Abstrakt: |
Introduction: Ankle inversion sprain is a common injury that can result in chronic recurrence of ankle sprains. Impaired proprioceptive abilities and decreased range of motion (ROM) in dorsiflexion have been found to be predictors of ankle sprain. Manual manipulation of the ankle has been found to improve these measures. This study investigates the efficacy of multiple manipulative treatments vs. a single manipulative treatment of the ankle in participants with chronic recurrent ankle sprain. Mater ials and Methods: Thirty participants diagnosed with chronic recurrent ankle sprain were randomized into 2 equal groups. The treatment group received 6 ankle manipulation treatments over a period of 4 weeks and the control group, a single manipulative treatment. Outcomes of proprioception, ROM, pain threshold, and subjective pain were collected and assessed. Results: A significant treatment effect was found for the treatment group on 2 measures of proprioception as well as dorsiflexion ROM (p = 0.029, p = 0.047, and p = 0.028, respectively). Discussion: These findings support previous studies that found manipulation to be an effective procedure in improving proprioception and dorsiflexion, implying a decreased risk of future ankle sprain. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, manipulation is an effective modality in the improvement of both proprioception and dorsiflexion in chronic recurrent ankle sprain, with multiple treatments of ankle manipulation found to be superior to a single manipulative treatment. Further study is warranted to evaluate the long-term outcomes of manipulation in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |