscular training on functional performance in football players with chronic ankle sprain.Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted with 34 football players (aged 18-35 years), divided into two groups: Group A (closed-chain exercises) and Group B (neuromuscular training), with 17 participants in each group. The interventions were administered thrice weekly for four weeks. Functional performance was assessed using single-leg balance, wobble board balance, Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), Y Balance Test, and validated questionnaires: IdFAI, AII, and FAAM. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0, applying Wilcoxon Signed Rank and Mann-Whitney U tests.Results: Group A demonstrated significantly higher post-intervention scores in SEBT (69.59 vs. 63.59; p = 0.018) and Y Balance Test (73.35 vs. 68.88; p = 0.030) compared to Group B. Both groups showed significant within-group improvements (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Closed-chain exercises were more effective than neuromuscular training in enhancing functional performance, suggesting their priority in early rehabilitation for chronic ankle instability.
Zafar et al. (Sun,) studied this question.