Effects of Pilates Training on Ankle Proprioception, Postural Control and Performance in Footballers With Chronic Ankle Instability
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Pilates exercises, Balance exercises.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Proprioception, Postural Balance, Performance, Chronic Ankle Instability, CAI. Basic parameters: 22 years — 35 years · Male.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
This study aims to contribute to the effects of Pilates training on ankle proprioception, postural control, and performance in football players with chronic ankle instability. Eighty eight participants will be randomly allocated into two groups and will receive both Pilates and balance training for eight weeks. it is hypothesized that the group that will receive Pilates taring will produce greater improvements as compared to other group.
Detailed description
Chronic ankle instability is a frequently encountered issue in footballers, characterized by repeated episodes of the ankle "giving way," resulting in functional limitations and increased risk of future injuries. Conventional rehabilitation protocols often fail to restore optimal neuromuscular control, particularly proprioceptive and postural capabilities. Given the demands of football, this deficit can significantly hinder athletic performance and increase injury susceptibility. While Pilates-based rehabilitation has shown promise in improving core strength, balance, and neuromuscular coordination, there is a paucity of research examining its role in the context of CAI. This study addresses this research gap by assessing the effectiveness of Pilates training in improving key functional deficits among footballers with CAI, potentially informing more effective and sport-specific rehabilitation strategies.
Participants will be randomized into two groups:
1. Pilates Training Group 2. Control Group Intervention The intervention will last \[insert duration 8 weeks\], with participants attending three supervised sessions per week. Each session will last 60 minutes and will be led by a qualified physical therapist experienced in Pilates and sports rehabilitation.
After the intervention period, post-intervention assessments using the same outcome tools will be conducted by the same blinded assessor under identical conditions to the baseline evaluation. Any adverse events or dropouts will be recorded throughout the study.
Group A: Pilates Intervention Group Duration: 8 weeks (3 sessions/week) Session Duration: 60 minutes per session Equipment Used: Yoga mat, resistance bands, Pilates ring, small stability ball, foam roller.
Structure of Each Session:
Phase Time Activities Warm-Up 10 min Gentle dynamic stretches and mobility exercises (e.g., neck rolls, shoulder circles, hip openers, ankle circles) Core Pilates Training 40 min - Beginner-Intermediate Mat Pilates targeting core, hips, gluts, and lower leg muscles - Sample Exercises: - Pelvic tilts - Hundred - Single-leg stretch - Shoulder bridge with ankle engagement - Side-lying leg circles - Toe taps and leg lifts with ankle focus Cool Down 10 min Static stretching, deep breathing, and relaxation techniques
Progression:
Exercises will be progressed weekly by:
* Increasing repetitions and sets * Reducing support (e.g., double leg to single leg) * Incorporating dynamic and unstable surfaces (foam pads, balance discs) Group B: Control Group Duration: 8 weeks (3 sessions/week) Session Duration: 60 minutes per session Equipment Used: Balance board, wobble disc, cones, foam pads, resistance bands.
Structure of Each Session:
Phase Time Activities Warm-Up 10 min Light jogging, ankle mobility drills, dynamic stretching Balance Training 40 min - Static and Dynamic Balance Drills: - Single-leg stance (eyes open/closed) - Wobble board balancing - Star excursion balance test practice - Tandem walking on a line - Forward/backward hops on one leg - Cone drills with reach tasks and steps up Cool Down 10 min Ankle and lower limb stretching, breathing techniques
Progression:
* Decrease base of support * Introduce perturbations (e.g., partner tapping) * Dual-task activities (catching, counting, etc.)
Interventions
- Other Pilates exercises
Duration: 8 weeks (3 sessions/week) Session Duration: 60 minutes per session Equipment Used: Yoga mat, resistance bands, Pilates ring, small stability ball, foam roller. Structure of Each Session: Phase Time Activities Warm-Up 10 min Gentle dynamic stretches and mobility exercises (e.g., neck rolls, shoulder circles, hip openers, ankle circles) Core Pilates Training 40 min - Beginner-Intermediate Mat Pilates targeting core, hips, gluts, and lower leg muscles - Sample Exercises: - Pelvic tilts - Other Balance exercises
Group B: Control Group Duration: 8 weeks (3 sessions/week) Session Duration: 60 minutes per session Equipment Used: Balance board, wobble disc, cones, foam pads, resistance bands. Structure of Each Session: Phase Time Activities Warm-Up 10 min Light jogging, ankle mobility drills, dynamic stretching Balance Training 40 min - Static and Dynamic Balance Drills: - Single-leg stance (eyes open/closed) - Wobble board balancing - Star excursion balance test practice - Tandem walking on a line - Forw
Primary outcome measures
- Postural control [Time frame: Base line before intervention after 8 weeks post intervention]
- ankle proprioception [Time frame: Baseline: Before intervention 8 weeks post-intervention]
- performance [Time frame: base line before intervention and 8 weeks post intervention]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
Male footballers aged 22-35
- History of unilateral ankle sprain in past 12 months
- Inability to bear weight post-injury
- CAIT score < 24
- Minimum of 1-year experience in football
Exclusion criteria
- Bilateral ankle sprains
- Lower limb fractures or surgeries
- Neurological conditions (e.g., MS, CMT, Stroke)
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Publications
- Ghorbani M, Yaali R, Sadeghi H, Granacher U. Effects of Pilates Exercise Training on Static Balance and Lower Limbs Proprioception in Adult Females With and Without Flexible Flatfeet. Foot Ankle Spec. 2026 Apr;19(2):196-205. doi: 10.1177/19386400241279930. Epub 2024 Sep 26. PMID 39324770
- Zhang C, Chen N, Wang J, Zhang Z, Jiang C, Chen Z, Fang J, Peng J, Li W, Song B. The Prevalence and Characteristics of Chronic Ankle Instability in Elite Athletes of Different Sports: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Clin Med. 2022 Dec 16;11(24):7478. doi: 10.3390/jcm11247478. PMID 36556094
- Alghadir AH, Iqbal ZA, Iqbal A, Ahmed H, Ramteke SU. Effect of Chronic Ankle Sprain on Pain, Range of Motion, Proprioception, and Balance among Athletes. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Jul 23;17(15):5318. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17155318. PMID 32718066
- Ziaei Ziabari E, Haghpanahi M, Razi M, Lubberts B, Ashkani-Esfahani S, DiGiovanni CW. The Effects of Chronic Ankle Instability on the Biomechanics of the Uninjured, Contralateral Ankle During Gait. Orthop Surg. 2022 Sep;14(9):2238-2244. doi: 10.1111/os.13307. Epub 2022 Jul 19. PMID 35852096
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07266649 · UBAS/ERB/FoRS/25/020