Effect of early supervised physiotherapy on recovery from acute ankle sprain: randomised controlled trial

Point of Care Ultrasound Guided Management of Lateral Ankle Sprains: A Case Series

Background

Lateral ankle sprain (LAS) is a common injury with incidence rates reported at 7.2 per 1000 person-years. Physical examination strategies provide limited information to guide rehabilitation that can maximize clinical outcomes. Early and accurate diagnostic information using ultrasound imaging enables individualized care and the ability to monitor healing along with its response to activity and rehabilitation.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to describe and observe the outcomes associated with Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) guided early management of acute and sub-acute lateral ankle sprains.

Study Design

Case series.

Methods

Individuals with a LAS within the prior 28 days underwent a clinical evaluation to include a POCUS exam to assess ligamentous integrity. Objective and POCUS findings were integrated to classify each LAS into one of four categories. Each grade of ankle sprain corresponded to levels of bracing for the protection of injured structures with each patient receiving physical therapy care based on rehabilitation guidelines. Participants completed the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) activities of daily living and Sports subscale, the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information Systems Global Health, Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-11), Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT), and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale as well as the Ankle Lunge Test and Figure 8 measurements at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks post enrollment. The FAAM Sport subscale, all FAOS subscales, and the TSK-11 were also collected at 24 weeks while the CAIT was collected at baseline and 24 weeks.

Results

Fourteen participants were enrolled with 11 participants completing all data collection. FAAM Sport scores significantly improved at 4, 8, 12 and 24 weeks. All components of the FAOS significantly increased except for Sport scores at four weeks and Quality of Life scores at four and eight weeks.

Conclusion

POCUS guided early management and ligamentous protection of LASs resulted in significant short and long-term improvement in function and return to sporting activity. This case series highlights the feasibility of using ultrasound imaging to assess the severity of ligamentous injury and align bracing strategies for ligamentous protection. The observations from this case series suggest that functional bracing strategies focused on ligamentous protection to promote healing and reduce re-injury rates does not delay improvement in functional outcomes.

Level of Evidence

Level IV, Case Series.

Effects of Chronic Pain on Static and Dynamic Postural Control in Chronic Ankle Instability

OBJECTIVE

To identify the effects of chronic pain levels on static and dynamic postural (DP) control in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI).

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Controlled laboratory.

PARTICIPANTS

Sixty participants were divided into the following 3 groups: 20 high pain individuals with CAI (high pain), 20 low pain individuals with CAI (low pain), and 20 healthy controls (control).

INDEPENDENT VARIABLES

Groups (CAI with high pain, CAI with low pain, and control) and visual conditions (eyes open and closed) for single-leg stance.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Participants performed single-leg stance with eyes open and closed, the star excursion balance test, and single-leg hop to stabilization.

RESULTS

The high pain group experienced worse self-reported outcomes, including Foot and Ankle Ability Measure activities of daily living and sports, than the low pain and control groups. Regardless of visual condition, both the high and low pain groups exhibited decreased static postural control in mediolateral (ML) compared with the control group. Specifically, the high pain group showed decreased static postural control in ML under closed eyes compared with the low pain and the control groups. The high pain group showed less reach distance than the control group and increased DP control in vertical and overall DP stability index compared with the low and control groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic pain can significantly affect both static and DP control in individuals with CAI. Therefore, clinicians should consider chronic pain as one of the factors affecting postural control in individuals with CAI.

Comparative Efficacy of Micro-Needle-Knife Therapy and Acupuncture in Acute Ankle Sprains: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND Micro-needle knife (MNK) therapy releases the superficial fascia to alleviate pain and improve joint function in patients with acute ankle sprains (AAS). We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MNK therapy vs that of acupuncture. MATERIAL AND METHODS This blinded assessor, randomized controlled trial allocated 80 patients with AAS to 2 parallel groups in a 1: 1 ratio. The experimental group received MNK therapy; the control group underwent conventional acupuncture treatment at specified acupoints. Clinical efficacy differences between the 2 groups before (time-point 1 [TP1]) and after treatment (TP2) were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Kofoed ankle score. Safety records and evaluations of adverse events were documented. One-month follow-up after treatment (TP3) was conducted to assess the intervention scheme's reliability. RESULTS VAS and Kofoed ankle scores significantly improved in both groups. No patients dropped due to adverse events. At TP1, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of VAS and Kofoed scores (P>0.05). However, at TP2, efficacy of MNK therapy in releasing the superficial fascia was significantly superior to that of acupuncture treatment (P<0.001). At TP3, no significant differences in scores existed between the groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that 6 sessions of MNK therapy to release the superficial fascia safely and effectively alleviated pain and enhanced ankle joint function in patients with AAS, surpassing the efficacy of conventional acupuncture treatment. Future studies should increase the sample size and introduce additional control groups to further validate the superior clinical efficacy of this intervention.

Effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy in the treatment of patients with an ankle sprain: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) is widely used in the treatment of patients with musculoskeletal and sports disorders with a lack of significance in patients with sprain ankle.

PURPOSE

This review investigated the effect of PBMT on pain, oedema, and function in patients with an ankle sprain.

METHODS

A systematic search of the databases (MEDLINE, PubMed, EBSCO, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library, Science Direct, Physiotherapy Evidence (PEDro), and the Cochrane Databases) was performed from inception to the end of 2023 to identify any clinical study investigating the effect of PBMT on ankle sprain. PBMT parameters and measured outcomes were extracted. The primary measured outcome was pain and function, and oedema were secondary measured outcomes. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. The level of evidence was determined by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. A random effect meta-analysis with forest plot was used to calculate standardized mean difference (SMD) at a 95% confidence interval and the overall effect size (ES).

