External Supports for the Treatment of Ankle Sprain: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness [Internet]
Khai Tran, Charlene Argáez, Khai Tran, Charlene Argáez
Excerpt
In Canada, 35% of injuries are related to sport or exercise. Ankle injuries (sprain or strain) are among the most common types of injury (51%) presenting to the primary care offices and emergency departments. There are three types of ankle sprain, the location of which is determined by the mechanism of injury: lateral ankle sprain (most common), medial ankle sprain, and syndesmotic sprain (high ankle sprain). Ankle sprain is classified based on clinical signs and functional loss, as follows: grade 1 (mild stretching of a ligament without any instability), grade 2 (more severe injury involving incomplete tear of a ligament with slight instability), and grade 3 (complete tear of a ligament and instability).
The immediate goal for treatment of ankle sprain is to reduce pain and swelling. The RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) approach has been commonly used in the first two to three days following injury, although evidence on the effectiveness of RICE alone is still lacking. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be used to reduce pain. However, the use of NSAIDs may delay the natural healing process due to their inflammatory suppression mechanism. Other modes of non-pharmacological treatment of ankle sprain, depending on the severity of the injury, include immobilization, exercise, manual mobilization, and functional rehabilitation. External ankle supports used in immobilization treatments include bandages, tapes, stockings, and different types of braces. In more severe cases, the ankle is normally immobilized with a plaster cast or splint for a few days. Given the wide variety of types of external ankle supports, there is a need to find out their clinical effectiveness for the treatment of ankle sprain.
The aim of this report is to review the evidence regarding the clinical effectiveness of external supports for the treatment of individuals with ankle sprain.
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Source: PubMed