Home exercise for ankle instability: comparisons with supervised programs remain uncertain
A review reported gains in function and balance, but comparisons with supervised exercise did not establish equivalent effectiveness.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Home-based exercise was linked to better patient-oriented function and balance control in this review. Comparisons with supervised exercise were not statistically significant for either outcome. This leaves uncertainty about differences between the settings and does not demonstrate equal effectiveness. The authors describe the findings as preliminary and the evidence as low certainty.
This abstract-based summary is limited by few studies, low-certainty evidence and substantial variation between studies. Assessment durations and the comparisons underlying the overall gains were not reported.
What researchers found
Patient-oriented function
Home-based versus supervised exercise; assessment timeframe unreported. SMD expresses the difference in standard-deviation units, with zero meaning no difference. This nonsignificant result does not establish equivalence.
What was measured
The review focused on patient-oriented measures of function and tests of balance control. The abstract does not report whether home exercise reduced repeat sprains or improved other outcomes over longer follow-up.
Why comparisons matter
Overall improvement estimates and comparisons with supervised exercise answer different questions. Because the abstract leaves the reference conditions for the overall estimates unclear, those gains cannot be attributed to a specific comparison.
The original publication
Home-based exercise for chronic ankle instability: A systematic review and meta-analysis of effectiveness and program characteristics.
Liu Y, Song Q, Wang Q et al.
Phys Ther Sport · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41576472
- Record checked
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