NCT05090423

The Effect of Additional Neurodynamic Intervention in Patients With Chronic Ankle Instability

Completed NA Results posted Last updated 15 January 2026

What this trial tests

NA trial testing balance training alone in Ankle Sprains in 36 participants. Completed in 30 June 2024.

Timeline

5 January 2022

Primary endpoint
30 June 2024

30 June 2024

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
Phase	NA
Status	Completed
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	randomized
Design	parallel
Masking	single
Primary purpose	treatment
Enrollment	36
Start date	5 January 2022
Primary completion	30 June 2024
Estimated completion	30 June 2024
Sites	1 location across Taiwan

Drugs / interventions tested

• balance training alone
• balance training and neurodynamic intervention for the common peroneal nerve

Conditions studied

• Ankle Sprains — all drugs for Ankle Sprains →

Sponsor

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Who can join

Adults 20 to 50, any sex, with Ankle Sprains. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Results — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Per-arm endpoint measurements with 95% confidence intervals where reported. Source: trial results section.

Pressure Pain Threshold- Anterior Talofibular Ligament Primary · Within one week after 12 treatment sessions

Using the PainTestTM FDX algometer, apply vertical contact and average force to measure pressure pain thresholds at the anterior talofibular ligament. The point is tested three times with a 30-second interval between tests, and the average of the three measurements is recorded.

Group	Value	95% CI
Exercise Group	4.19	± 1.3
Neurodynamic Group	3.98	± 1.29

Pressure Pain Threshold- Calcaneofibular Ligament Primary · Within one week after 12 treatment sessions

Using the PainTestTM FDX algometer, apply vertical contact and average force to measure pressure pain thresholds at the calcaneofibular ligament. The point is tested three times with a 30-second interval between tests, and the average of the three measurements is recorded.

Group	Value	95% CI
Exercise Group	4.98	± 1.62
Neurodynamic Group	4.67	± 1.43

Active Knee Extension Range of Motion During Slump Test in Ankle Plantar Flexion With Inversion Primary · Within one week after 12 treatment session

The subjects sat on the edge of the bed without touching the ground with their feet. The physical therapist assisted the subjects in maintaining a neutral pelvis position. First, the subjects were asked to flex the neck, trunk, and finally the lumbar to tighten the back. Second, while the subjects plantarflexed and inverted the ankle, they performed the knee extension movement, and the angle of knee motion was recorded. Participants performed three practice trials followed by three test trials and averaged the three tests.

Group	Value	95% CI
Exercise Group	24.53	± 1.9
Neurodynamic Group	17.8	± 1.9

Pressure Pain Threshold- Peroneal Brevis Muscle Primary · Within one week after 12 treatment sessions

Using the PainTestTM FDX algometer, apply vertical contact and average force to measure pressure pain thresholds at the peroneal brevis muscle. The point is tested three times with a 30-second interval between tests, and the average of the three measurements is recorded.

Group	Value	95% CI
Exercise Group	4.66	± 1.36
Neurodynamic Group	4.27	± 1.19

Pressure Pain Threshold- Peroneal Longus Muscle Primary · Within one week after 12 treatment sessions

Using the PainTestTM FDX algometer, apply vertical contact and average force to measure pressure pain thresholds at the peroneal longus muscle. The point is tested three times with a 30-second interval between tests, and the average of the three measurements is recorded.

Group	Value	95% CI
Exercise Group	6.3	± 2
Neurodynamic Group	5.93	± 1.5

Pressure Pain Threshold- Common Peroneal Nerve Primary · Within one week after 12 treatment sessions

Using the PainTestTM FDX algometer, apply vertical contact and average force to measure pressure pain thresholds at the common peroneal nerve. The point is tested three times with a 30-second interval between tests, and the average of the three measurements is recorded.

Group	Value	95% CI
Exercise Group	5.47	± 1.58
Neurodynamic Group	4.89	± 1.39

Y Balance Test- Anterior Direction Secondary · Within one week after 12 treatment sessions

Participants stood on the Y-Balance Test device and reached with the non-stance leg in the anterior, posterolateral, and posteromedial directions, starting with the dominant leg, in sequence. Each participant performed six practice trials to become familiar with the procedure. For data collection, three final trials in each direction were recorded. Leg length was measured from the anterior superior iliac spine to the distal tip of the medial malleolus. Reach distance in centimeters was normalized to leg length by dividing the reach distance by leg length and multiplying by 100 to obtain the pe

Group	Value	95% CI
Exercise Group	61.18	± 5.87
Neurodynamic Group	59.22	± 4.01

The Foot and Ankle Ability Measures- Sports Secondary · Within one week after 12 treatment sessions

The Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) Sports Subscale is a self-reported questionnaire consisting of 8 items that assess the participant's perceived ability to perform sports-related activities. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale (0 = unable to do, 1 = extreme difficulty, 2 = moderate difficulty, 3 = slight difficulty, 4 = no difficulty). If an item is not applicable, the participant marks "N/A." Raw scores are summed and converted to a percentage score using the following formula: (raw score ÷ maximum possible score) × 100, with higher scores indicating better functional ability.

