Gait abnormalities in patients with chronic ankle instability can improve following a non-invasive biomechanical therapy: a retrospective analysis.

The data were collected retrospectively from one therapy center database, and all patients had been referred for treatment, so they may not represent all people with chronic ankle instability. There was no untreated group of patients with chronic ankle instability, so the study cannot determine whether the improvement was due to the device alone or other reasons. Follow-up was only three months, so it is unknown whether the gait and score improvements lasted or continued. Only spatiotemporal walking measures were collected, not detailed three-dimensional joint motion or muscle activity. Four patients had bilateral ankle instability, and the authors note this subgroup may have different compensation patterns. Healthy controls had missing Foot and Ankle Outcome Score data, limiting direct comparison of ankle scores. The authors state that a randomized controlled trial is needed to determine efficacy.

The study was not funded. Some authors hold shares in AposTherapy, and one author is a salaried employee of AposTherapy. Other named authors state they do not receive and are not entitled to financial compensation from AposTherapy.

Do not conclude that AposTherapy caused the improvements. The study had no untreated group with chronic ankle instability, and the authors state that the improvement cannot be attributed to the treatment alone.