Comparative effect of walking meditation and rubber-band exercise on ankle proprioception and balance performance among persons with chronic ankle instability: A randomized controlled trial
Saitida Lapanantasin, Natee Thongloy, Manatsawee Samsee, Natchapol Wonghirunsombat, Norasate Nuangpulsarp, Chudmanee Ua-areejit, Phatchayanun Phattaraphanasakul
Complementary Therapies in Medicine February 6, 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2022.102807 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 32 |
| Population | Individuals with chronic ankle instability, aged 20.3 ± 1.8 years |
| Interventions | Walking meditation Rubber-band exercise |
| Duration | 4-week training regimen (30 min/day, 3 days/week) |
| Measures | Angular error of the ankle reposition test (AEA), Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Walking meditation Elastic band exercise Joint sense Balance Ankle instability |
| Key findings | After four weeks, no significant between-group differences were found in ankle proprioception or balance after adjusting for baseline. Within groups, walking meditation reduced ankle repositioning error at plantarflexion-5° and plantarflexion-10° relative to baseline, and both walking meditation and rubber-band exercise improved star excursion balance test performance in four directions each, compared with two directions in controls. The authors argue walking meditation is a promising intervention for balance and ankle proprioceptive rehabilitation in chronic ankle instability. |
Abstract
Background: Ankle proprioception and balance impairments are usual consequences of chronic ankle instability (CAI). The impairments affect functional and sport activities and can lead to recurrent ankle sprain. Mind-body practice is claimed to improve ankle proprioception and balance.
Objective: To investigate the effects of walking meditation, a mind-body practice, and compare it with the rubber-band exercise on ankle proprioception and balance among individuals with CAI. Study
Design: A randomized controlled trial.
Methods: Thirty-two participants with CAI aged 20.3 ± 1.8 years were randomized into three groups; 1) walking meditation (WM, n = 10), 2) Rubber-band exercise (RE, n = 11) and 3) control (n = 11). WM and RE were enrolled on a 4-week training regimen (30 min/day, 3 days/week). Before and after the training, ankle proprioception was evaluated by angular error of the ankle reposition test (AEA) at three positions, randomly, i.e., plantarflexion-5°, plantarflexion-10° and dorsiflexion-5°. Balance performance was assessed by the star excursion balance test (SEBT).
Results: As adjusted by pre-training baseline, no significant difference in AEA and SEBT was found among three groups. However, after training, only the WM group revealed a significant decrease in AEA at plantarflexion-5° (p = 0.007) and plantarflexion-10° (p = 0.04) compared to the baseline. For SEBT, the WM and RE groups showed significant improvements compared to the baseline in 4 directions each (p < 0.05), while the control group improved only 2 directions (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: WM and RE groups significantly improved SEBT after 4-week training when compared to before training. Additionally, WM group also improved ankle proprioception. Therefore, WM demonstrates feasibility as a promising intervention that could be applied for balance and ankle proprioceptive rehabilitations in persons with CAI.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Mindfulness and Objective Measures of Body Awareness: A Preregistered Systematic Review and Multilevel Meta-Analysis. Biopsychosocial science and medicine May 1, 2025
- Effects of Buddhist Walking Meditation, Walking Meditation or Mindful Walking on the Health of Adults and Older Adults: A Systematic Review Psychiatry International October 13, 2025
- Sitting and Active Meditation Practice: Utilization and Associations with Outcomes in Naturalistic and Clinical Trial Data. Mindfulness March 9, 2026
- The Walking Meditation Mat: Leveraging Targeted Heat Sensation to Guide Attention Inward International Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems April 25, 2025
Cites 4
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- Walking meditation promotes ankle proprioception and balance performance among elderly women. Journal of bodywork and movement therapies July 1, 2019
- Brief body-scan meditation practice improves somatosensory perceptual decision making. Consciousness and Cognition March 1, 2013
- Effects of mindfulness meditation training on anticipatory alpha modulation in primary somatosensory cortex. Brain Research Bulletin April 8, 2011