RESULTS

Six studies (598 patients) were included in the review and five studies in the meta-analysis. There were two fair-quality and four good-quality studies, with a moderate level of evidence on pain, and a low level of evidence on oedema and function. The meta-analysis revealed a significant overall effect of PBMT on pain with high ES [SMD - 0.88 (-1.76, -0.00), p = 0.05], with a non-significant effect on oedema and function with a medium ES [SMD - 0.70 (-1.64, 0.24), p = 0.14] on oedema and low ES on function [SMD - 0.22 (-0.69, 0.24), p = 0.35]. Significant heterogeneity was observed in all measured outcomes with high heterogeneity (I2 > 75%) in pain and oedema and moderate heterogeneity in function.

CONCLUSION

PBMT is quite effective for patients with an ankle sprain. PBMT showed high effect size with a moderate level of evidence on pain intensity. The lack of significant effects of PBMT on function and edema with low level of evidence limit the confidence to the current results and recommend further large high-quality studies with higher PBMT intensity and fluency for standardisation of the irradiation parameters and treatment protocol.

REGISTRATION

PROSPERO registration number (CRD42021292930).

Absorption function loss due to the history of previous ankle sprain explored by unsupervised machine learning

BACKGROUND

Ankle sprains are common and cause persistent ankle function reduction. To biomechanically evaluate the ankle function after ankle sprains, the ground reaction force (GRF) measurement during the single-legged landing had been used. However, previous studies focused on discrete features of vertical GRF (vGRF), which largely ignored vGRF waveform features that could better identify the ankle function.

PURPOSE

To identify how the history of ankle sprain affect the vGRF waveform during the single-legged landing with unsupervised machine learning considering the time-series information of vGRF.

METHODS

Eighty-seven currently healthy basketball athletes (12 athletes without ankle sprain, 49 athletes with bilateral, and 26 athletes with unilateral ankle sprain more than 6 months before the test day) performed single-legged landings from a 20 centimeters (cm) high box onto the force platform. Totally 518 trials vGRF data were collected from 87 athletes of 174 ankles, including 259 ankle sprain trials (from previous sprain ankles) and 259 non-ankle sprain trials (from without sprain ankles). The first 100 milliseconds (ms) vGRF waveforms after landing were extracted. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to the vGRF data, selecting 8 principal components (PCs) representing 96% of the information. Based on these 8 PCs, k-means method (k = 3) clustered the 518 trials into three clusters. Chi-square test assessed significant differences (p < 0.01) in the distribution of ankle sprain and non-ankle sprain trials among clusters.

FINDINGS

The ankle sprain trials accounted for a significantly larger percentage (63.9%) in Cluster 3, which exhibited rapidly increased impulse vGRF waveforms with larger peaks in a short time.

SIGNIFICANCE

PCA and k-means method for vGRF waveforms during single-legged landing identified that the history of previous ankle sprains caused a loss of ankle absorption ability lasting at least 6 months from an ankle sprain.

Comparison of the effects PRICE and POLICE treatment protocols on ankle function in patients with ankle sprain

BACKGROUND

Ankle sprain is a frequent reason for presentation to the emergency department. Current treatment modalities include Protection, Optimal Loading, Ice, Compression, and Elevation (POLICE) and Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation (PRICE). This study aimed to compare the effects of PRICE and POLICE treatment protocols.

METHODS

This randomized controlled study was conducted between October 15, 2020, and October 15, 2021, at Ankara University's Department of Emergency Medicine. Double-blind randomization was used to assign patients to either the POLICE or PRICE treatment groups.

RESULTS

In total, 109 patients were included. In the POLICE group, the median difference between the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Scores on admission and the 14th day following the injury was 34.5 (IQR: 27.25-41.75), while that of the PRICE group was 24 (IQR: 15.5-35). In the POLICE group, the median value of the difference in the Foot and Ankle Disability Index scores on admission and the 14th day following the injury was 42 (IQR: 35.25-50), while that of the PRICE group was 31 (IQR: 22-41.5).

CONCLUSION

The POLICE treatment protocol provided more effective and faster recovery than the PRICE treatment protocol.

Using the app "Injurymap" to provide exercise rehabilitation for people with acute lateral ankle sprains seen at the Hospital Emergency Department-A mixed-method pilot study

BACKGROUND

Acute lateral ankle sprains (LAS) account for 4-5% of all Emergency Department (ED) visits. Few patients receive the recommended care of exercise rehabilitation. A simple solution is an exercise app for mobile devices, which can deliver tailored and real-time adaptive exercise programs.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the use and preliminary effect of an app-based exercise program in patients with LAS seen in the Emergency Department at a public hospital.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used an app that delivers evidence-based exercise rehabilitation for LAS using algorithm-controlled progression. Participants were recruited from the ED and followed for four months. Data on app-use and preliminary effect were collected continuously through the exercise app and weekly text-messages. Baseline and follow-up data were collected though an online questionnaire. Semi-structured interviews were performed after participants stopped using the app. Results: Health care professionals provided 485 patients with study information and exercise equipment. Of those, 60 participants chose to enroll in the study and 43 became active users. The active users completed a median of 7 exercise sessions. Most of the active users were very satisfied or satisfied (79%-93%) with the app and 95.7% would recommend it to others. The interviews showed that ankle sprains were considered an innocuous injury that would recover by itself. Several app users expressed they felt insufficiently informed from the ED health care professionals. Only 39% felt recovered when they stopped exercising, and 33% experienced a recurrent sprain in the study period. Conclusion: In this study, only few patients with LAS became active app users after receiving information in the ED about a free app-based rehabilitation program. We speculate the reason for this could be the perception that LAS is an innocuous injury. Most of the patients starting training were satisfied with the app, although few completed enough exercise sessions to realistically impact clinical recovery. Interestingly more than half of the participants did not feel fully recovered when they stopped exercising and one third experienced a recurrent sprain.

TRIAL-IDENTIFIERS

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03550274, preprint (open access): https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.31.22269313v1.

Influence of Ankle Injury on Subsequent Ankle, Knee, and Shoulder Injuries in Competitive Badminton Players Younger Than 13 Years

Background:

In recent years, there has been a trend in badminton toward more specialized training at an earlier age. Accompanying this trend is the increased frequency of injuries in young players. Ankle injury is the most common injury in pediatric sports; however, its influence on subsequent injuries is rarely considered.

