Neurocognitive Ankle Training for Instability to Optimize Neuromusculoskeletal Outcomes (NATION)

Conditions

• Chronic Ankle Instability

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

18 Years - 44 Years

Healthy Volunteers

Not accepted

Interventions

• Neurocognitive Ankle Training for Instablity to Optimize Neuromusculoskeletal outcomes (NATION) — OTHER
  The NATION rehabilitation protocol will serve as the true intervention group. NATION is a 6-week evidence-based chronic ankle instability (CAI) rehabilitation protocol that incorporates neurocognitive exercises. Participants will complete up to 18 unsupervised home sessions and up to 12 supervised sessions. Treatment volume and exercises may vary based on participant progress and study team member guidance.
• Evidence-Based — OTHER
  The Evidence-Based rehabilitation protocol will serve as the active comparator group. The Evidence-Based protocol will be similar to the intervention (i.e., NATION protocol), but the exercises will exclude the neurocognitive tasks. Participants assigned to the Evidence-Based protocol will complete up to 18 unsupervised home sessions and up to 12 supervised sessions over the course of 6-weeks. Treatment volume and exercises may vary based on participant progress.

Study Details

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of a novel ankle rehabilitation protocol on improving clinical and health outcomes in physically active individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Our central hypothesis is NATION, a novel rehabilitation intervention that includes neurocognitive tasks, will improve overall health and function, and reduce lower extremity musculoskeletal injury in physically active individuals with CAI.

Key Dates

Start date

Oct 13, 2025

Status verified

Apr 2026

Primary completion

Jun 14, 2027

Completion

Jun 14, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment

180 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Arms

• Experimental: NATION
  NATION is a 6-week evidence-based CAI rehabilitation protocol that incorporates neurocognitive exercises. Participants will complete 18 unsupervised home sessions and 12 supervised sessions over the course of 6-weeks.
• Active Comparator: Evidence-based
  The Evidence-Based protocol will be identical to the intervention (i.e., NATION protocol), but the exercises will exclude the neurocognitive tasks. Participants will complete 18 unsupervised home sessions and 12 supervised sessions over the course of 6-weeks.
• No Intervention: Control
  Participants assigned to the Control arm will be instructed to continue their normal routine.

Primary Outcome Measure

Ankle Strength [ Time Frame: Baseline, 6-weeks post-enrollment, & 6-months post-enrollment ]

Central Contacts

• Megan H. Roach, PhD
  910-907-1042
  [email protected]

Locations (2)

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