Assessment of balance and fear of falling in individuals with acute ankle sprain: A cross-sectional pilot study

The primary objective of this research was to assess balance, pain, and fear of falling (FOF) among individuals with an acute ankle sprain. The secondary objective was to correlate FOF with pain and balance. The research was conducted among individuals with acute ankle sprain —two to three days after removal of two weeks of casting at M S Ramaiah hospitals, Bengaluru. The primary outcome measures were the Short Falls Efficacy Scale-International (Short FES-I) and the star excursion balance test (SEBT), and the secondary outcome measure was the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS). Cutoff points for Short FES-I defined in prior research using receiver operator characteristic plots were used in this study. For Short FES-I, frequencies and percentages were employed. The NPRS and SEBT were measured using means and standard deviations. The results showed that among 21 individuals, 76.2% had FOF. Among those with FOF, 56.25% had moderate FOF, and 43.75% had severe FOF. Mean SEBT scores were greater for the uninvolved limb than for the involved limb. Spearman’s Rho test showed that the Short FES-I and NPRS showed no correlation (P = 0.102 > 0.05), and Short FES-I and SEBT showed a significant correlation (P = 0.003 < 0.05). The FOF was present in two-thirds of those with acute ankle sprains, and balance impairment was present in individuals with Grade II ankle sprains. Among individuals with FOF, the degree of FOF was moderate to severe. There was a significant negative correlation between FOF and balance, but no correlation was found between FOF and pain.