Purposes:

To evaluate the incidence of ankle, knee, and shoulder injuries in youth badminton and to investigate the influence of ankle injuries on subsequent ankle, knee, and shoulder injuries.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A custom-designed questionnaire was used to survey Japanese players 7 to 12 years of age who attended national elementary school–level badminton tournaments between May and September 2019. Information including the players’ characteristics, training history, injuries in the previous 12 months, and ankle injury histories were collected. Logistic regression was used for analysis.

Results:

A total of 478 players were included in the study, with 71 ankle injuries, 74 knee injuries, and 48 shoulder injuries reported. The injury incidence rates (per 1000 hours of play) were 0.23 (95% CI, 0.18-0.29) for the ankle, 0.24 (95% CI, 0.19-0.30) for the knee, and 0.16 (95% CI, 0.11-0.20) for the shoulder; 90.1% of ankle injuries, 25.7% of knee injuries, and 33.3% of shoulder injuries were acute. Previous ankle injury was significantly associated with subsequent ankle injury (adjusted Odds Ratio (OR), 3.05; 95% CI, 1.54-6.07; P < .05), knee injury (adjusted OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.12-3.69; P < .05), and shoulder injury (adjusted OR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.26-4.83; P < .05).

Conclusion:

The study results indicated that previous injury to the ankle significantly increased the occurrence of subsequent ankle, knee, and shoulder injuries. Emphasizing protection and prevention of ankle injuries may help lower future injury risk in young badminton players.

Distal insertion rupture of lateral ankle ligament as a predictor of weakened and delayed sports recovery after acute ligament repair: mid-term outcomes of 117 cases

Background

For lateral ankle ligament rupture, surgical repair has been considered for patients requiring return to high-demanding sports. However, there is a lack of systematic research regarding arthroscopic treatment followed by ligament repair for severe acute ankle sprain. The purpose of this study was to analyze the mid-term outcomes of arthroscopy followed by open anatomic lateral ankle ligament repair surgery for acute lateral ankle sprain and the impact of ligament rupture site on the outcomes.

Methods

Professional or amateur athletes with clinically- and radiologically-confirmed grade III acute lateral ankle ligament injuries undergoing ankle arthroscopy followed by open anatomic ligament repair between June 2007 and May 2017 were reviewed. Intra-articular lesions and the location of rupture were first examined under arthroscopy. Simple suture repair was performed for mid- substance ligament rupture (middle group), while suture repair with anchors were used for the ruptures near the ligament attachment site on the fibular (proximal group), talar or the calcaneal side (distal group). Outcomes were evaluated at final follow-up, including visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, Tegner score, time to return to sports, resumption of pre-injury sports level, sprain recurrence and range of motion (ROM).

Results

A total of 117 patients were included for analysis, with a mean follow-up duration of 46.4 ± 16.1 months. There were 48 (41%) cases in the proximal group, 41 (35%) cases in the middle group and 28 (24%) cases in the distal group respectively. At final follow-up, all of the VAS score, AOFAS score and the Tegner score were significantly improved from the pre-operative level (p < 0.001). 12 (10%) patients complained of sprain recurrence during follow-up. 14 (12%) patients reported mild ROM restriction and 7 (6%) patients experienced transient skin numbness. The average time to return to pre-injury sports was 4.34 ± 1.11 months. The smallest proportion (86% ± 13%) of resumption of pre-injury sports level was reported from the distal group, compared with 93% ± 12% for the proximal group and 89% ± 14% for the middle group (p = 0.037). Time to return to sports was significantly longer for the distal group, with an average of 4.59 ± 1.27 months compared to 3.99 ± 1.09 months for the proximal group and 4.58 ± 0.90 months for the middle group (p = 0.009).

Conclusions

Ankle arthroscopy followed by open anatomic ligament repair is a reliable procedure for patients requiring return to high demanding sports after severe acute ankle sprains. Distal rupture near the talar or calcaneal end was associated with delayed return-to-sport and inferior performance in resuming pre-injury sports level.

Exercise-based rehabilitation reduces reinjury following acute lateral ankle sprain: A systematic review update with meta-analysis

Research questions

1) Do exercise-based rehabilitation programs reduce re-injury following acute ankle sprain?; 2) Is rehabilitation effectiveness moderated by the exercise’s therapeutic quality, content and volume?

Methods

This systematic review with meta-analysis (PROSPERO: CRD42020210858) included randomized controlled trials in which adults who sustained an acute ankle sprain received exercise-based rehabilitation as an intervention. Databases CINAHL, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PEDro and Google Scholar were searched for eligible articles (last search: March 2021). ROB II screening tool by Cochrane was used to assess risk of bias and the i-CONTENT tool was used to assess quality of interventions. Both qualitative analysis and quantitative data synthesis were performed.

Results

Fourteen randomized controlled trials comprising 2182 participants were included. Five studies were judged overall low risk of bias and i-CONTENT assessment showed poor to moderate therapeutic quality of exercise across all included articles. Pooled data found significant reductions in re-injury prevalence at 12 months, in favour of the exercise-based rehabilitation group vs usual care (OR: 0.60; 95%CI: 0.36 to 0.99). Pooled data for re-injury incidence showed not-significant results (MD: 0.027; 95%CI: -2.14 to 2.19). Meta-regression displayed no statistically significant association between training volume and odds of re-injury (r = -0.00086; SD: 0.00057; 95%CI: -0.00197 to 0.00025). Results from patient-reported outcomes and clinical outcomes were inconclusive at 1 month, 3–6 months and 7–12 months of follow up.

Conclusion

Exercise-based rehabilitation reduces the risk of recurrent ankle sprain compared to usual care, but there is insufficient data to determine the optimal content of exercise-based interventions. Training volume varied considerably across studies but did not affect the odds of sustaining a re-injury. Effects on patient-reported outcomes and clinical outcomes are equivocal. Future research should compare different exercise contents, training volumes and intensities after ankle sprain.

