Neurocognitive Enrichment During Functional Performance Testing in Chronic Ankle Instability

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Standard Testing Condition: 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

Internal Focus of Attention: 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.

External Focus of Attention: Participants perform functional performance tests while receiving external focus of attention instructions directing attention toward movement outcomes and environmental targets during task execution.

Cognitive Dual-Task Condition: Participants perform functional performance tests while simultaneously completing a cognitive task involving backward repetition of number sequences, increasing cognitive load during motor performance.

Study summary

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.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Dynamic Balance Performance — 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.

Trial sites (1)

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