Unilateral multiaxial coordination training and ankle kinesthesia, muscle strength, and postural control

Objectives: To determine the physiological adaptations that might occur with a 4-week unilateral multiaxial training program in lower leg kinesthesia, peak torque, and postural control. Study Design: True experimental pretest-posttest control-group design. Setting: Research laboratory. Subjects: 26 healthy, active subjects (14 men, 12 women). Interventions: Subjects were assigned to an experimental or control group. The experimental group performed multiaxial coordination training 3 days/wk for 4 weeks. Main Outcome Measures: Both groups were tested 3 times, pretest and 2 and 4 weeks after training was initiated. Outcome measures included conscious appreciation of ankle kinesthesia, eversion and dorsiflexion isokinetic peak torque, and static and functional postural control. Results: Results revealed a significant Group x Test interaction only for inversion kinesthesia. Conclusions: Four weeks of multiaxial coordination training did not significantly improve any of the dependent variables in healthy individuals. Further research should consider the effects of such a program on injured subjects.