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Abstract Introduction: Research has demonstrated clear advantages of using an external focus of attention in postural control tasks, presumably since it allows a more automatic control of posture to emerge. However, the influence of cognitive tasks on postural stability has produced discordant results especially in recurrent ankle sprained patients. Objective: to investigate whether or not diverting attention away from postural control using a continuous cognitive task will produce greater dynamic postural control than an internal and external focus of attention in recurrent ankle sprain patients. Methods: forty three patients with recurrent ankle sprain participated in this study divided randomly into three group .group (A) fourteen patients with external focus of attention, group (B) fifteen patients with internal focus of attention, group (C) fourteen patients with continuous cognitive task. Dynamic postural control was measured in three groups in two levels of difficulty (7&5) by Biodex Balance System Results: mixed design MANOVA was used to compare within and between groups differences and showed that there is no significant differences within groups in overall stability index (OASI), anteroposterior stability index (APSI) and mediolateral stability index (MLSI) in both levels of difficulty except in group (C) in OASI. However, between groups (A&C) there is statistical reduction in dynamic postural control in group C in both levels OASI (p= 0.00), APSI level 7 & 5 (p= 0.015 and 0.006 respectively) and MLSI in both levels (p= 0.00). Moreover, between (B&C) there is significant reduction in dynamic postural control in group C in OASI in 7 & 5 (p= 0.018 and 0.006 respectively),MLSI in 7 & 5 (p= 0.001 and 0.019 respectively) with no significant difference in APSI in both levels |