Group	Value	95% CI
Exercise Group	93.35	± 4.22
Neurodynamic Group	93.55	± 9.58

The Foot and Ankle Ability Measures- Activity of Life Secondary · Within one week after 12 treatment sessions

The Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) Activities of Daily Living (ADL) subscale is a self-reported questionnaire consisting of 21 items that assess the participant's perceived difficulty in performing activities of daily living. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale (0 = unable to do, 1 = extreme difficulty, 2 = moderate difficulty, 3 = slight difficulty, 4 = no difficulty). If an item is not applicable, the participant marks "N/A." Raw scores are summed and converted to a percentage score using the following formula: (raw score ÷ maximum possible score) × 100, with higher scores indicati

Group	Value	95% CI
Exercise Group	98.13	± 1.65
Neurodynamic Group	97.86	± 3.32

Weight Bearing Lunge Test Secondary · Within one week after 12 treatment sessions

Asked the person to face the wall and placed the tested foot in front, with the second toe and heel in a line perpendicular to the wall. The contralateral limb was positioned behind the testing limb in a comfortable position, and hands were placed on the wall in front to maintain stability. The gravity inclinometer was placed at the tibial tuberosity to measure the angle. The subjects lunged forward, trying to touch a vertical line on the wall with their knee, while keeping their heel in contact with the ground. Participants performed three practice trials followed by three test trials and av

Group	Value	95% CI
Exercise Group	41.27	± 6.66
Neurodynamic Group	40.38	± 5.09

Hamstring Flexibility Secondary · Within one week after 12 treatment sessions

Measured hamstring flexibility using the 90-90 passive knee extension test. The subject lay flat on their back on the bed and straps were used to secure the pelvis. The test leg was positioned with the hip and knee at 90 degrees, while the other leg remained straight on the bed. The subject's knee was then passively extended. The goniometer's stationary arm was attached to the middle of the thigh, the axis was aligned with the lateral epicondyle of the femur, and the moving arm was positioned to the lateral malleolus. The knee extension angle was measured. The value recorded was the angle betw

Group	Value	95% CI
Exercise Group	38.07	± 2.7
Neurodynamic Group	30.78	± 2.7

The Foot and Ankle Ability Measures- Activity of Life (Self- Awareness Score) Secondary · Within one week after 12 treatment sessions

The Activities of Daily Living (self-awareness score) is a self-reported measure in which the participant rates the functional status of the involved (patient) foot relative to the uninvolved (healthy) foot. The uninvolved foot is assigned a reference value of 100 points. The participant then rates the involved foot on a scale ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better self-perceived functional ability in daily life.

Group	Value	95% CI
Exercise Group	92.27	± 6.27
Neurodynamic Group	93.73	± 4.26

Sponsor's own description

Approximately 40% of acute ankle sprain would develop into chronic ankle instability (CAI). Chronic ankle instability is characterized by pain, repeated sprains and giving way. Recently, the pathomechanical impairment, sensory-perceptual impairment and motor-behavioral impairment have been documented in the chronic ankle instability model. Previous research revealed that compared to the control subjects, people with CAI had lower pressure pain threshold (PPT). This increased mechanosensitivity of the neural tissues around the ankle might account for pain and dysfunction in people with CAI. Also, the other study indicated that in subjects following ankle inversion sprain there is greater restriction of knee extension on the injured side compared to non-injured side in the slump test with the ankle plantar flexion and inversion, which may suggest the restriction in mobility of the common peroneal tract. However, the effects of neurodynamic intervention, which addresses the mechanosensitivity problems, in people with CAI are still unclear.

Therefore, the aim of the study is to investigate the effect of additional neurodynamic intervention on the ankle range of motion, mechanosensitivity, balance performance and self-reported function.

Publications & conference data

No peer-reviewed publications indexed yet for this trial. Completed trials usually publish results within 12-18 months.