Objective: Correct proprioceptive information and muscle balance of the ankle joint muscles are essential in preventing sports injuries. This study aimed to investigate the effect of closed kinetic chain  exercises on proprioception and Inversion/eversion strength Imbalance of the ankle joint in  track and field athletes with medial tibial stress syndrome.
Methods: The present study was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) study. In the present study, 22 male track and field athletes with a history of MTSS and 11 male track and field athletes Without of medial tibial stress syndrome were purposefully selected and divided into  three groups of 11 people, closed kinetic chain exercises, the control and Healthy groups. Evaluation absolute error of ankle joint position sense was done using the isokinetic dynamometer device actively on the leg with medial tibial stress syndrome. Isokinetic muscle strength testing was performed at 30°/sec and 120°/sec to assess the invertor and evertor muscle strength of the ankle. After evaluating the variables in the pre-test, the experimental group received the closed kinetic chain exercises for eight weeks and three days each week. During this period, the control and healthy group did not do any exercises. Finally, after executing the selected protocol, the mentioned variables were measured again in the posttest. the ANCOVA test was used for all variables at the) P≤0.05.( Bonferroni post hoc test was used to evaluate inter-group changes.
Results: The results of the 1-way ANOVA test indicated that no significant difference was observed between mean groups in the Pre-test ) P≤0.05.( The results of the ANCOVA test showed that a significant difference was observed between closed kinetic chain exercises, control and Healthy groups) P≤0.05.( presents the results of the post hoc test regarding the investigation of the intergroup difference. A significant difference was observed between closed kinetic chain exercises and Healthy with the control group at post-intervention proprioception and Inversion/eversion strength Imbalance of the ankle joint. In addition, the results showed that no significant differences were observed between the closed kinetic chain exercises group and the Healthy group (P≤0.05).
Conclusion: It seems that under the influence of a specialized training course of the closed kinetic chain exercises for athletes, due to significant changes in establishing the muscle balance of the evertor and inverto muscles of the ankle joint and the sense of proprioception in this area, the sports performance of the athletics athletes improves.