Ankle Sprain
Reference
Comments/Instructions
Some people with ankle sprain will return to normal activity faster by doing a series of non-weight-bearing exercises and stretches in the days following the injury. The ankle will still hurt and swelling will not be diminished. Exercise is not a panacea and will not prevent recurrence, but it may get injured patients back on their feet more quickly.
The 101 patients in this study had a grade 1 or grade 2 ankle sprain (negative positive anterior drawer and inversion stress test or bony ankle injury) and presented either to a sports injury clinic or emergency department an average 2 days after injury. All patients received advice regarding a typical RICE protocol -- rest, ice, compression, elevation -- but were not taped or splinted. Half the patients were randomized (concealed allocation uncertain) to receive instructions on performing a series of exercises and stretches (list and illustrations at bmj.com/cgi/data/bmj.c1964/DC1/1). The 10-minute exercises were supervised by a therapist once a week and then performed at home 4 times per week for 4 weeks. Patients were more likely to follow the RICE protocol than do the exercises (77.9% vs 67.8%). Ankle function, assessed by patients using the lower extremity functional scale, was significantly higher in the exercise group (5 points higher on an 80-point scale) after 1 week and again at 2 weeks, but was not significantly different by the third and fourth weeks. Objective measures of activity, step count and time spent in light intensity activity, were higher in the exercise group. Pain, swelling, and reinjury rates were not different between the 2 groups.
Tags
- Cardiovascular
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