Denna sida har översatts automatiskt och översättningens korrekthet kan inte garanteras. Vänligen se engelsk version för en källtext.

Neurocognitive Enrichment During Functional Performance Testing in Chronic Ankle Instability

5 juli 2026 uppdaterad av: Büşra Tamgüç, Bahçeşehir University

Acute Effects of Neurocognitively Enriched Functional Performance Testing Conditions on Balance and Functional Performance in Athletes With Chronic Ankle Instability: A Randomized Crossover Study

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is associated with recurrent ankle sprains, impaired postural control, and reduced functional performance. Traditional functional performance tests are commonly used to assess athletes with CAI; however, these assessments are typically conducted under isolated motor conditions and may not adequately reflect the neurocognitive demands encountered during sports participation.

The aim of this randomized crossover study is to investigate the acute effects of neurocognitively enriched testing conditions on balance and functional performance in athletes with CAI. Participants will perform functional performance tests under four different conditions: standard testing, internal focus of attention, external focus of attention, and cognitive dual-task conditions. Dynamic balance, vertical jump performance, single-leg hop performance, figure-of-8 hop performance, and dual-task cost will be assessed and compared across conditions.

The findings of this study may contribute to the development of more ecologically valid assessment approaches for athletes with CAI and provide insights into the influence of attentional focus and cognitive load on functional performance.

Studieöversikt

Detaljerad beskrivning

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a common consequence of lateral ankle sprains and is characterized by recurrent episodes of giving way, repeated sprains, impaired sensorimotor control, and persistent functional limitations. Although functional performance tests are widely used to assess readiness for sports participation and return-to-sport status, these assessments are typically performed under isolated motor conditions and may not adequately represent the complex neurocognitive demands encountered during athletic activities.

Recent evidence from motor learning and sports medicine literature suggests that attentional focus strategies and cognitive loading can substantially influence movement performance, postural control, and motor execution. Internal focus of attention directs individuals toward body movements and joint positions, whereas external focus of attention emphasizes movement outcomes and environmental effects. In addition, dual-task paradigms introduce cognitive demands that may alter motor performance by increasing attentional load and competing for cognitive resources. Understanding how these neurocognitive factors influence functional performance may provide valuable information for the assessment and management of athletes with CAI.

The present study aims to examine the acute effects of neurocognitively enriched testing conditions on balance and functional performance in athletes with CAI. By comparing performance under standard testing, internal focus, external focus, and cognitive dual-task conditions, the study seeks to determine whether commonly used functional performance tests are sensitive to variations in attentional focus and cognitive load.

This investigation is expected to contribute to a better understanding of the interaction between cognitive processes and motor performance in athletes with CAI. The findings may support the development of more ecologically valid assessment strategies and provide clinically relevant information for rehabilitation planning, functional evaluation, and return-to-sport decision-making in athletic populations with chronic ankle instability.

Studietyp

Interventionell

Inskrivning (Beräknad)

40

Fas

  • Inte tillämpbar

Kontakter och platser

Det här avsnittet innehåller kontaktuppgifter för dem som genomför studien och information om var denna studie genomförs.

Studiekontakt

Studieorter

Deltagandekriterier

Forskare letar efter personer som passar en viss beskrivning, så kallade behörighetskriterier. Några exempel på dessa kriterier är en persons allmänna hälsotillstånd eller tidigare behandlingar.

Urvalskriterier

Åldrar som är berättigade till studier

  • Barn
  • Vuxen

Tar emot friska volontärer

Nej

Beskrivning

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged between 16 and 25 years.
  • Actively participating as a licensed football, basketball, or volleyball athlete.
  • History of at least one lateral ankle sprain occurring ≥12 months before study participation, associated with pain and/or swelling and resulting in at least one day of restricted physical activity.
  • History of recurrent ankle instability, defined as at least two episodes of giving way during the previous 6 months and/or recurrent ankle sprains.
  • Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) score ≤25.
  • Participating in regular sports training at least 3 times per week.
  • No ankle surgery within the previous 6 months.
  • Able to safely perform all functional performance tests.
  • Willing to undergo assessment of the more symptomatic ankle; in participants with bilateral chronic ankle instability, the ankle with the lower CAIT score will be evaluated.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Acute ankle sprain within the previous 6 weeks accompanied by significant pain, swelling, or functional limitation.
  • History of major lower-extremity surgery (e.g., knee, hip, or ankle surgery).
  • History of neurological, vestibular, or systemic disorders that may affect balance or motor performance.
  • Visual or cognitive impairments that could interfere with test performance.
  • Lower-extremity injuries other than ankle instability within the previous 6 months that may negatively affect functional performance.

Studieplan

Det här avsnittet ger detaljer om studieplanen, inklusive hur studien är utformad och vad studien mäter.

