Effects of Neurocognitive Training on Chronic Ankle Instability

Balikesir University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Balance; Neurocognitive; Chronic Ankle Instability

Treatments: Other: Neurocognitive training group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07004114

2023/13

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Enrollment: 28 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 10 to 18 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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28 participants in 2 patient groups

Neurocognitive training group

Experimental group

Description:

Neurocognitive training is a program developed by incorporating motor learning strategies and cognitive challenges into neuromuscular training. Cognitive challenges included tasks requiring quick reactions, motor-motor or cognitive-motor tasks (dual-task), congruent and incongruent tasks, exercises combined with mathematical calculations (working memory), and response inhibition tasks.

Treatment:

Other: Neurocognitive training group

Control group

No Intervention group

Description:

The control group continued their training and no additional intervention was applied. Four weeks after their initial assessment, the same assessments were applied again with the study group.