Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42426890›Full record

SynthesisJournal of orthopaedic surgery and research2026

Neuromuscular characteristics of individuals with chronic ankle instability during unilateral landing tasks: a meta-analysis of electromyographic studies.

Mahsa Hakimi Poor, Reza Rajabi, Mohammad Hossein Alizadeh, Shahrzad Zandi, Ebrahim Ebrahimi

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Mahsa Hakimi PoorDepartment of Sports Injury and Biomechanics, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Reza RajabiDepartment of Sports Injury and Biomechanics, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. rrajabi@ut.ac.ir.
Mohammad Hossein AlizadehDepartment of Sports Injury and Biomechanics, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Shahrzad ZandiDepartment of Sports Injury and Biomechanics, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Ebrahim EbrahimiDepartment of Sports Injury and Biomechanics, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. ebrahimi.79@ut.ac.ir.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChronic ankle instability (CAI) is a prevalent consequence of lateral ankle sprain. Electromyographic (EMG) investigations examining neuromuscular control during unilateral landing tasks have produced inconsistent findings, particularly during the critical post-initialcontact (post-IC) phase. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize current evidence on post-IC muscle activation patterns in individuals with CAI during unilateral landing tasks.

methodsThis PRISMA-compliant review (PROSPERO: CRD420261415793) searched PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception to June 2026. Cross-sectional studies comparing EMG activity between individuals with CAI and healthy controls during unilateral landing tasks were included. Study quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute checklists; random-effects meta-analysis was performed with Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software, evaluating heterogeneity (I

resultsSeventeen studies involving 757 participants met the inclusion criteria. Compared with healthy controls, individuals with CAI demonstrated significantly lower post-IC activation of the peroneus longus (p = 0.005), gluteus medius (p = 0.027), and biceps femoris (p = 0.010), alongside significantly greater activation of the soleus (p = 0.036) and rectus femoris (p = 0.013). No significant differences were observed for the tibialis anterior (p = 0.453), medial gastrocnemius (p = 0.552), or lateral gastrocnemius (p = 0.845). Substantial heterogeneity was identified for several muscles, particularly the peroneus longus, tibialis anterior, soleus, and rectus femoris (I

conclusionsIndividuals with CAI exhibit distinct neuromuscular alterations during the post-IC phase of unilateral landing tasks, characterized by reduced activation of key lateral ankle and proximal stabilizing muscles and increased activation of muscles associated with joint stiffening and impact attenuation. Rehabilitation strategies should extend beyond the ankle to target proximal muscle function and landing mechanics to optimize dynamic stability and reduce recurrent injury risk.

Indexed as

Ankle InjuriesAnkle JointElectromyographyJoint InstabilityMuscle, SkeletalChronic DiseaseCross-Sectional StudiesHumansAnkle instabilityElectromyographyLandingMeta-analysis

Identifiers

PMID42426890
PMCPMC13632416

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.