Comparison of the Effects of Hip and Ankle Focused Progressive Exercise Training on Lower Extremity Function in Athletes With Chronic Ankle Instability

NCT07319403 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: HU-FTR-ÇD-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 36
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Chronic ankle instability refers to a combination of persistent mechanical and functional instability symptoms following an ankle sprain. Along with these symptoms, decreased proprioception, reduced neuromuscular control, poor postural control, limited dorsiflexion range of motion, decreased ankle strength, and altered lower-extremity biomechanics during functional activities are also observed. In addition, individuals with chronic ankle instability have been shown to exhibit limitations in energy transfer across the lower extremity. These symptoms may hinder patients' physical activity levels and athletic performance and negatively affect their quality of life. Since the lower extremity functions as a unit, changes in adaptive strategies at the ankle can lead to kinematic alterations in proximal joints. Although the instability originates at the ankle, higher-level joints are also affected, and it has even been reported that in this population, lower-extremity stability is primarily achieved through the hip joint. While the effectiveness of hip-focused exercises has begun to be investigated in the literature, the superiority of different muscle groups has not yet been compared.

Conditions

Ankle Sprains

Keywords

Ankle Injuries; Muscle Strength; Exercise Training

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT)

  The Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) is a self-reported questionnaire designed to assess the severity of chronic ankle instability. It consists of 9 items evaluating ankle stability during daily and sports-related activities. Scores range from 0 to 30, with lower scores indicating greater perceived ankle instability. An increase in the CAIT score reflects clinical improvement in ankle stability.

  Baseline and after 6 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Functional Ankle Instability Questionnaire

  Baseline and after 6 weeks

• Hip Muscle Strength

  Baseline and after 6 weeks

• Side Hop Test

  Baseline and after 6 weeks

• Step-Down Test

  Baseline and after 6 weeks

• Y-Balance Test

  Baseline and after 6 weeks

Study Arms (3)

Gluteus Maximus

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants with chronic ankle instability will participate in a 6-week hip-focused exercise program emphasizing gluteus maximus activation.

Other: Gluteus Maximus

Gluteus Medius

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants with chronic ankle instability will participate in a 6-week hip-focused exercise program emphasizing gluteus medius activation.

Other: Gluteus Medius

Control

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants with chronic ankle instability will participate in a 6-week exercise program commonly used in the rehabilitation of ankle instability

Other: Control

Interventions

Gluteus Medius OTHER

Participants with chronic ankle instability will undergo a 6-week hip-focused strengthening exercise program specifically targeting the gluteus medius muscle. The intervention aims to improve hip muscle strength and lower extremity stability.

Gluteus Medius

Gluteus Maximus OTHER

Participants with chronic ankle instability will participate in a 6-week hip-focused strengthening exercise program targeting the gluteus maximus muscle. The program aims to enhance hip extension strength and overall lower extremity stability.

Gluteus Maximus

Control OTHER

Participants with chronic ankle instability will perform a 6-week standard strengthening exercise program commonly used in the rehabilitation of ankle instability, without specific emphasis on targeted hip muscle strengthening.

Control

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Professional athletes aged between 18 and 40 years
• Participation in sports for at least 3 years
• History of at least one lateral ankle sprain that occurred at least 12 months prior to enrollment
• At least two episodes of perceived ankle "giving way" and/or at least two recurrent lateral ankle sprains within the past 6 months, and/or a subjective feeling of ankle instability on the injured side

You may not qualify if:

• History of lower extremity surgery
• History of fracture involving the lower extremity
• Any lower extremity injury within the past 3 months that limited physical activity for more than one day

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hacettepe University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Hacettepe University

Ankara, Çankaya, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Ankle Injuries

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Leg Injuries; Wounds and Injuries

Study Officials

• İrem Düzgün

  Hacettepe University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Gülcan Harput

  Ankara Medipol University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Çiğdem Demir

CONTACT

+905444674810; fztcigdemdemir@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Student

Model Details: Participants with chronic ankle instability will be randomly assigned into three parallel groups: a gluteus medius strengthening group, a gluteus maximus strengthening group, and a control group.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 21, 2025
• First Posted: January 6, 2026
• Study Start: January 15, 2026
• Primary Completion: April 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 4, 2026
• Last Updated: January 6, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)