The interventional effects of PNF training on functional ankle instability in habitually active adults

Does PNF training outperform combined strength and balance training for functional ankle instability — what this means in habitually active adults?

68 habitually active adults with functional ankle instability — what this means

Randomized controlled trial — what this means comparing 8 weeks of PNF training against strength-plus-balance training, with testing before and after the program

• CAIT scores showed a significant group × time interaction (p < 0.001): PNF improved from 13.00 ± 2.48 to 24.07 ± 3.53 versus 13.47 ± 2.45 to 20.13 ± 2.72 for strength-plus-balance
• PNF produced larger gains in overall balance performance
• Ankle inversion strength improved more with strength-plus-balance training (p = 0.039)

Both programs improved ankle function, with the evidence suggesting the two approaches favor different outcomes — balance for PNF and inversion strength for combined strength and balance work.