OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of 6 wks of peroneal longus neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the balance control ability in young adults with chronic ankle instability. DESIGN: This study is a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Six weeks of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and placebo intervention were conducted in the neuromuscular electrical stimulation and control groups for 20 mins, three times a week, respectively. Thirty-eight participants successfully completed the whole intervention and single-leg standing tests. The kinetics data of the center of pressure trajectory during static single-leg stance were measured using a Kistler force platform. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to analyze the electrical stimulation effects. RESULTS: Significant interactions were detected in Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool scores and all balance parameters including displacement X, displacement Y, 95% confidence ellipse area, root-mean-square, and center of pressure mean displacement velocity (p < 0.05, 0.103 <= n2 <= 0.201). Significant between-group differences were found in Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool scores (p = 0.003, Cohen's d 0.215), displacement X (p = 0.045, Cohen's d 0.107), root-mean-square ml (p = 0.019, Cohen's d 0.143), and 95% confidence ellipse area (p = 0.031, Cohen's d 0.123) after the 6-wk interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Six weeks of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the peroneus longus can improve static balance control ability in young adults with chronic ankle instability, especially the stability of ankle frontal plane.

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