Postural Control in Amateur Footballers With Chronic Ankle Instability

February 12, 2026 updated by: Erkan Güven, Igdir University

Static and Dynamic Postural Control in Amateur Footballers With Chronic Ankle Instability: A Machine-Learning-Based Injury Risk Profiling Approach

This study will investigate static and dynamic postural control characteristics in male amateur football players with chronic ankle instability (CAI) compared with football players without ankle instability. Participants will undergo standardized biomechanical assessments using a force-platform-based postural analysis system to quantify postural sway under eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions and to evaluate direction-specific limits of stability performance.

In addition to conventional between-group comparisons, objective balance and stabilization variables will be used to develop supervised machine-learning classification models. These models will examine whether athletes demonstrating CAI-like functional patterns can be identified based solely on biomechanical performance data, independent of self-reported instability questionnaires.

The results are expected to enhance understanding of neuromuscular control deficits associated with chronic ankle instability and to support the development of objective, performance-based assessment approaches for football players.

The aim of this study is to determine the differences in static and dynamic postural control between amateur football players with and without chronic ankle instability and to evaluate whether multidimensional biomechanical balance parameters can be used to objectively characterize CAI-related functional profiles using machine-learning-based analysis.

Study Overview

Status

Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

28

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

N/A

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Male amateur football players competing in a regional league, including athletes with and without chronic ankle instability.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male amateur football players with at least 2 years of competitive participation and ≥5 years of regular sports activity
  • Weekly football training volume of at least 3 hours
  • For the CAI group: history of ≥1 significant lateral ankle sprain occurring ≥12 months before testing that caused pain, swelling, and temporary interruption of sports participation
  • Presence of ≥2 episodes of giving-way or perceived ankle instability within the previous 6 months
  • CAIT score ≤24 for classification as chronic ankle instability
  • For the control group: no history of ankle sprain or perceived ankle instability and CAIT score ≥25
  • Participants free from ankle pain and acute inflammation at the time of assessment

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of lower-extremity fracture or surgical intervention
  • Musculoskeletal injury of the knee, hip, or spine within the last 3 months
  • Diagnosed vestibular disorder or systemic balance impairment unrelated to the ankle
  • Active ankle pain or acute inflammatory symptoms at the time of testing
  • Any cardiovascular or systemic disease limiting safe participation in testing

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Limits of Stability Total Score (%) During Force-Platform Dynamic Postural Control Assessment at Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline (single laboratory assessment session)
Dynamic postural control will be evaluated using the limited stabilization (limits of stability) test performed on a force-platform-based postural analysis system. The total limits of stability score (%) reflects the participant's ability to voluntarily control the center of pressure within stability boundaries, with lower values indicating impaired neuromuscular ankle stabilization.
Baseline (single laboratory assessment session)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Postural Sway Area (mm²) During Static Balance Assessment With Eyes Open and Eyes Closed at Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline (single laboratory assessment session)
Baseline (single laboratory assessment session)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Igdir University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

February 28, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

March 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 12, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 12, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

February 19, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 19, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 12, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 02.01.2026 - 2026/1

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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