Effects of soft and semi-rigid ankle orthoses on postural sway in people with and without functional ankle instability

Some studies have demonstrated improvement of postural control following use of ankle supports, whereas others reported no effect or even negative effects of bracing. The present study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of soft and semi-rigid orthosis on postural sway in patients with functional ankle instability (FAI). Twenty patients with unilateral FAI and twenty matched healthy individuals participated in the study. Balance in single limb stance on force platform with eyes-open was assessed for both legs while wearing no orthosis (control condition), soft or semi-rigid orthosis. The center of pressure (COP) measures derived from force platform signals were mean total velocity, standard deviation (SD) of velocity and phase plane portrait. A 2 × 2 × 3 (group by foot by orthotics) mixed model analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis. In the FAI group, there was a tendency to lower COP parameters while wearing either of the orthoses, with soft brace having a greater effect. For 2 dependent variables, significant effect of brace was found only for the injured limb. In the healthy group, postural sway increased from no-brace condition, to soft, to semi-rigid orthosis. Both injured and non-injured limbs of patients with FAI had greater postural sway compared to control limbs of healthy individuals.     

Combined cognitive bias modification treatment for social anxiety disorder: a pilot trial

Background: Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) is a promising treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). However, previous randomized trials have not systematically examined the combination of CBM for attention (CBM‐A) and interpretation (CBM‐I) or the credibility and acceptability of these protocols. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial (N = 32) to examine the efficacy of a CBM treatment called Attention and Interpretation Modification (AIM) for SAD. AIM comprised eight, twice weekly computer sessions with no therapist contact. During AIM, participants (1) completed a dot probe task in which probes always followed neutral faces when paired with a disgust face, thereby directing attention away from threat and (2) completed a word–sentence association task in which they received positive feedback for making benign interpretations of word–sentence pairs and negative feedback for making negative interpretations. We also assessed participants' perceived credibility of and satisfaction with AIM. Results: Participants receiving AIM reported significantly reduced self‐reported (Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale) symptoms of social anxiety relative to the placebo. These gains were also evident on a behavioral measure (performance on an impromptu speech). AIM met our benchmarks for credibility and acceptability in this community sample, although credibility ratings were modest. Participants reported that CBM‐I was more helpful than CBM‐A. Conclusions: A combined CBM treatment produced medium‐to‐large effects on social anxiety. Participants rated AIM as moderately credibly and acceptable. Should these findings be replicated in larger samples, AIM has the potential to be a widely accessible and efficacious treatment for SAD. Depression and Anxiety, 2011.© 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.