Balance Training With Progressive Intermittent Visual Occlusions in Chronic Ankle Instability(RCT)

NCT07108491 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: SYU 2025-01-011-002IRB Number
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 28
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Based on the purpose of this study, the following hypotheses were established: There will be a significant difference in balance changes within and between groups following balance training with progressive intermittent visual occlusions compared to general balance training. There will be a significant difference in instability changes within and between groups following balance training with progressive intermittent visual occlusions compared to general balance training. There will be a significant difference in muscle strength changes within and between groups following balance training with progressive intermittent visual occlusions compared to general balance training. There will be a significant difference in functional performance changes within and between groups following balance training with progressive intermittent visual occlusions compared to general balance training.

Conditions

Ankle Injuries

Keywords

Intermittent Visual Occlusions; Balance; Muscle Strength; Functional Performance; Chronic Ankle Instability

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• dynamic balance

  Dynamic balance ability was assessed using the Y-Balance Test. The posterior-medial and posterior-lateral directions were set at 90 degrees to each other, and each was set at 135 degrees relative to the anterior direction. The directions were determined based on the supporting leg. Participants performed three practice trials followed by three test trials for each direction. All measurements were conducted barefoot, and reach distances were measured in centimeters using a measuring tape. Participants stood at the center point where the tape lines intersected and reached as far as possible in the anterior, posterior-medial, and posterior-lateral directions.

  At baseline (pre-intervention) and 4 weeks after completing the intervention

• Static balance

  Static balance ability was assessed using the Modified Static Postural Stability Test. Participants stood on one leg with the knee fully extended and maintained a heel-raised position, lifting the heel approximately 2-3 cm off the ground. The measurement was stopped if balance was lost, and the duration of maintaining the position was recorded in seconds.

  At baseline (pre-intervention) and 4 weeks after completing the intervention

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• instability

  At baseline (pre-intervention) and 4 weeks after completing the intervention

• muscle strength

  At baseline (pre-intervention) and 4 weeks after completing the intervention

• function

  At baseline (pre-intervention) and 4 weeks after completing the intervention

Study Arms (2)

Stroboscopic Balance Training Group

EXPERIMENTAL

The experimental group performed balance training with stroboscopic glasses twice a week for four weeks

Biological: Balance Training with Stroboscopic Glasses

Control Group (General Balance Training)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The control group performed the same balance training twice a week for four weeks

Biological: Balance Training without Glasses

Interventions

Balance Training with Stroboscopic Glasses BIOLOGICAL

The difficulty level of intermittent visual occlusion was structured from Level 1 to Level 8 based on frequency. As the flicker speed of the lenses decreased and the frequency lowered, the difficulty increased. For example, a setting of 6 Hz means the lenses flicker six times per second, whereas 1 Hz indicates one flicker per second. Levels 1 to 5 are suitable for dynamic movements such as catching or hitting a ball, while Levels 3 to 8 are appropriate for balance and proprioceptive training. In this study, participants wore stroboscopic glasses (Senaptec Strobe, Senaptec, USA, 2016) and began at Level 1 (6 Hz). The difficulty was gradually increased each week, with the setting adjusted to Level 3 (4 Hz) in Week 2, Level 4 (3 Hz) in Week 3, and Level 5 (2.25 Hz) in Week 4 (see Table 5). The training was conducted using the standard Mode A, in which both lenses flicker simultaneously.

Stroboscopic Balance Training Group

Balance Training without Glasses BIOLOGICAL

The exercise program consisted of six types of exercises and was conducted in a 30-minute circuit training format repeated twice per session. Participants took part in two sessions per week for four weeks, totaling eight sessions. The six exercises were completed as a circuit, repeated twice per session. A 30-second rest was provided between exercises and a 2-minute rest between circuits. All exercises were conducted by a licensed physical therapist to ensure safety.

Control Group (General Balance Training)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 39 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• History of recurrent ankle sprains within the 12 months prior to the study
• At least two episodes of the ankle "giving way"
• Current ankle instability, indicated by a Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) score of 24 or less

You may not qualify if:

• History of lower extremity fracture or musculoskeletal surgery
• Lower extremity injury within the past 3 months
• Vestibular disorders or uncorrectable visual impairments

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Sahmyook University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Sahmyook University

Seoul, 01795, South Korea

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Ankle Injuries

Interventions

Eyeglasses

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Leg Injuries; Wounds and Injuries

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Lenses; Optical Devices; Equipment and Supplies

Study Officials

• MIYONG JEONG, MSc

  Sahmyook University Graduate School

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Graduate Student Researcher

Model Details: Participants were divided into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group performed balance exercises while wearing stroboscopic glasses, whereas the control group performed the same balance exercises without the glasses. Both groups trained twice a week for four weeks

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 22, 2025
• First Posted: August 7, 2025
• Study Start: February 24, 2025
• Primary Completion: April 4, 2025
• Study Completion: April 4, 2025
• Last Updated: August 7, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Locations

KR (1)