Study of Effects of Electroacupuncture on Balance in Subjects With Chronic Functional Ankle Instability

Subjects will do balance assessment in lab. In treatment room, practitioner will clean insertion area with alcohol swab, allow adequate time to dry, and insert 2 Asia-Med Special No 16 (0.30x30mm) needles: one at proximal insertion of fibularis longus anterior to fibular neck, in proximity to common fibular nerve (GB-34); one over sinus tarsi and lateral ligaments of ankle mortise (GB-40). Needles will be inserted approximately 1-2cm, connected for 10 min at 2Hz to electrical stimulation (ITO ES-130, 500 ohm test load, 1 to 500Hz). Needles will disposed of in sharps container. Area will be wiped with long handled cotton swab, pressure will be applied for 2 seconds. Subjects will be asked to slowly get up from table and return to lab for second balance assessment.

As with experimental group, controls will do balance assessment pre- and post-intervention. Streitberger placebo needles (Asia-Med, 0.03 x 30 mm), blunted with a telescoping mechanism, will be used. Subjects will feel slight prick, and shaft will telescope into handle, creating illusion of skin penetration. Needles will be held in place by plastic ring covered by a bandage. They are validated for blinding. They will be placed over non-traditional acupuncture points on medial aspect of leg, in direct opposition to treatment group needles. Needle placement is not intended to produce therapeutic outcome. The needles will be connected to a wire, which will be turned on for 10 minutes but no stimulation will be felt.