The Effect of Cognitive Tasks on Single Limb Balance

Completed

• Conditions: Chronic Ankle Instability, CAI; Healthy Participants

• Registration Number: NCT07084220
• Lead Sponsor: Towson University

Brief Summary

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of performing various cognitive tasks on balance in individuals with chronic ankle instability and healthy controls. Three different cognitive tasks will be performed while participants balance on one limb. Chronic ankle instability is defined as having a history of at least one ankle sprain and having residual effects. The specific aims of this study are to:

1. Determine if performing the cognitive tasks effect single limb balancing.

2. Determine which cognitive task, if any, has the greatest effect on single limb balance.

Participants will perform single-limb balancing with eyes open on the force plate while performing one of the four cognitive tasks. You will start with the control condition, the order of cognitive tasks will be random. Testing will occur on both limbs.

1. Each trial will last 1 minute. There will be at least a 30 second rest period between trials.

2. You will perform 3 trials of each cognitive task prior to moving on to the next task. There will be a 5 minute rest between cognitive tasks.

3. You will complete all testing on one limb (counterbalanced) prior to moving to the other limb.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2019-08
• Study Start: 2019-08-18
• Primary Completion: 2020-01-21
• Study Completion: 2020-07-31
• Study First Submitted: 2025-07-16
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-07-16
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-07-16
• Study First Posted: 2025-07-24
• Last Update Posted: 2025-07-24

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 39

Inclusion Criteria

• Between 18-40 years old
• Lower extremity injury-free for at least 3 months
• No previous history of foot or ankle surgery on either limb
• No known history of known foot or ankle fracture on either limb
• No known neurological or vestibular disorders, or other medical conditions affecting balance, including ear infections
• Does not have diabetes mellitus
• No self-reported disability due to lower extremity pathology
• No previous history of ankle sprain on either limb as reported on the Modified Ankle Instability Index questionnaire
• A score lower than 10 on the Identification of Functional Ankle Instability questionnaire

Exclusion Criteria

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Balance	30 second trials	Force plate derived measures (center of pressure and time to boundary) will be collected.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Cognitive errors	30 seconds	The number of cognitive errors during cognitive tasks.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Burdick Hall; 🇺🇸 Towson, Maryland, United States