The relationship between chronic ankle instability and sleep behaviour

Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI) is a condition characterized by giving-way episodes, instability and recurrent ankle sprains. Poor sleep can increase the risk of musculoskeletal injury and sleep is known to be an important aspect of injury recovery. However, the effect sleep has on those with CAI as well as its risk for recurrent episodes of giving-way remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between sleep behaviour and giving-way episodes associated with CAI. Twenty-five participants with CAI (11 M/14 F, age = 22.9 ± 2.7 years, height = 171.9 ± 8.9 cm, mass = 76.7 ± 15.9 kg) were included in this study. All participants completed baseline patient-reported outcome measures and wore a fitness tracker that measured sleep for 1 month. Seven participants had a giving-way (GW, no-giving way = NWG) episode. Those with a giving-way episode spent significantly less time asleep (GW = 325.3 ± 63.2 min, NGW = 413.9 ± 49.5 min, p < 0.001, d = 1.659), less time in bed (GW = 384.9 ± 79.0 min, NGW = 473.1 ± 55.0 min, p = 0.002, d = 1.419), less minutes in REM (GW = 59.9 ± 19.9 min, NGW = 93.5 ± 25.4 min, p = 0.002, d = 1.400) and less minutes in light sleep (GW = 197.6 ± 51.5 min, NGW = 250.2 ± 34.4 min, p = 0.003, d = 1.328) compared to those without. In conclusion, this study shows that individuals with CAI who suffered a giving-way episode had poorer sleep behaviour the night before an episode.