The Effects of Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex Exercises Added to Postural Stabilization Training in Chronic Ankle Instability | NCT07728526

NCT07728526

Overview

NCT ID: NCT07728526
Lead Sponsor: Bahçeşehir UniversityOTHER
Official Title: The Effects of Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex Exercises Added to Postural Stabilization Training in Amateur Athletes With Chronic Ankle Instability
Brief Summary: Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a common condition after lateral ankle sprain. CAI is characterized by mechanical and/or functional instability, or recurrent episodes of "giving way," persisting for at least 12 months after the initial injury, and is associated with limitations in activity and participation. In amateur athletes, CAI may be overlooked or undertreated, although sport-specific activities require rapid integration of visual, vestibular, somatosensory, and cognitive information.

Postural stabilization training is commonly used to improve balance and neuromuscular control in individuals with CAI. However, individuals with CAI may show increased reliance on visual information and altered visual-vestibular sensory reweighting during postural control tasks. The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) contributes to gaze stability and visual clarity during head movements and may also be related to neurocognitive processes such as attention and processing speed. This study is designed as a randomized controlled, prospective, parallel-group, pretest-posttest design trial to investigate whether VOR exercises added to postural stabilization training improve dynamic balance, functional instability, and neurocognitive performance in amateur athletes with CAI.

Status and Timeline

Status: Recruiting
Last Update Posted: Jul 28, 2026Actual
Start Date: Jul 22, 2026Actual
Primary Completion Date: Jul 22, 2027Estimated
Completion Date

Participation Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study: Adult (18-64)
Sexes Eligible for Study: All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No
Eligibility Criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

Being between 18 and 35 years of age.

Being classified as a Tier 2 athlete according to the McKay et al. Participant Classification Framework (trained/developmental level).

Having a history of at least one lateral ankle sprain (LAS) occurring at least 12 months before enrollment, resulting in swelling, pain, and functional impairment, and followed by persistent instability.

Having the most recent ankle sprain at least 3 months before study enrollment.

Having a history of recurrent ankle sprains or episodes of "giving way."

Having a diagnosis of unilateral chronic ankle instability (CAI).

Having a Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool - Turkish Version (CAIT-T) score of ≤24.

Having a Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) score of <90%.

Having a Foot and Ankle Ability Measure Sports subscale (FAAM-S) score of <80%.

A side-to-side difference of ≥2.5 cm in Weight-Bearing Lunge Test distance, with the affected side demonstrating less dorsiflexion than the unaffected side.

Exclusion Criteria:

History of acute lateral ankle sprain within the last 3 months.

History of lower extremity surgery.

History of acute injury to other musculoskeletal structures of the lower extremity joints within the last 3 months that affected joint integrity and function and caused interruption of desired physical activity for at least one day.

History of balance or vestibular disorders, including cerebellar, vestibular, cochlear, or inner ear dysfunction.

Visual problems that may affect the administration or interpretation of the Dynamic Visual Acuity Test, including a history of amblyopia, diplopia, or significant visual loss.

Persistent symptoms related to a previous concussion or traumatic brain injury.

Study Plan

Study Type: Interventional
Phase: Not Applicable
Enrollment: 56Estimated
Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)

Contacts and Locations

Central Contacts: Pelin Pisirici, PT, PhDContact
pelin.pisirici@bau.edu.tr05055016076

Similar Studies

Participant Group/Arms

Postural Stabilization Training GroupActive Comparator

Participants in this group will receive ankle joint mobilization followed by a structured postural stabilization training program. The program will include single-leg stance progression, hop stabilization tasks, and number-sequence hop tasks. Exercises will be progressed according to the participant's ability to complete each task without errors. Ankle joint mobilization will include talocrural anteroposterior mobilization and distal fibular mobilization with movement, applied before the exercise session for approximately 5 minutes.

Other: Postural Stabilization Training

Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex Exercise in addition to Postural Stabilization Training GroupExperimental

Participants in this group will receive the same ankle joint mobilization and postural stabilization training program as the Postural Stabilization Training Group. In addition, vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) exercises involving fixation on a visual target during head movements will be implemented. VOR exercises will be structured to progressively increase postural demands and will include sitting, standing, walking, and single-leg stance positions.

Other: Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex Exercise in addition to Postural Stabilization Training