Physical therapy referral and medication for ankle sprain visits to physician offices: an analysis of the national ambulatory medical care survey

OBJECTIVES

Supervised physical therapy is the recommended care for an ankle sprain. Yet, recent evidence indicates some ankle sprain patients may not receive the recommended care, and instead, prescribed medication to alleviate symptoms. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to describe the percentage of patients reporting to an office-based physician in the U.S. that were or were not referred to physical therapy. Secondly, to describe the percentage of ankle sprain patients with or without medication administered, supplied or ordered.

METHODS

This was a secondary analysis of the cross-sectional National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) from 2007 to 2016. The NAMCS is a multi-stage probability sample survey of visits to office-based physicians. The percentage and associated 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for visits that had a physical therapy referral or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), opioid and non-opioid analgesics administered, supplied or ordered. Sampled data were weighted to produce national-level estimates.

RESULTS

A physical therapy referral was given for 16.8% (95% CI: 13.2, 21.2) of ankle sprain visits. Approximately 34.5% (95%CI: 30.5, 38.7) of all ankle sprain visits had a medication administered, supplied or ordered. NSAIDs (72.1%; 95% CI: 66.9,76.8) and opioids (21.0%; 95% CI: 16.3, 26.5) were the two most common types of medication.

CONCLUSIONS

NSAIDs and opioid medication combined were administered, supplied or ordered more frequently than a referral to physical therapy. These findings provide evidence that suggests many ankle sprain patients reporting to an office-based physician are not receiving the recommended care; physical therapy. Rather, medication appears to be the primary type of care provided to patients. These data are important because it gives a focused area to improve the treatment of an ankle sprain by developing strategies that ensure all patients are provided the recommended care from the onset of entering the healthcare system.

Research progress of pre-hospital emergency during 2000-2020: a bibliometric analysis

BACKGROUND

The past decade has witnessed the preliminary development of pre-hospital emergency. We analyzed the scientific output related to pre-hospital emergency in the past two decades, aiming to evaluate the publication status of the literature related to pre-hospital emergency through bibliometrics analysis, and hope to provide enlightenment of trends and hotspots for the development of pre-hospital emergency.

METHOD

By web of science, all literature on pre-hospital emergency from 2000 to 2 October 2020 was retrieved and screened by two researchers. Excel, Social Sciences Statistics Package (SPSS, version 24) and software GraphPad Prism 8 were used to analyze the publication trend in related fields. Besides, VOSviewer, Citespace were also applied to visualize the research trends and study the co-occurring keywords in pre-hospital emergency.

RESULTS

As of 2 October 2020, a total of 1839 pre-hospital emergency publications with total citation of 32800 times were identified. The United States accounted for the largest number of publications (36.7%) and the highest number of citations (12825), but its H-index was fourth (20.17). In the aspects of journals and articles, Prehospital Emergency Care is the most published journal in pre-hospital emergency (256), while the articles from Smith K presented the highest citation frequency (751). We can also obtain the information that the overall trend is upward, and developed countries contribute most. "Complications" is a hot research field in intensive care. In the identification research cluster, "acute ischemic stroke" was determined to be the hotspot, while "secondary outcome" was the new trend in the first-aid cluster. As for the management, "embase" was noted as new topics.

CONCLUSION

In the past decade, researches on pre-hospital emergency has increased rapidly. However, the related articles were mainly published in developed countries, the United States has absolute advantages especially. Moreover, first-aid studies may become hotspots in the near future.

Effects of Dangguixu-san in patients with acute lateral ankle sprain: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Dangguixu-san (DS), a herbal extract, is widely used in Korean medicine to treat pain and swelling caused by ankle sprain. However, there is insufficient evidence regarding the effects of DS on ankle sprains. Accordingly, we assessed the efficacy and safety of DS for the treatment of acute lateral ankle sprain (ALAS).

METHODS

This study was a multicenter (two Korean hospitals), randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm clinical trial with a 1:1 allocation ratio that included a per-protocol analysis and sub-analysis based on symptom severity. Forty-eight participants (n = 28 at Semyung University Korean Medicine Hospital in Chungju; n = 20 at DongShin University Gwangju Korean Medicine Hospital) with grade I or II ALAS that occurred within 72 h before enrollment were randomized to a DS (n = 24) or placebo (n = 24) group. Both groups received acupuncture treatment once daily for 5 consecutive days and the trial medication (DS/placebo capsule) three times a day for 7 consecutive days. Primary (visual analog scale [VAS] scores for pain) and secondary (Foot and Ankle Outcome Scores [FAOS], edema, and European Quality of Life Five-Dimension-Five-Level Scale [EQ-5D-5L] scores) outcome measures were recorded at baseline (week 0), the end of the intervention (week 1), and 4 weeks after treatment completion (week 5).

RESULTS

Forty-six participants completed the trial (n = 23 each). Changes in VAS scores, FAOS Symptom/Rigidity, and FAOS Ache from week 1 to week 5 showed significant differences between the two groups. Sub-analyses showed significant differences in changes of FAOS Ache (week 0 to week 5) and VAS scores, total FAOS, and EQ-5D-5L scores (week 1 to week 5) between the two subgroups (grade II). There were no adverse events and significant negative changes in clinical laboratory parameters in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the results of this study are in favor of DS combined with acupuncture and suggest that DS combined with acupuncture is a safe treatment with positive long-term effects in terms of pain reduction and symptom alleviation in patients with grade I or II ALAS.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical Research Information Service KCT0002374 . Registered on July 11, 2017; retrospectively registered.

