A Brief Hypnosis Intervention Improves Single-Limb Dynamic Balance in People with Chronic Ankle Instability: A Crossover Experimental Pilot Study

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Ankle sprains are one of the more common musculoskeletal injuries in active populations and can develop into chronic ankle instability (CAI), a condition with uncertain etiology and symptoms that include poor dynamic balance, the ability to maintain balance during movement. The components of CAI are psychophysiological and biomechanical, indicating mind-body connections that can influence the development and persistence of this condition. Preliminary evidence suggests that self-hypnosis, a mind-body therapy, can restore physical performance in conditions like CAI. Twenty-four participants with CAI participated in this experimental pilot study, with a crossover design, to investigate the relationship between self-reported measures of ankle instability and other psychological factors with performance-based measures of dynamic balance and heart rate variability (HRV). Participants also received an 8-minute, self-hypnosis session to determine its influence on balance performance. Perceived ankle instability and dynamic balance were not associated with enhancement-based (interoceptive awareness, self-efficacy) or limit-based (kinesiophobia, anxiety) psychological factors. Perceived anxiety was not associated with HRV. Hypnosis was modestly effective in improving direction-specific (lateral) dynamic balance.