Table 1.

Detailed search strategies

Step	MEDLINE	EMBASE	CENTRAL
1	accuracy[Title/Abstract] OR accurate rate[Title/Abstract] OR diagnostic value[Title/Abstract]	exp diagnostic accuracy/ or exp accuracy/ or exp measurement accuracy/ or exp. diagnostic test accuracy study/	MeSH descriptor: [Sensitivity and Specificity] explode all trees
2	sensitivity and specificity[MeSH Terms]	sensitivity.mp.[mp=title, original title, abstract, name of substance word, subject heading word]	accuracy: ti, ab, kw or accurate rate: ti, ab, kw or diagnostic value: ti, ab, kw(Word variations have been searched)
3	chronic ankle instability OR functional ankle instability OR lateral ankle instability	specificity.mp.[mp=title, original title, abstract, name of substance word, subject heading word]	MeSH descriptor: [Lateral ligament, Ankle] explode all trees
4	PTFL OR CFL OR ATFL	exp ankle ligament/	PTFL OR CFL OR ATFL(Word variations have been searched)
5	talofibular[Text Word] OR calcaneofibular[Text Word] OR posterior talofibular[Text Word] OR anterior talofibular[Text Word]	ATFL.mp.[mp=title, original title, abstract, name of substance word, subject heading word]	chronic ankle instability OR functional ankle instability OR lateral ankle instability(Word variations have been searched)
6	lateral ligament, ankle[MeSH Terms]	CFL.mp.[mp=title, original title, abstract, name of substance word, subject heading word]	talofibular OR calcaneofibular OR posterior talofibular OR anterior talofibular(Word variations have been searched)
7	(1 OR 2) AND (3 OR 4 OR 5 OR 6)	PTFL.mp.[mp=title, original title, abstract, name of substance word, subject heading word]	(1 OR 2) AND (3 OR 4 OR 5 OR 6)
8		exp ankle instability/
9		(1 OR 2 OR 3) AND (4 OR 5 OR 6 OR 7 OR 8)

Abbreviations: exp explode, ti title, ab abstract, kw key words