Early functional treatment or trivialization? - current treatment strategies in lateral ligament injuries of the ankle

Introduction: Ankle injuries are common in daily orthopaedic trauma practice, with a high incidence of lateral ligament complex (lat-lig-com) injuries of the ankle joint (AJ). Primarily, these lat-lig-com injuries heal sufficiently, although there is a risk of developing chronic ankle instability. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the clinical application and routine for rehabilitation strategies so as to prevent chronic instability. This study investigates the current rehabilitation concepts in clinical routine after ligament injuries of the AJ. Methods: Rehabilitation protocols, provided by orthopaedic and trauma surgery institutions in German speaking countries, were analysed in terms of weight-bearing, range of motion (ROM), physiotherapy and choice of orthosis. All protocols for operatively and non-operatively (nop) treated ligament ruptures of the AJ were included. Results: 120 of 213 institutions provided protocols of lat-lig-com injuries of the AJ. Regarding the orthosis, the nop-treatment group mainly used ankle braces; in contrast, the operative group preferred the use of an ankle boot. The operative group recommends 6-12 weeks for duration of orthosis in contrast to only 6 weeks in the nop group. Significant differences prevail in ROM, with free ROM in non-operative treatment from the first day after trauma (p<0.001) in contrast to a careful increase in ROM in the first 6 weeks post-operatively. Conclusion: Early functional treatment is clinical standard in rehabilitation after lat-lig-com injuries of the ankle. Regarding current literature the differences of restrictions in ROM and orthosis treatment after lat-lig-com injuries suggest a trivialization of conservative treatment in the first period after trauma compared to post-operative aftercare.

Acute ankle sprain in athletes: Clinical aspects and algorithmic approach

Acute ankle sprain is the most common lower limb injury in athletes and accounts for 16%-40% of all sports-related injuries. It is especially common in basketball, American football, and soccer. The majority of sprains affect the lateral ligaments, particularly the anterior talofibular ligament. Despite its high prevalence, a high proportion of patients experience persistent residual symptoms and injury recurrence. A detailed history and proper physical examination are diagnostic cornerstones. Imaging is not indicated for the majority of ankle sprain cases and should be requested according to the Ottawa ankle rules. Several interventions have been recommended in the management of acute ankle sprains including rest, ice, compression, and elevation, analgesic and anti-inflammatory medications, bracing and immobilization, early weight-bearing and walking aids, foot orthoses, manual therapy, exercise therapy, electrophysical modalities and surgery (only in selected refractory cases). Among these interventions, exercise and bracing have been recommended with a higher level of evidence and should be incorporated in the rehabilitation process. An exercise program should be comprehensive and progressive including the range of motion, stretching, strengthening, neuromuscular, proprioceptive, and sport-specific exercises. Decision-making regarding return to the sport in athletes may be challenging and a sports physician should determine this based on the self-reported variables, manual tests for stability, and functional performance testing. There are some common myths and mistakes in the management of ankle sprains, which all clinicians should be aware of and avoid. These include excessive imaging, unwarranted non-weight-bearing, unjustified immobilization, delay in functional movements, and inadequate rehabilitation. The application of an evidence-based algorithmic approach considering the individual characteristics is helpful and should be recommended.

Conservative Treatment for Acute Ankle Sprain: A Systematic Review

The aim was to identify conservative treatments available for acute ankle sprain and to evaluate their effectiveness with respect to pain relief and short-term recovery of functional capacity. A systematic review of the relevant literature was conducted via a data search of the PROSPERO, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, PyscINFO and SPORTDiscus databases, from inception until December 2019, focusing on randomised control trial studies. Two of the authors independently assessed the quality of each study located and extracted the relevant data. The quality of each paper was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool included in RevMan 5. In all, 20 studies met the inclusion criteria. In terms of absence of bias, only nine papers were classed as “high quality”. Studies (75%) were of low quality in terms of the blinding of participants and personnel and uncertainty in blinding of outcome assessment and all presented one or more other forms of bias. Despite the generally low quality of the studies considered, it can be concluded that conservative treatment for acute ankle sprain normally achieves pain relief and rapidly improved functionality. Research based on higher-quality study designs and procedures would enable more definitive conclusions to be drawn.

Analysis of medical services provided to patients with ankle sprains in Korea between 2015 and 2017: a cross-sectional study of the health insurance review and assessment service national patient sample database

OBJECTIVES

To provide useful information for policy-makers and clinicians by analysing the medical service use-divided into Western medicine (WM) and Korean medicine (KM)-of patients with ankle sprains in South Korea between 2015 and 2017.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional, retrospective, observational study.

SETTING

Tertiary hospitals, WM hospitals, WM clinics, KM hospitals, KM clinics and others in South Korea.

PARTICIPANTS

We analysed claim data and patient information from the 2015 to 2017 Health Insurance Review and Assessment National Patient Sample (HIRA-NPS) dataset, including 151 415 patients diagnosed with a 'dislocation, sprain and strain of joints and ligaments at ankle and foot level' (10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases code S93) who used medical services at least once in 3 years between January 2015 and December 2017 in South Korea.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Cost of medical care, number of consultations, type of institution visited, types of treatment.

RESULTS

There were 160 200 consultations and 53 044 patients in 2015, 149 956 consultations and 50 830 patients in 2016 and 140 651 consultations and 47 541 patients in 2017. The total treatment costs were US$3 355 044.21, US$3 245 827.70 and US$3 128 938.46 in 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. The most common age was 10-19 years. The most frequent type of visit was KM outpatient visit (56%). Physiotherapy was most common in WM outpatient visits, while acupuncture was most common in KM visits. Most patients used one institution, rather than alternating between WM and KM.

CONCLUSIONS

By identifying the trends and costs of treatment methods used for ankle sprains and comparing WM and KM, our data provide basic information for future health policy-making. In addition, the duality of the Korean medical system is highlighted as a possible cause of increased costs.

Add-on effect of kinesiotape in patients with acute lateral ankle sprain: a randomized controlled trial

Background

Evidence for the add-on effect of kinesiotape (KT) with acupuncture for treating ankle sprains remains insufficient. We assessed the add-on effect of KT on ankle sprains by comparing acupuncture combined with KT (AcuKT) with acupuncture alone in patients with acute lateral ankle sprain (ALAS).

