Eccentric/concentric ratios at selected velocities for the invertor and evertor muscles of the chronically unstable ankle.

OBJECTIVE: The use of muscle balancing by the clinician to determine return to activity or discharge of a patient is not a well understood measure. Because of the lack of information on the poorly understood concept of eccentric/concentric (E/C) ratios at the ankle, the purpose was to determine the E/C ratios for the invertor and evertor muscles at various velocities in healthy and chronically unstable ankles. METHODS: Ten subjects with healthy ankles and 14 with chronically unstable ankles performed five maximal effort reciprocal eccentric/contraction contractions on an isokinetic dynamometer at four velocities (60, 120, 180, and 240 degrees/s) and for each physiological movement of inversion and eversion. Data were analysed using a two way mixed model analysis of variance with repeated measures, with Tukey's test used for post hoc analysis. RESULTS: Although the chronically unstable ankle was significantly weaker (p < 0.05) eccentrically and concentrically for inversion and eversion, the main effect of the E/C ratios for the ankle was not significant for either joint motion. The main effect of velocity was significant (p < 0.05) for each joint motion, but no significant interaction effects were observed. As velocity increased, the E/C ratio increased, except at 180 and 240 degrees/s for either ankle group. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic ankle instability and muscle weakness co-exist. Adequate E/C ratios in the chronically unstable ankle may exist in the absence of normal strength values.