Effect of cognitive task on postural control of the patients with chronic ankle instability during single and double leg standing

SummaryObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a cognitive task on standing postural control of the injured and non-injured leg of athletes with chronic ankle instability.MethodsPostural stability was measured by center of pressure parameters while chronic ankle instability patients (n = 8) randomly performed single and double leg standing in isolation or concurrently with a digit-backward cognitive task.ResultsAfter performing a concurrent cognitive task, anteroposterior sway significantly decreased in injured leg (P < 0.05) and area significantly decreased in both injured and non-injured legs (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in all center of pressure parameters between injured and non-injured legs.ConclusionThe findings confirm the effect of a concurrent digit-backwards memory task on single leg standing balance in chronic ankle instability patients but the response to cognitive loading was not significantly different between the injured and non-injured legs.