Methods

This study was a multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial that included a per-protocol analysis of the add-on effect of KT on ALAS. The randomization was software based and only the assessors were blinded. Sixty participants (20 each from three centers) with grade I or II ALAS were randomly assigned to acupuncture (n = 30) or AcuKT (n = 30) groups. Both groups received acupuncture treatment once daily, 5 days per week for 1 week. The AcuKT group received additional KT treatment. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain and the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) were obtained, and edema measurements were performed at baseline (week 0), at the end of the intervention (week 1), and at 4 weeks after intervention (week 5). The European Quality of Life Five Dimension-Five Level Scale (EQ-5D-5 L) measurements were conducted at week 0, week 1, week 5, and week 26 after the intervention. The number of recurrent ankle sprains was determined at 4, 8, 12 and 26 weeks after the intervention.

Results

Fifty-six patients with ALAS completed the trial (AcuKT group, n = 27; acupuncture group, n = 29). There were significant changes in visual analog scale score (AcuKT, P < 0.001; acupuncture, P < 0.001), the FAOS (AcuKT, P < 0.001; acupuncture, P < 0.001), and EQ-5D-5 L measurements (AcuKT, P < 0.001; acupuncture, P < 0.001) within both groups. There were no significant differences between groups in terms of any outcome or in a subanalysis based on symptom severity.

Conclusions

These results indicate that AcuKT did not show a positive add-on effect of KT with acupuncture in terms of pain reduction, edema, recovery of function, activities of daily living, quality of life or relapse of ALAS.

Trial registration

Clinical Research Information Service (cris.nih.go.kr), KCT0002257. Registered on 27 February 2017.

Approaching Foot and Ankle Injuries in the Ambulatory Setting

Foot and ankle injuries account for a significant volume of primary care office visits each year. Given the incidence of injury and concern for long-term sequelae, it is imperative that primary care physicians familiarize themselves with commonly encountered foot and ankle injuries. Coupling a sound understanding of key anatomic structures with an appropriately gathered history can help to quickly narrow the differential diagnosis in this clinical presentation. This article focuses on key elements from the history and physical examination as well as provides a concise review of imaging modalities and recommended treatment strategies.

MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE GRADE II LATERAL ANKLE SPRAINS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON LIGAMENT PROTECTION: A DESCRIPTIVE CASE SERIES

Background and Purpose

Lateral ankle sprain the most common injury in physically active populations. Individuals who sustain an acute lateral ankle sprain may not receive timely formal rehabilitation and are at an increased risk to have subsequent sprains which can lead to chronic pain and instability. Attention to essential factors for ligament protection and healing while preserving ankle movement, may result in a more stable yet mobile ankle offering improved outcomes. The purpose of this case series was to describe the methods and observe the outcomes associated with a comprehensive strategy for managing acute first episode grade II lateral ankle sprains.

Study design

Prospective case series.

Case Descriptions and Interventions

Ten patients (mean age 26.7 years, range 16-51 years, mean 2.3 days from injury) with acute grade II lateral ankle sprain were treated with an approach to protect the injured ligament, prevent impairments to movement, restore strength and proprioception, and progress to full function. Patient outcomes were assessed at four, eight and 12 weeks. Follow-up interviews at six and 12 months assessed injury recurrence.

Outcomes

Patients were treated for an average of eight sessions over a mean of seven weeks. Rapid change in self-reported function, ankle ROM, and pain were observed in the first four weeks of care. Clinically meaningful improvements in function and ankle ROM were also noted at eight weeks and maintained at 12-week follow-ups. All patients returned to desired physical activity with only a single re-sprain event within one year after injury.

Conclusion

The results of this prospective case series suggest that a treatment approach designed to protect the injured ligament, maintain and restore normal ankle motion, and provide a tailored functional pathway to return to run and sport demonstrated resolution of symptoms and improvement in reported functional outcomes in a group of patients following grade II acute primary ankle sprain.

Level of Evidence

Level IV, Case Series.

Prognostic models for identifying risk of poor outcome in people with acute ankle sprains: the SPRAINED development and external validation study

BACKGROUND

Ankle sprains are very common injuries. Although recovery can occur within weeks, around one-third of patients have longer-term problems.

OBJECTIVES

To develop and externally validate a prognostic model for identifying people at increased risk of poor outcome after an acute ankle sprain.

DESIGN

Development of a prognostic model in a clinical trial cohort data set and external validation in a prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Emergency departments (EDs) in the UK.

PARTICIPANTS

Adults with an acute ankle sprain (within 7 days of injury).

SAMPLE SIZE

There were 584 clinical trial participants in the development data set and 682 recruited for the external validation study.

PREDICTORS

Candidate predictor variables were chosen based on availability in the clinical data set, clinical consensus, face validity, a systematic review of the literature, data quality and plausibility of predictiveness of the outcomes.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Models were developed to predict two composite outcomes representing poor outcome. Outcome 1 was the presence of at least one of the following symptoms at 9 months after injury: persistent pain, functional difficulty or lack of confidence. Outcome 2 included the same symptoms as outcome 1, with the addition of recurrence of injury. Rates of poor outcome in the external data set were lower than in the development data set, 7% versus 20% for outcome 1 and 16% versus 24% for outcome 2.

ANALYSIS

Multiple imputation was used to handle missing data. Logistic regression models, together with multivariable fractional polynomials, were used to select variables and identify transformations of continuous predictors that best predicted the outcome based on a nominal alpha of 0.157, chosen to minimise overfitting. Predictive accuracy was evaluated by assessing model discrimination (c-statistic) and calibration (flexible calibration plot).

