Functional ankle control of rock climbers.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether rock climbing type exercise would be of value in rehabilitating ankle injuries to improve ankle stability and coordination. [figure: see text] METHODS A group of 25 rock climbers was compared with a group of 26 soccer players. All were male, uninjured, and exercised three to four times a week. Active ankle stability was evaluated by one leg stand stabilometry (measurement of migration of the centre of gravity) and measurements of maximum strength of ankle isokinetic concentric flexion and extension (Cybex). RESULTS The rock climbers showed significantly better results in the stabilometry and greater absolute and relative maximum strength of flexion in the ankle. The soccer players showed greater absolute but not relative strength in extension. CONCLUSION Rock climbing, because of its slow and controlled near static movements, may be of value in the treatment of functional ankle instability. However, it has still to be confirmed whether it is superior to the usual rehabilitation exercises such as use of the wobble board.