Clinical trial NCT07004114: Effects of Neurocognitive Training on Chronic Ankle Instability
Official title: The Effects of Neurocognitive Training on Pain, Proprioception, Injury Anxiety, and Functional and Neurocognitive Performance in Athletes With Chronic Ankle Instability
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Chronic Ankle Instability
Balance
Neurocognitive
Keywords: Cognitive Load
Ankle Instability
RBT
Lead sponsor: Balikesir University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2025-06-04
Enrollment: 28
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 10
Maximum age (years): 18
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effects of neurocognitive training on pain, proprioception, injury-related fear, functional, and neurocognitive performance in athletes with chronic ankle instability (CAI).

Materials and Methods: A total of 30 athletes with CAI, with a mean age of 11.10±1.06 years and residing in Balıkesir, were included in the study. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups using simple randomization: the intervention group (n=15) and the control group (n=15). Two participants from the control group were excluded from the final analyses due to missing post-intervention assessments. The intervention group received a neurocognitive training program conducted twice a week for four weeks, following an initial familiarization week. The training was progressively administered on flat ground, balance mat, BOSU, and inverted BOSU. Both groups were evaluated before and after the 4-week intervention using the following measures: the Identification of Functional Ankle Instability (IdFAI), the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT), pain intensity, proprioception, fear of re-injury, Y Balance Test (YBT), Side Hop Test, Reactive Balance Test (RBT), and Upper Extremity Choice Reaction Time Test.

Results: The results were analyzed.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

Aged between 10 and 18 years

At least 2 years of active athletic participation

History of ankle sprain with at least 2 inflammatory symptoms (e.g., pain, swelling)

The most recent sprain occurred at least 3 months prior to the study start date

A score of 11 or above on the FABIT (Simon et al., 2012)

A score of ≤27 on the CAIT (Yin et al., 2022)

Willingness to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

History of hip/pelvis, knee, or ankle surgery within the past year

History of ankle fracture

Diagnosis of a neurological disorder

Presence of vestibular disorders

Primary outcomes:
measure: Functional Ankle Instability Assessment Using the Identification of Functional Ankle Instability Questionnaire (IDFAI)
timeFrame: from the beginning of the study until the end of the 4th week
measure: Functional Ankle Instability Evaluation Using the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT)
timeFrame: from the beginning of the study until the end of the 4th week
measure: Pain Severity Assessment-Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
timeFrame: from the beginning of the study until the end of the 4th week
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
measure: Proprioception Assessment with Reposition Test (Ankle Dorsiflexion and Plantarflexion Angles)
timeFrame: from the beginning of the study until the end of the 4th week
measure: The Sport Injury Anxiety Scale (SIAS)
timeFrame: from the beginning of the study until the end of the 4th week
measure: Postural Stability Measurement Using Multireha Portable Balance Device (Sway in Millimeters During Single-Leg Stance)
timeFrame: from the beginning of the study until the end of the 4th week
measure: Dynamic Balance Evaluation Using the Y Balance Test (YBT)
timeFrame: from the beginning of the study until the end of the 4th week
measure: Functional Performance Assessment with the Lateral Hop Test
timeFrame: from the beginning of the study until the end of the 4th week
measure: Reactive Balance Performance Using the Reactive Balance Test (RBT) with LED Light System
timeFrame: from the beginning of the study until the end of the 4th week
measure: Upper Extremity Choice Reaction Time Test
timeFrame: from the beginning of the study until the end of the 4th week
Locations:
city: Balikesir
country: Turkey
facility: Balikesir University
state: Bigadiç
Study officials:
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