Introduction: Lateral ankle sprain is among the most common musculoskeletal injuries in sports and is considered one of the most recurrent injuries of the lower extremities. The incidence of lateral ankle sprain is strongly influenced by the type of sport, with the highest risk observed in activities involving frequent running, changes of direction, and jumping, which are key elements of basketball. Recurrent ankle sprains may lead to reduced functional ability and perceived ankle instability, which can potentially result in chronic ankle instability. Purpose: The aim of this master’s thesis was to investigate the long-term effects of lateral ankle sprains on dynamic stability and perceived ankle instability in active basketball players. Methods: A within-subject comparative study design with a single testing session was conducted among adult active basketball players from various Slovenian basketball clubs who had sustained a unilateral lateral ankle sprain. Dynamic ankle stability was assessed using the Y-balance test, while percieved ankle instability was evaluated using the Slovenian-translated version of the Cumberland’s ankle instability tool. Results: The study included 25 basketball players from eight different basketball clubs. Differences in dynamic balance between injured and uninjured ankles were 2,1% (p=0,029) in the anterior direction, 1,1% (p=0,467) in the posterolateral direction, and 2,2% (p=0,159) in the posteromedial direction. The mean CAIT score for injured ankles was 23,8 points, compared to 27,8 points for uninjured ankles (p<0,001). Discussion and conclusion: No statistically significant differences were found in posterolateral direction between the injured and uninjured lower limb. However, a statistically significant reduction in percieved ankle instability was observed in previously injured ankles, confirming the second hypothesis. Within our sample of young basketball players, shorter individuals and those who sustained their first lateral ankle sprain earlier in adolescence experienced a higher number of sprains. No significant differences were found when comparing sprains that occurred less than one year prior to those occurring more than one year earlier. Future research should be conducted on a larger sample of basketball players with comparable training backgrounds and a similar grade of lateral ankle sprain, which would enable a more accurate evaluation of ankle instability and a more reliable interpretation of the measured outcomes.
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