Ankle manual therapy for individuals with post-acute ankle sprains: description of a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial

• Main Authors: Fisher Beth E, Kulig Kornelia, Davenport Todd E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2010-10-01
• Series: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Online Access: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/10/59

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ankle sprains are common within the general population and can result in prolonged disablement. Limited talocrural dorsiflexion range of motion (DF ROM) is a common consequence of ankle sprain. Limited talocrural DF ROM may contribute to persistent symptoms, disability, and an elevated risk for re-injury. As a result, many health care practitioners use hands-on passive procedures with the intention of improving talocrural joint DF ROM in individuals following ankle sprains. Dosage of passive hands-on procedures involves a continuum of treatment speeds. Recent evidence suggests both slow- and fast-speed treatments may be effective to address disablement following ankle sprains. However, these interventions have yet to be longitudinally compared against a placebo study condition.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>We developed a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial designed to test the hypotheses that hands-on treatment procedures administered to individuals following ankle sprains during the post-acute injury period can improve short-, intermediate-, and long-term disablement, as well as reduce the risk for re-injury.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This study is designed to measure the clinical effects of hands-on passive stretching treatment procedures directed to the talocrural joint that vary in treatment speed during the post-acute injury period, compared to hands-on placebo control intervention.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>http://www.clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT00888498.</p>