Impact of Chronic Ankle Instability on Jumping and Agility in Athletes

NCT07171398 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: 821c0699143e44f4
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 32
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study investigated how chronic ankle instability (CAI) affects functional performance in athletes compared with healthy controls. CAI is a condition that develops after repeated ankle sprains, leading to ongoing "giving way" episodes, pain, and reduced stability. A total of 32 athletes participated: 16 with CAI and 16 healthy, age- and sport-matched controls. Participants performed a series of sport-specific functional performance tests, including single-leg hop tests, triple crossover hop, lateral hop, 6-meter timed hop, side jump, countermovement jump (CMJ), the 5-10-5 agility test, and the acceleration-deceleration-acceleration (ADA) test. The Deepsport AI program was used for precise measurement of jumping and agility parameters. Results showed that athletes with CAI had significantly lower jump height and power, reduced hop distances, and slower times in agility and hopping tests compared to controls. These findings suggest that CAI negatively impacts performance in explosive and multidirectional movements, which are essential in sports such as basketball, volleyball, and soccer. No strong correlation was found between CAIT (Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool) scores and objective performance outcomes, suggesting that subjective reports alone may not fully capture functional deficits. This study highlights the importance of using both subjective questionnaires and objective tests to evaluate ankle instability in athletes. It also supports the need for rehabilitation programs that include not only balance and proprioception training but also specific exercises to improve jumping, agility, and multidirectional performance.

Conditions

Chronic Ankle Instability; Ankle Sprain; Functional Performance Deficit; Athletic Performance

Keywords

Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI); Lateral Ankle Sprain; Functional Performance Tests; Jumping Ability; Agility; Hop Tests; Countermovement Jump (CMJ); 5-10-5 Agility Test; Deepsport AI Analysis; Volleyball, Basketball, Soccer Athletes

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (10)

• Countermovement Jump - Jump Height

  Jump height (cm) measured during countermovement jump using Deepsport AI. Best of 3 trials recorded.

  Single laboratory session (~60 minutes)

• Countermovement Jump - Flight Time

  Flight time (s) measured during countermovement jump with Deepsport AI. Best of 3 trials recorded.

  Single laboratory session

• Countermovement Jump - Power Output

  Power output (W) calculated from CMJ using Deepsport AI (jump force-time algorithm). Best of 3 trials recorded.

  Single laboratory session

• 5-10-5 Pro-Agility Shuttle - Completion Time

  Total completion time (s) for the 5-10-5 shuttle test, measured with electronic timing gates. Best of 2 trials recorded.

  Single session

• Acceleration-Deceleration-Acceleration (ADA) - Total Time

  Total sprint time (s) across 10 m acceleration, 5 m deceleration, and 10 m re-acceleration, measured with Deepsport AI.

  Single session

• Side Jump Test - Completion Time

  Time (s) to complete 10 consecutive lateral single-leg jumps across a line. Best attempt recorded.

  Single session

• 6-Meter Timed Hop - Completion Time

  Time (s) to hop forward 6 meters on one leg, measured with stopwatch. Best of 3 trials recorded.

  Single session

• Single-Leg Hop - Completion Time

  Time (s) to hop forward 6 meters on one leg. Best of 3 attempts recorded.

  Single session

• Triple Crossover Hop - Distance

  Distance (m) covered in 3 consecutive crossover hops over a 15 cm line. Best of 3 trials recorded.

  Single session

• Lateral Hop Test - Distance

  Distance (m) covered in 3 consecutive lateral hops on one leg. Best of 3 attempts recorded.

  Single session

Other Outcomes (1)

• Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) Score

  Baseline assessment (same day as testing)

Study Arms (2)

Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI)

16 athletes (9 female, 7 male) with chronic ankle instability. History of ≥1 lateral ankle sprain ≥12 months ago, ≥2 "giving way" episodes in last 6 months, CAIT score ≤24, ≥5 years sport participation (≥3 h/week training).

Other: Functional Performance Testing Battery

Healthy Control (CG)

16 athletes (3 female, 13 male) without history of ankle sprain or instability. CAIT score ≥25, age/sex/sport matched to CAI group, ≥5 years sport participation (≥3 h/week training).

Other: Functional Performance Testing Battery

Interventions

Functional Performance Testing Battery OTHER

Participants performed a standardized battery of sport-specific performance tests during a single laboratory session, including: Countermovement Jump (height, power, flight time) 5-10-5 Pro-Agility Shuttle Test Acceleration-Deceleration-Acceleration (ADA) Test Side Jump Test 6-Meter Timed Hop Test Single-Leg Hop Test Triple Crossover Hop Test Lateral Hop Test Performance was assessed using the Deepsport AI program and standard timing/distance protocols. Results compared between CAI and control cohorts.

Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI); Healthy Control (CG)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Thirty-two athletes (16 with chronic ankle instability, 16 healthy controls) aged 18-30 years, recruited from volleyball, basketball, and soccer teams. Participants were matched for training background and sport exposure, with both groups averaging ≥5 years of training history and ≥3 hours of weekly participation.

You may qualify if:

• CAI Group:
• History of at least one significant lateral ankle sprain ≥12 months prior to testing
• At least 2 episodes of ankle "giving way" in the past 6 months
• Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) score ≤24
• Minimum of 5 years of sports participation and ≥3 hours of training per week
• No history of ankle sprain or ankle instability
• CAIT score ≥25
• Matched to CAI group by age, sex, and sport participation
• Minimum of 5 years of sports participation and ≥3 hours of training per week

You may not qualify if:

• History of fracture, surgery, or major injury in the lower extremity within the past year
• Musculoskeletal injury in the knee, hip, or back in the past 3 months
• Neurological or vestibular disorders affecting balance or movement
• Acute ankle pain, swelling, or inflammation at time of testing
• Current use of orthotics or ankle braces during performance testing
• Systemic or cardiovascular disease preventing safe participation

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ankara Yildirim Beyazıt University: lead
• Manisa Celal Bayar University: collaborator
• Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi: collaborator
• Australian Catholic University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of Health Sciences

Ankara, Etlik, 06200, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Ankle Injuries

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Leg Injuries; Wounds and Injuries

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Target Duration: 1 Day
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 6, 2025
• First Posted: September 12, 2025
• Study Start: March 10, 2024
• Primary Completion: June 12, 2024
• Study Completion: August 10, 2024
• Last Updated: September 12, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP
• Time Frame: De-identified IPD and supporting documents will be available beginning 6 months after publication of the trial results. Data will remain available for 5 years following publication.
• Access Criteria: Qualified academic researchers may request access to the de-identified dataset, study protocol, and SAP. Requests should be submitted to the corresponding author and will be reviewed by the research team. Access will be granted for scientifically valid proposals and shared via secure data transfer in accordance with institutional and ethical regulations.

Locations

TU (1)