Association Between Postural Control Deficits and Alterations in Network Connectivity in Chronic Ankle Instability—A Case Control Study

OBJECTIVES: Chronic ankle instability is prevalent among physically active individuals and leads to significant functional limitations, yet the neuroplastic mechanisms underlying this condition remain poorly understood. This study examines alterations in brain network connectivity related to chronic ankle instability and explores how these changes associate with postural control deficits. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 29 patients with chronic ankle instability and 29 controls without ankle sprain history. All participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. The connectivity between the sensorimotor network and other brain networks were compared between groups, and their correlations with the postural control outcomes were also explored. RESULTS: Patients with chronic ankle instability exhibited significantly higher functional connectivity between the sensorimotor network and the ventral attention network, central executive network, and default mode network. A significant negative correlation between sensorimotor network-central executive network functional connectivity and postural sway area was observed in chronic ankle instability patients (r = -0.380, P = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that large-scale brain network reorganization may occur in chronic ankle instability, which could be associated with postural control deficits. The identified relationship between functional connectivity and center of pressure trajectories offers insights into neurobiological changes.