Effect of Closed Chain Exercises on Pain and Foot Function in Female Athletes with Ankle Sprain: An Experimental Study
Keywords:
Closed chain exercises, ankle sprain, female athletes, FADI, VAS, rehabilitation, proprioception, neuromuscular controlAbstract
Background: Ankle sprains are among the most common injuries in sports, particularly affecting young female athletes due to anatomical and neuromuscular factors. Recurrent sprains may lead to chronic ankle instability and impaired performance. Closed chain exercises (CCE), which involve weight-bearing movements, are believed to promote proprioception, joint stabilization, and neuromuscular control, but their exclusive role in ankle rehabilitation remains under-researched.
Need of the Study: Despite various physiotherapeutic modalities for ankle sprain management, limited studies focus solely on the impact of closed chain exercises. Given the increased susceptibility of female athletes to ankle instability, this study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured CCE protocol in improving pain and foot function.
Methodology: This experimental study included 30 female athletes aged 18–25 years with Grade I or II ankle sprains. Participants underwent a 6-week closed chain exercise protocol (4 sessions per week). Outcome measures were the Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, assessed pre- and post-intervention. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests.
Results: Post-intervention analysis showed significant improvements: i.e., FADI scores increased from 58.73 ± 12.31 to 75.53 ± 11.69 (p < 0.0001), indicating improved foot function & VAS scores decreased from 5.53 ± 0.91 to 2.87 ± 0.73 (p < 0.0001), reflecting reduced pain levels.
Conclusion: Closed chain exercises significantly improve foot function and reduce pain in young female athletes with ankle sprains. These results support incorporating CCE into rehabilitation protocols for optimal recovery and functional restoration
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