Effects of Hip Strengthening on Ankle Instability and Balance in Taekwondo Athletes with Chronic Ankle Instability: A Pilot Study

Purpose: Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is prevalent among Taekwondo athletes because of the repetitive jumping, landing, and rotational movements. While ankle-centered strengthening is commonly used, proximal hip muscles also contribute to lower-limb alignment and dynamic stability. This study examined the effects of hip extensor and abductor strengthening on the ankle instability and balance in Taekwondo athletes with CAI. Methods: Twelve male collegiate Taekwondo athletes with CAI (CAIT ≤24) were assigned randomly to an experimental group (n=6) or a control group (n=6). All participants completed a 15-minute ankle strengthening program. The experimental group also completed 15 minutes of hip strengthening, whereas the control group performed ankle stretching. Training was conducted five times per week for three weeks. Functional ankle instability (CAIT), static balance (average velocity, path length, area 95% COP), and dynamic balance (Y-balance test and functional reach test) were measured before and after intervention. A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA was used for analysis (p<0.05). Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in ankle instability and balance (p<0.05). No significant interaction effect was found for ankle instability (p>0.05). Nevertheless, significant time×group interactions were observed for static and dynamic balance (p<0.05), with greater improvements in the experimental group. Conclusion: Hip and ankle strengthening effectively enhanced balance in Taekwondo athletes with CAI, providing superior benefits over ankle-focused training alone. These findings support the inclusion of proximal hip strengthening in rehabilitation programs to improve balance control and contribute to ankle stability in athletes with CAI.