Hur är studien utformad?

Designdetaljer

  • Primärt syfte: Undersökning
  • Tilldelning: Randomiserad
  • Interventionsmodell: Crossover tilldelning
  • Maskning: Ingen (Open Label)

Vapen och interventioner

Deltagargrupp / Arm
Intervention / Behandling
Experimentell: Standard Testing Condition
Participants perform all functional performance tests under standard testing conditions without attentional focus instructions or additional cognitive tasks. This condition serves as the reference condition for comparison with neurocognitively enriched testing conditions.
Participants perform functional performance tests under standard testing conditions without attentional focus instructions or additional cognitive tasks. This condition serves as the reference condition for comparison with neurocognitively enriched testing conditions
Experimentell: Internal Focus of Attention Condition
Participants perform all functional performance tests while receiving internal focus of attention instructions directing attention toward body movements, joint positions, and movement control.
Participants perform functional performance tests while receiving internal focus of attention instructions directing attention toward body movements, joint positions, and movement control during task execution.
Experimentell: External Focus of Attention Condition
Participants perform all functional performance tests while receiving external focus of attention instructions directing attention toward movement outcomes and environmental targets.
Participants perform functional performance tests while receiving external focus of attention instructions directing attention toward movement outcomes and environmental targets during task execution.
Experimentell: Cognitive Dual-Task Condition
Participants perform all functional performance tests while simultaneously completing a cognitive task involving backward repetition of number sequences to increase cognitive load
Participants perform functional performance tests while simultaneously completing a cognitive task involving backward repetition of number sequences, increasing cognitive load during motor performance.

Vad mäter studien?

Primära resultatmått

Resultatmått
Åtgärdsbeskrivning
Tidsram
Dynamic Balance Performance
Tidsram: Day 1 (during the study assessment session)
Dynamic balance performance assessed using the Y Balance Test under standard, internal focus of attention, external focus of attention, and cognitive dual-task conditions.
Day 1 (during the study assessment session)

Sekundära resultatmått

Resultatmått
Åtgärdsbeskrivning
Tidsram
Vertical Jump Performance
Tidsram: Day 1 (during the study assessment session)
Vertical jump height assessed using the My Jump 2 application under different neurocognitive testing conditions.
Day 1 (during the study assessment session)
Figure-of-8 Hop Performance
Tidsram: Day 1 (during the study assessment session)
Figure-of-8 hop completion time assessed under different neurocognitive testing conditions.
Day 1 (during the study assessment session)
Dual-Task Cost
Tidsram: Day 1 (during the study assessment session)
Dual-task cost calculated as the percentage change in motor performance between single-task and dual-task conditions.
Day 1 (during the study assessment session)

Samarbetspartners och utredare

Det är här du hittar personer och organisationer som är involverade i denna studie.

Studieavstämningsdatum

Dessa datum spårar framstegen för inlämningar av studieposter och sammanfattande resultat till ClinicalTrials.gov. Studieposter och rapporterade resultat granskas av National Library of Medicine (NLM) för att säkerställa att de uppfyller specifika kvalitetskontrollstandarder innan de publiceras på den offentliga webbplatsen.

Studera stora datum

Studiestart (Faktisk)

8 juni 2026

Primärt slutförande (Beräknad)

8 oktober 2026

Avslutad studie (Beräknad)

8 november 2026

Studieregistreringsdatum

Först inskickad

13 juni 2026

Först inskickad som uppfyllde QC-kriterierna

5 juli 2026

Första postat (Faktisk)

8 juli 2026

Uppdateringar av studier

Senaste uppdatering publicerad (Faktisk)

8 juli 2026

Senaste inskickade uppdateringen som uppfyllde QC-kriterierna

5 juli 2026

Senast verifierad

1 juli 2026

Mer information

Termer relaterade till denna studie

Andra studie-ID-nummer

  • E-92045188-115.02-218837

Plan för individuella deltagardata (IPD)

Planerar du att dela individuella deltagardata (IPD)?

NEJ

IPD-planbeskrivning

Individual participant data (IPD) will not be made publicly available in order to maintain participant confidentiality and comply with institutional ethical requirements.

Läkemedels- och apparatinformation, studiedokument

Studerar en amerikansk FDA-reglerad läkemedelsprodukt

Nej

Studerar en amerikansk FDA-reglerad produktprodukt

Nej

Denna information hämtades direkt från webbplatsen clinicaltrials.gov utan några ändringar. Om du har några önskemål om att ändra, ta bort eller uppdatera dina studieuppgifter, vänligen kontakta register@clinicaltrials.gov. Så snart en ändring har implementerats på clinicaltrials.gov, kommer denna att uppdateras automatiskt även på vår webbplats .

Prenumerera