RESULTS

(1) Performance of the prognostic models in development data set - the combined c-statistic for the outcome 1 model across the 50 imputed data sets was 0.74 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.70 to 0.79], with good model calibration across the imputed data sets. The combined c-statistic for the outcome 2 model across the 50 imputed data sets was 0.70 (95% CI 0.65 to 0.74), with good model calibration across the imputed data sets. Updating these models, which used baseline data collected at the ED, with an additional variable at 4 weeks post injury (pain when bearing weight on the ankle) improved the discriminatory ability (c-statistic 0.77, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.82, for outcome 1 and 0.75, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.80, for outcome 2) and calibration of both models. (2) Performance of the models in the external data set - the combined c-statistic for the outcome 1 model across the 50 imputed data sets was 0.73 (95% CI 0.66 to 0.79), with a calibration plot intercept of -0.91 (95% CI -0.98 to 0.44) and slope of 1.13 (95% CI 0.76 to 1.50). The combined c-statistic for the outcome 2 model across the 50 imputed data sets was 0.63 (95% CI 0.58 to 0.69), with a calibration plot intercept of -0.25 (95% CI -0.27 to 0.11) and slope of 1.03 (95% CI 0.65 to 1.42). The updated models with the additional pain variable at 4 weeks had improved discriminatory ability over the baseline models but not better calibration.

CONCLUSIONS

The SPRAINED (Synthesising a clinical Prognostic Rule for Ankle Injuries in the Emergency Department) prognostic models performed reasonably well, and showed benefit compared with not using any model; therefore, the models may assist clinical decision-making when managing and advising ankle sprain patients in the ED setting. The models use predictors that are simple to obtain.

LIMITATIONS

The data used were from a randomised controlled trial and so were not originally intended to fulfil the aim of developing prognostic models. However, the data set was the best available, including data on the symptoms and clinical events of interest.

FUTURE WORK

Further model refinement, including recalibration or identifying additional predictors, may be required. The effect of implementing and using either model in clinical practice, in terms of acceptability and uptake by clinicians and on patient outcomes, should be investigated.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN12726986.

FUNDING

This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 22, No. 64. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information. Funding was also recieved from the NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research, Care Oxford at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, and the NIHR Fellowship programme.

Rehabilitation Exercises Reduce Reinjury Post Ankle Sprain, But the Content and Parameters of an Optimal Exercise Program Have Yet to Be Established: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To determine if exercise-based rehabilitation reduces reinjury following acute ankle sprain. Our secondary objective was to assess if rehabilitation efficacy varies according to exercise content and training volume.

DATA SOURCES

The following electronic databases were searched: EMBASE, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro).

STUDY SELECTION

Randomized controlled trials investigating the effect of exercise-based rehabilitation programs on reinjury and patient-reported outcomes (perceived instability, function, pain) in people with an acute ankle sprain. No restrictions were made on the exercise type, duration, or frequency. Exercise-based programs could have been administered in isolation or as an adjunct to usual care. Comparisons were made to usual care consisting of 1 or all components of PRICE (protection, rest, ice, compression, elevation).

DATA EXTRACTION

Effect sizes with 95% CIs were calculated in the form of mean differences for continuous outcomes and odds ratios (ORs) for dichotomous outcomes. Pooled effects were calculated for reinjury prevalence with meta-analysis undertaken using RevMan software.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Seven trials (n=1417) were included (median PEDro score, 8/10). Pooled data found trends toward a reduction in reinjury in favor of the exercise-based rehabilitation compared with usual care at 3-6 months (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.48-1.58) with significant reductions reported at 7-12 months (OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.38-0.73). Sensitivity analysis based on pooled reinjury data from 2 high quality studies (n=629) also found effects in favor of exercise-based rehabilitation at 12 months (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.49-0.89). Training volume differed substantially across rehabilitation programs with total rehabilitation time ranging from 3.5-21 hours. The majority of rehabilitation programs focused primarily on postural balance or strength training.

CONCLUSIONS

Exercise-based rehabilitation reduces the risk of reinjury following acute ankle sprain when compared with usual care alone. There is no consensus on optimal exercise content and training volume in this field. Future research must explicitly report all details of administered exercise-based rehabilitation programs.

Effects of Dangguixu-san on acute lateral ankle sprain: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Ankle sprain is a common musculoskeletal injury. In Korean medicine, blood stasis is thought to be the main cause of pain and swelling in patients with ankle sprain. Dangguixu-san (DS), a herbal extract, is widely used in Korean medicine for the treatment of traumatic ecchymosis and pain by promoting blood circulation and relieving blood stasis. However, the effects of DS on ankle sprain have not been evaluated in a randomized clinical trial. Here, we describe the protocol for a randomized controlled trial that will evaluate the efficacy and safety of DS for the treatment of ankle sprain.

METHODS/DESIGN

In this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm clinical trial with a 1:1 allocation ratio, participants (n = 48) with acute lateral ankle sprain (ALAS) that occurred within 72 h before enrollment will be randomly assigned to a DS (n = 24) or a placebo (n = 24) group. Both groups will receive acupuncture treatment once a day for 5 days a week (excluding Saturday and Sunday) and the trial medication (DS/placebo capsule) three times a day for seven consecutive days. The primary outcome measure will be pain relief evaluated using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Secondary outcome measures will include Foot and Ankle Outcome Scores (FAOS), edema, European Quality of Life Five-Dimension-Five-Level Scale (EQ-5D-5 L) scores, and the number of recurrent ankle sprains. VAS, FAOS, edema, and EQ-5D-5 L scores will be recorded before, at the end of, and at 4 weeks after treatment completion. EQ-5D-5 L scores will be additionally recorded at 26 weeks after treatment completion. The number of recurrent ankle sprains will be recorded at 4, 8, 12, and 26 weeks after treatment completion.

DISCUSSION

This study is expected to provide evidence regarding the efficacy, safety, and usefulness of DS for the treatment of ALAS.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

cris.nih.go.kr, registration number: KCT 0002374 . Registered on 11 July, 2017 and approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (registration number, 31244).

