Wobble Board Training After Partial Sprains of the Lateral Ligaments of the Ankle: A Prospective Randomized Study

Abstract

A t the casualty department.. in Scandinavia, 7-10% of the injuries are ankle sprains. This injury is the most common injury in sports (13,20). Eightyfive percent of the sprains involve plantar flexion and supination. In 65% of the sprains, the injury is located only in the anterior talofibular ligament. With more violent inversion force, 20% also suffer damage to the calcaneofibular ligament. The calcaneofibular and the posterior talofibular ligaments are seldom r u p tured alone (14).Traditional sprains of the ankle have been classified into three grades. Grade 1 injury (mild) involves stretching of the ligament without macroscopic tearing, mild swelling, or tenderness, and no mechanical instability of the joint. Grade 2 injury (moderate) involves a macroscopic tear of the ligament with moderate pain, swelling, and tenderness, but no instability of the joint. Grade 3 injury (severe) involves a complete rupture of the ligaments with severe swelling and tenderness (6,10,13

Comparison of Conventional Treatment and Supervised Rehabilitation for Treatment of Acute Lateral Ankle Sprains: A Systematic Review of the Literature

“…Both studies were classified as low-quality studies. At short-term follow-up Wester et al 32 showed a significantly greater improvement in the supervised exercise group. At immediate-and intermediate-term follow-up they failed to demonstrate any statistically significant differences between the treatment groups.…”

“…To measure pain they used a visual analogue scale 21 or a dichotomous question. 20,32 Two studies described immediate-term effects, 20,32 2 studies reported shortterm effects, 21,32 all 3 studies reported intermediateterm effects, and 1 study 20 reported long-term effects. Only at short-term follow-up did Oostendorp 21 demonstrate a statistically significant difference between both approaches.…”

“…Pain One high-quality study 21 and 2 low-quality studies 20,32 used pain as an outcome measure. To measure pain they used a visual analogue scale 21 or a dichotomous question.…”

“…20,32 Both measured swelling with a volumetric displacement procedure. Both studies were classified as low-quality studies.…”

“…All 7 studies compared the effects of conventional treatment combined with supervised rehabilitation training (supervised exercises) with those of conventional treatment alone. 3,11,[20][21][22]25,32 Conventional treatment in the included studies consisted of 1 or more of the following treatment options: application of a cold pack, complete or partial immobilization (with cast, brace, or bandage), partial weight bearing and crutches (as tolerated), instructions on early ankle exercise, home exercises, and resumption of sports and daily activities. In the included studies, supervised exercises consisted of physical therapy visits, with the emphasis on balance training (eg, on a balance or wobble board) and coordination exercises.…”