An interventional study of Postural Stabilization Training and Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex Exercise in addition to Postural Stabilization Training in Ankle Sprain, Ankle Sprain Strain and Ankle Inversion Sprain, sponsored by Bahçeşehir University. Recruiting at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years to 35 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-28.
Sponsored by Bahçeşehir University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
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 and participation. Contemporary theoretical models emphasize that CAI should not be explained solely by biomechanical or neuromuscular deficits, but rather as a dynamic condition shaped by the interaction of motor-behavioral, sensory-perceptual, psychological, and environmental factors.
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 visuo-motor reaction performance, fear avoidance behavior related to sports injuries and kinesiophobia in amateur athletes with CAI.
Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a common condition following lateral ankle sprain and is characterized by mechanical and/or functional instability, recurrent episodes of "giving way," and activity limitations persisting for at least 12 months after the initial injury. Contemporary models suggest that CAI should not be explained only by biomechanical or neuromuscular deficits, but rather as a multidimensional condition influenced by motor-behavioral, sensory-perceptual, psychological, and environmental factors. In amateur athletes, CAI may be overlooked or undertreated despite the high sensorimotor and cognitive demands of sport-specific activities. During dynamic sport-related tasks, athletes must rapidly perceive visual information, select an appropriate motor response, and execute this response while maintaining postural control. Therefore, visuo-motor reaction performance assessed during dynamic balance may provide a meaningful functional outcome for evaluating sport-specific sensorimotor control in individuals with CAI.
Postural stabilization training is commonly used in CAI rehabilitation to improve balance, proprioceptive function, and neuromuscular control. However, individuals with CAI may demonstrate 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. Therefore, integrating VOR exercises into postural stabilization training may support visual stabilization, sensory integration, and motor response performance during dynamic balance tasks.
Psychological factors may also influence functional performance and return-to-sport behavior after musculoskeletal injury. Fear-avoidance behavior related to sports injuries and kinesiophobia may lead individuals to avoid movement or sport-specific activities due to fear of reinjury. These factors may be associated not only with traditional motor performance outcomes, but also with visual attention strategies, attentional resource allocation, and reactive motor response processes.
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 visuo-motor reaction performance, fear avoidance behavior related to sports injuries and kinesiophobia in amateur athletes with CAI. Visuo-motor reaction performance will be assessed using a Reactive Balance Test, Fear-avoidance behavior related to sports injuries will be evaluated through Athlete Fear Avoidance Questionnaire - Turkish Version and kinesiophobia will be assessed using Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia - Turkish Version. Approximately 32 participants with CAI will participate in an exercise program for six weeks, three days a week. Each session will last approximately 45 minutes, including 40 minutes of exercise and 5 minutes of ankle mobilization. Participants will be randomized into either a Postural Stabilization Training Group or a Postural Stabilization Training plus Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex (VOR) Exercises Group. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, at the end of the six week intervention and at 4-week follow-up.
350 studies on the registry are indexed under Ankle Injuries; 74 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 32 is below the median of 54 across 270 interventional studies indexed under Ankle Injuries.
Browse Ankle Injuries studies →Bahçeşehir University is the lead sponsor of 128 studies on the registry; 26 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
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
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
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. The total session will last approximately 45 minutes and will be performed 3 times per week for 6 weeks.
Also known as: Talocrural joint mobilization
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. The total session will last approximately 45 minutes and will be performed 3 times per week for 6 weeks.
Also known as: Talocrural joint mobilization
Reactive Balance Test
This test will be used to assess visuo-motor reaction performance during dynamic postural control. The test will combine the Y-Balance Test setup with a smartphone-controlled LED light system (BlazePod). LED targets will be placed at 80% of each participant's maximum reach distance in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions. Participants will stand in the standard Y-Balance Test position and will be instructed to touch the target LED stimulus as quickly as possible without losing balance. A total of 45 randomized visual stimuli will be presented, with inter-stimulus intervals ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 seconds. Visuo-motor reaction time will be recorded in milliseconds, and accuracy will be calculated based on missed stimuli, multiple attempts, and decision errors. The test will be performed twice on the limb with a history of instability; the first trial will be used for familiarization, and the second trial will be used for analysis.
Time frame: baseline, 6 weeks after baseline, and 10-week after baseline
The Athlete Fear Avoidance Questionnaire - Turkish Version (AFAQ-TR)
The questionnaire will be used to assess fear-avoidance behavior related to return to sport after injury. The questionnaire consists of 10 items scored on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). The total score ranges from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater fear-avoidance behavior.
Time frame: baseline, 6 weeks after baseline, and 10-week after baseline
The Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia - Turkish Version (TSK-TR)
The scale will be used to assess fear of movement after musculoskeletal injury. The scale consists of 17 items scored on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). After reverse scoring items 4, 8, 12, and 16, a total score will be calculated. The total score ranges from 17 to 68, with higher scores indicating greater kinesiophobia.
Time frame: baseline, 6 weeks after baseline, and 10-week after baseline
Foot and Ankle Ability Measure Turkish Version (FAAM-T)
The Foot and Ankle Ability Measure Turkish Version (FAAM-T) will be used to evaluate postural stability and foot/anklerelated functional ability following chronic ankle instability and lateral ankle sprain. The FAAM consists of 29 items and includes two subscales: the Activities of Daily Living subscale (FAAM-ADL, 21 items) and the Sports subscale (FAAMS, 8 items). The Sports subscale is specifically designed to assess sport-related function and complex motor tasks and is widely used as a self-reported outcome measure in athletic populations. Scores are expressed as a percentage, with lower scores indicating greater sport-related functional limitation.
Time frame: baseline, 6 weeks after baseline, and 10-week after baseline
Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool - Turkish Version
The Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool is a 9-item questionnaire used to evaluate perceived ankle instability and functional limitations. The total score ranges from 0 to 30, with lower scores indicating greater ankle instability. A score of 24 or lower is considered consistent with functional ankle instability.
Time frame: baseline, 6 weeks after baseline, and 10-week after baseline
Weight-Bearing Lunge Test
The Weight-Bearing Lunge Test will be used to assess ankle dorsiflexion range of motion in a weight-bearing position. The maximum distance at which the knee can touch the wall without heel lift will be measured in centimeters. A dorsiflexion distance on the affected side that is ≥2.5 cm less than the unaffected side will be considered indicative of dorsiflexion limitation.
Time frame: baseline, 6 weeks after baseline, and 10-week after baseline
Dynamic Visual Acuity Test
The Dynamic Visual Acuity Test will be used to assess the functional status of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). Static visual acuity (SVA) and dynamic visual acuity (DVA) during active head movements will be measured, and the difference between these two values will be used as an indicator of VOR function. For both measurements, the smallest line that can be read with at least 50% accuracy will be recorded. The change in the SVA-DVA difference will be reported after the intervention.
Time frame: baseline, 6 weeks after baseline, and 10-week after baseline
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Started Jul 2026 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Jul 2027, 12 months after the start.
Of 138 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Ankle Injuries, half reached primary completion within 9 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 4 and three quarters within 30. This study's planned 12 months is above that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 141 studies reached it within 9 months; a quarter within 4 and three quarters within 31.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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