The effects of Kinesiotape on acute lateral ankle sprain: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background

Ankle sprains are some of the most frequent injuries of the musculoskeletal system. However, there is no substantive evidence supporting which treatment strategy is superior. Taping with Kinesiotape (KT) is a new method that is used as an alternative to the more established taping and bracing techniques used for the prophylaxis and treatment of ankle sprains. The aim of this study is to examine the efficacy of KT on ankle sprain by comparing acupuncture combined with KT (AcuKT) with acupuncture alone in patients with acute lateral ankle sprains.

Methods/design

This study is a prospective, multi-center (DongShin University Gwangju Oriental Hospital, DongShin University Mokpo Oriental Hospital, and KyungHee Korean Medicine Hospital), outcome assessor-blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial with a 1:1 allocation ratio. Participants (n = 60) with a lateral ankle sprain occurring within 1 week of the study will be randomly assigned to either an acupuncture group (n = 10 at each center (total n = 30)) or an AcuKT group (n = 10 at each center (total n = 30)). The acupuncture group will receive acupuncture treatment at ST36, ST41, BL60, BL62, KI3, KI6, GB39, and GB40 once per day, 5 days per week (excluding Saturday and Sunday) for 1 week. The AcuKT group will receive acupuncture treatment at ST36, ST41, BL60, BL62, KI3, KI6, GB39, and GB40 and the ankle meridian tendino-musculature and a figure-of-eight shape form of KT treatment once per day, 5 days per week (excluding Saturday and Sunday) for 1 week. The primary outcome will be pain evaluation assessed according to a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), while Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), edema, European Quality of Life Five Dimension-Five Level Scale (EQ-5D-5 L) score, and number of recurrent ankle sprains will be considered as secondary outcome measures. VAS, FAOS, and edema measurements will be performed at baseline (before intervention), 5 days after the first intervention (i.e., at the end of the intervention), and 4 weeks after the completion of intervention. EQ-5D-5 L measurements will be conducted at baseline, 5 days after the first intervention, 4 weeks after the completion of intervention, and 26 weeks after the completion of intervention. The number of recurrent ankle sprains will be determined at 4, 8, 12, and 26 weeks after the completion of the intervention.

Discussion

This study will provide data regarding the efficacy of KT for the treatment of acute lateral ankle sprain. The results may lead to insights into the usefulness of KT in the treatment of acute lateral ankle sprain.

Trial registration

cris.nih.go.kr, ID: KCT0002257. Registered on 27 February 2017, and approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (Medical Device Clinical Trial Plan Approval #737).

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13063-018-2527-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Review article: Best practice management of common ankle and foot injuries in the emergency department (part 2 of the musculoskeletal injuries rapid review series)

Ankle and foot injuries are the most common musculoskeletal injuries presenting to Australian EDs and are associated with a large societal and economic impact. The quality of ED care provided to patients with ankle and foot fractures or soft tissue injuries is critical to ensure the best possible outcomes for the patient. This rapid review investigated best practice for the assessment and management of common ankle and foot injuries in the ED. Databases including PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, TRIP and the grey literature, including relevant organisational websites, were searched in 2017. Primary studies, systematic reviews and guidelines were considered for inclusion. English language articles published in the last 12 years that addressed the acute assessment, management or prognosis in the ED were included. Data extraction of included articles was conducted, followed by quality appraisal to rate the level of evidence where possible. The search revealed 1242 articles, of which 71 were included in the review (n = 22 primary articles, n = 35 systematic reviews and n = 14 guidelines). This rapid review provides clinicians managing fractures and soft tissue injuries of the ankle and foot in the ED a summary of the best available evidence to enhance the quality of care for optimal patient outcomes. Following a thorough history and physical examination, including the application of the Ottawa ankle rules, ED clinicians should not only provide a diagnosis, but rate the severity of soft tissue injuries, or stability of fractures and dislocations, which are the pivotal decision points in guiding ED treatment, specialist referral and the follow-up plan.

Prognostic factors for recovery following acute lateral ankle ligament sprain: a systematic review

Background

One-third of individuals who sustain an acute lateral ankle ligament sprain suffer significant disability due to pain, functional instability, mechanical instability or recurrent sprain after recovery plateaus at 1 to 5 years post injury. The identification of early prognostic factors associated with poor recovery may provide an opportunity for early-targeted intervention and improve outcome.

Methods

We performed a comprehensive search of AMED, EMBASE, Psych Info, CINAHL, SportDiscus, PubMed, CENTRAL, PEDro, OpenGrey, abstracts and conference proceedings from inception to September 2016. Prospective studies investigating the association between baseline prognostic factors and recovery over time were included. Two independent assessors performed the study selection, data extraction and quality assessment of the studies. A narrative synthesis is presented due to inability to meta-analyse results due to clinical and statistical heterogeneity.

Results

The search strategy yielded 3396 titles/abstracts after duplicates were removed. Thirty-six full text articles were then assessed, nine of which met the study inclusion criteria. Six were prospective cohorts, and three were secondary analyses of randomised controlled trials. Results are presented for nine studies that presented baseline prognostic factors for recovery after an acute ankle sprain. Age, female gender, swelling, restricted range of motion, limited weight bearing ability, pain (at the medial joint line and on weight-bearing dorsi-flexion at 4 weeks, and pain at rest at 3 months), higher injury severity rating, palpation/stress score, non-inversion mechanism injury, lower self-reported recovery, re-sprain within 3 months, MRI determined number of sprained ligaments, severity and bone bruise were found to be independent predictors of poor recovery. Age was one prognostic factor that demonstrated a consistent association with outcome in three studies, however cautious interpretation is advised.

Conclusions

The associations between prognostic factors and poor recovery after an acute lateral ankle sprain are largely inconclusive. At present, there is insufficient evidence to recommend any factor as an independent predictor of outcome. There is a need for well-conducted prospective cohort studies with adequate sample size and long-term follow-up to provide robust evidence on prognostic factors of recovery following an acute lateral ankle sprain.

Trial registration

Prospero registration: CRD42014014471

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12891-017-1777-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Supervised physiotherapy for mild or moderate ankle sprain

Clinical benefit might depend on the nature, intensity, and duration of treatment