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NCT Number: NCT07171398

Impact of Chronic Ankle Instability on Jumping and Agility in Athletes

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Chronic Ankle Instability Ankle Injuries Ankle Sprain Athletic Performance Functional Performance Deficit Leg Injuries Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year–30 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University of Health Sciences

Ankara, Etlik, 06200, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a frequent consequence of lateral ankle sprains, affecting up to 74% of athletes with previous ankle injuries. It is characterized by recurrent sprains, repeated "giving way" episodes, reduced function, and impaired performance. While CAI has been extensively studied in relation to balance and proprioception, its direct effects on sport-specific performance metrics such as jumping and agility remain less clear.

In this cross-sectional case-control study, 32 athletes were enrolled: 16 athletes with CAI and 16 matched healthy athletes with no history of ankle instability. The CAI group was diagnosed using International Ankle Consortium (IAC) criteria (history of ≥1 lateral ankle sprain ≥12 months prior, ≥2 giving way episodes in the past 6 months, CAIT score ≤24, ≥5 years of sports participation). Controls had CAIT scores ≥25 and no ankle injury history.

The testing battery included:

Hop tests: single-leg hop, 6-meter timed hop, triple crossover hop, and lateral hop.

Agility tests: 5-10-5 pro-agility shuttle and acceleration-deceleration-acceleration (ADA) test.

Jump tests: countermovement jump (height, flight time, power) and side jump test.

Measurements were supported by the Deepsport AI program for objective performance analysis.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • 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

Inclusion criteria

- Control Group:

  • 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

Exclusion criteria

  • 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

Treatment and study plan

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.

Primary outcomes

  1. Countermovement Jump - Jump Height

    Time frame: Single laboratory session (~60 minutes)

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

  2. Countermovement Jump - Flight Time

    Time frame: Single laboratory session

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

  3. Countermovement Jump - Power Output

    Time frame: Single laboratory session

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

  4. 5-10-5 Pro-Agility Shuttle - Completion Time

    Time frame: Single session

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

  5. Acceleration-Deceleration-Acceleration (ADA) - Total Time

    Time frame: Single session

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

  6. Side Jump Test - Completion Time

    Time frame: Single session

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

  7. 6-Meter Timed Hop - Completion Time

    Time frame: Single session

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

  8. Single-Leg Hop - Completion Time

    Time frame: Single session

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

  9. Triple Crossover Hop - Distance

    Time frame: Single session

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

  10. Lateral Hop Test - Distance

    Time frame: Single session

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

Other outcomes

  1. Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) Score

    Time frame: Baseline assessment (same day as testing)

    Self-reported ankle instability using CAIT questionnaire (0-30 points). Lower scores = greater instability.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ankara Yildirim Beyazıt University

Other

Collaborators

  • Australian Catholic University
  • Manisa Celal Bayar University
  • Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi

Registry information

Official study title

Impact of Chronic Ankle Instability on Jumping and Agility Performance in Athletes: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Sep 12, 2025
Registry last updated
Sep 12, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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