Frequency of chronic lateral instability of the ankle basketball athletes: analysis with FAOS

Abstract

Objective: Frequency of ankle instability was evaluated in basketball athletes as well as its relation to pain, symptoms, activities of daily living (ADL), function related to sport and quality of life. Method: Eighty-eight basketball athletes, male, age 22.15 (SD=5.02), were evaluated during sport competition. The Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) were used. Subjects were divided according to the domain “function related to sport” in group 1 (0-79 points) and group 2 (80-100 points). Moreover, they were classified according to age and player position. Results: Sixty-nine athletes (78.4%) reported ankle instability related to sport. All items in the FAOS were different between groups 1 and 2. There was no difference between groups according to age. Point guards presented more symptoms than small forwards and power forwards had more symptoms related to ADL than small forwards. Conclusion: There were a high frequency of ankle instability among the athletes and differences in results according to the player position.