PROPRIOCEPTIVE EXERCISE PROGRAMS IN THE RECOVERY OF ANKLE SPRAIN STABILITY IN SOCCER PLAYERS
Keywords:
Ankle sprain; proprioception; joint stability; balance; soccer players; rehabilitation; muscle strengthening; neuromuscular controlAbstract
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46296/gt.v9i18edespsep.0444
Abstract
The present has the objective to evaluate the effectiveness of lumbar strengthening/stabilization programs (specific or general) in adults with symptomatic lumbar disc herniation or chronic low back pain with radiculopathy, compared with general exercise, passive therapies, or another conservative modality, on pain intensity and functional disability. We have done a systematic review with searches in PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane CENTRAL, and an additional bibliographic database (records exported in September 2026), complemented with a targeted literature search given the initial scarcity of results, following the PRISMA 2020 methodology; 35 records were identified, of which 28 were screened after removing duplicates; 5 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) met the broadened eligibility criteria. All five RCTs reported significant improvements in pain and/or functional disability with lumbar stabilization/strengthening training versus the Ankle sprain is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries among soccer players, particularly due to forced inversion mechanisms, jumping, and sudden changes of direction. This injury can cause proprioceptive deficits, impaired postural control, and chronic ankle instability, increasing the risk of recurrent injuries. Therefore, proprioceptive exercise programs represent an important strategy in physiotherapy rehabilitation. The present study analyzes the effectiveness of these programs in recovering ankle stability in soccer players with a history of ankle sprain. A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, considering studies published between August 2021 and July 2026. Of the 50 records initially identified, four studies ultimately met the inclusion criteria. The results showed improvements in dynamic balance, perceived stability, joint function, and sports performance following proprioceptive and balance training programs.The evidence indicates that programs combining balance exercises and muscle strengthening may produce better functional outcomes than isolated interventions. However, the limited number of studies specifically involving soccer players, small sample sizes, and methodological limitations reduce the certainty of the findings. Structured and progressive proprioceptive exercises, lasting at least six weeks, are therefore recommended as part of ankle sprain rehabilitation to restore joint stability, improve sports performance, and reduce the risk of chronic instability and recurrent injury.
Keywords: Ankle sprain; proprioception; joint stability; balance; soccer players; rehabilitation; muscle strengthening; neuromuscular control.
Downloads
References
Alhazmi, M., et al. (2025). Effectiveness of FIFA injury prevention programs in reducing ankle injuries among football players: A systematic review. PeerJ, 13, e18910. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18910
Al Attar, W. S. A., et al. (2022). Injury prevention programs that include balance training exercises reduce ankle injury rates among soccer players: A systematic review. Journal of Physiotherapy, 68(3), 165–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphys.2022.05.019
Campbell, M., McKenzie, J. E., Sowden, A., et al. (2020). Synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM) in systematic reviews: Reporting guideline. BMJ, 368, l6890. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l6890
Gu, J., et al. (2026). FIFA neuromuscular training programs on ankle injuries in football players: A meta-analysis with emphasis on evidence gaps. Foot and Ankle Surgery, 32(3), 229–237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fas.2025.10.005
Guyatt, G. H., Oxman, A. D., Vist, G. E., et al. (2008). GRADE: An emerging consensus on rating quality of evidence and strength of recommendations. BMJ, 336(7650), 924–926. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39489.470347.AD
Higgins, J. P. T., Thomas, J., Chandler, J., Cumpston, M., Li, T., Page, M. J., & Welch, V. A. (Eds.). (2023). Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions (versión 6.4). Cochrane.
Hoveidaei, A. H., Moradi, A. R., Nakhostin-Ansari, A., Mousavi Nasab, M. M., Taghavi, S. P., Eghdami, S., et al. (2025). Risk factors of ankle sprain in soccer players: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports, 13(4), 105.
Lima, E. B. S., Salgado, G. M., Mello, E. P., Lara, P. H. S., Arliani, G. G., & Cohen, M. (2024). Ankle sprains in Brazilian professional soccer: Epidemiological analysis of 126,357 match hours. Revista Brasileira de Ortopedia, 59(5), 682–688.
Nia Samakosh, H. M., et al. (2022). What does provide better effects on balance, strength, and lower extremity muscle function in professional male soccer players with chronic ankle instability? Hopping or a balance plus strength intervention? A randomized control study. Healthcare, 10(10), 1822. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10101822
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., et al. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 134, 178–189.
Park, H. S., Oh, J. K., Kim, J. Y., & Yoon, J. H. (2024). The effect of strength and balance training on kinesiophobia, ankle instability, function, and performance in elite adolescent soccer players with functional ankle instability: A prospective cluster randomized controlled trial. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 23(1), 593–602.
Sánchez-Benítez, M., et al. (2024). Effects of an instability training program using global versus selective instability devices on dynamic balance and ankle stability in young amateur soccer players. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 9(4), 240. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk9040240
Schiftan, G. S., Ross, L. A., & Hahne, A. J. (2015). The effectiveness of proprioceptive training in preventing ankle sprains in sporting populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 18(3), 238–244.
Sterne, J. A. C., Savović, J., Page, M. J., et al. (2019). RoB 2: A revised tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials. BMJ, 366, l4898. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l4898
Sterne, J. A., Hernán, M. A., Reeves, B. C., et al. (2016). ROBINS-I: A tool for assessing risk of bias in non-randomised studies of interventions. BMJ, 355, i4919. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i4919
Zhang, C., Luo, Z., Wu, D., Fei, J., Xie, T., & Su, M. (2025). Effectiveness of exercise therapy on chronic ankle instability: A meta-analysis. Scientific Reports, 15, 11709.
Allois, R., Niglia, A., Pernice, A., & Cuesta-Barriuso, R. (2021). Fascial therapy, strength exercises and taping in soccer players with recurrent ankle sprains: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 27, 256–264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2021.03.007
Antohe, B.-A., & Panaet, E.-A. (2024). The effects of proprioceptive exercises on postural control in handball players with chronic ankle instability—A non-randomized control trial. Sports, 12(11), 304. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12110304
Su, Y., Li, W., Pan, C., & Shi, Y. (2024). Effects of combination of strength and balance training on postural control and functionality in people with chronic ankle instability: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 16, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-024-00845-1
Yekdaneh, A., et al. (2024). Effects of balance and strength training for ankle proprioception in people with chronic ankle instability: A randomized controlled study. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 114(3), 23-008. https://doi.org/10.7547/23-008
Gómez, A., et al. (2024). Effects of exergame-based balance training on postural control and kinesiophobia in patients with chronic ankle instability: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Sports Rehabilitation, 33(4), 215–224.
Pérez, R., et al. (2025). Predictors of chronic ankle instability in professional soccer players: A prospective observational study. Physical Therapy in Sport, 68, 45–52.
Rodríguez, J., et al. (2024). Virtual reality vs. traditional balance training in soccer players with chronic ankle instability: A randomized controlled trial. Gait & Posture, 108, 112–119.
Wilczyński, J., et al. (2024). Postural control deficits in athletes with previous ankle sprains: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(2), 180.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2026 GESTAR Arbitrated Scientific Journal in Health Research. ISSN: 2737-6273.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
