Effects of Open Kinetic Chain Exercise for the Gastrocnemius and Tibialis Anterior Muscles on Balance

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of open kinetic chain (OKC) exercise for the gastrocnemius (GCM) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles on static and dynamic balance and muscle strength. Methods: We recruited 21 healthy participants, dividing them into 3 groups (GCM, TA, and non-exercise). Each group contains 7 participants. Two exercise groups (GCM and TA) performed OKC exercise with elastic bands twice per week for 4 weeks, while non-exercise group did nothing. We obtained the data for static and dynamic balance and muscle strength before and after the intervention. We used the Kruskal–Wallis test to compare and analyze the pre–post-intervention differences among the groups. Results: For static balance, the stability index of the TA group was the lowest for the dynamic platform (p<0.05). The dynamic balance of the TA group increased for the anterior and posteromedial directions (p<0.05). The peak torque increased in the TA group for dorsiflexion (D/F) movement and in the GCM group for plantar flexion movement compared with the other groups, except for the left direction during D/F (p<0.05). Conclusion: OKC exercises with elastic bands were effective for selectively increasing muscle strength. It is clinically thought that strength training for TA muscles will be effective among the muscles of the ankle.