Introduction: Chronic ankle instability is a pathological condition with characteristics of feeling of instability, recurrent ankle sprain and feeling of giving way, which can lead to long-term symptoms that include pain, reduced range of motion, weakness of ankle muscles and worse sense of balance. The treatment recommendation for those with chronic ankle instability includes training with enhanced proprioceptive sensations, which may include different types of training like plyometric, balance and coordination training. Purpose: The purpose of undergraduate thesis is to introduce and analyze the effects of proprioceptive training for balance on those with chronic ankle instability, based on a review of scientific literature. Methods: The literature search was performed in the PubMed database with the following English key words used in various combinations: proprioception, chronic ankle instability, proprioceptive exercises. Results: Seven randomized controlled trails that investigated the effect of proprioceptive training on chronic ankle instability, published between 2015 and 2022, were included in the literature review. All studies showed positive effect of proprioceptive training on chronic ankle instability. It enhanced the sense of static as well as dynamic balance, postural control, increased muscle capacity of ankle joint and range of motion of dorsal flexion, decreased the feeling of instability in ankle and improved functional performance. Comparing proprioceptive training group and strength training group showed different effects among studies. Proprioceptive training did not affect the feeling of pain. Discussion and conclusion: Research findings showed that proprioceptive training is an effective intervention to treat chronic ankle instability. It is recommended to include it in a comprehensive physiotherapeutic program alongside with strength exercise that further enhances its effectiveness. Future research may focus on long-term effects and determining the most suited proprioceptive exercise for those with chronic ankle instability based on severity of their condition, expectations and physical activity.
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