Effects of Talocrural Joint Mobilizations in the Treatment of Subacute Lateral Ankle Sprains

University of Virginia

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Ankle Sprain

Treatments: Other: Sham intervention; Other: Mobilization therapy in addition to standard therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01117909

14919

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal is to determine if standard therapy including joint mobilizations of the ankle performed 3 times per week for 2 weeks will increase self-reported function and decrease pain in patients with mild lateral ankle sprains.

Full description

The purpose of this protocol is to assess the effects of grade IV anterior to posterior joint mobilization on self-reported function, dorsiflexion range of motion and talar glide on subjects suffering from lateral ankle sprain in the past 2-10 days and exhibit 5 degree dorsiflexion deficit in range of motion or a restriction in posterior glide of the talus.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 50 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Incomplete tear of lateral ligaments with mild laxity as measured by anterior drawer test and talar tilt
• Slight reduction in function
• Anterolateral ankle tenderness
• Dorsiflexion ROM asymmetry greater than 5° compared to uninvolved limb
• Posterior talar glide restriction greater than 5° compared to uninvolved limb; or
• Posterior talar glide less than 19°, which is one standard deviation (7°) from our previously established normative values (26°)9, 10
• Suffered from grade 1 or 2 lateral ankle sprain within the last 48hr - 8 days

Exclusion criteria

• A history of ankle surgery that involves intra-articular fixation,
• Syndesmotic ankle sprain (to be ruled out based on clinical examination),
• History or signs of reflex sympathetic dystrophy,
• Have received manual therapy for the ankle sprain prior to enrollment
• Grade III ankle sprain.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

"Laying of hands" plus standard therapy

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Subjects will lie on their back as if they were receiving the joint mobilization treatment and the therapist will place their hands in a position as if to perform the mobilization but no movement will occur. Standard therapy will consist of ankle strengthening exercises with elastic bands, balance, active ROM, and 20 minutes of ice bag application, elevation and compression

Treatment:

Other: Sham intervention

Standard therapy with joint mobilization

Experimental group

Description:

This group will receive three 60-second bouts of posterior joint mobilizations applied to the ankle joint during each treatment session, in addition to standard therapy. Standard therapy will consist of ankle strengthening exercises with elastic bands, balance, active ROM, and 20 minutes of ice bag application, elevation and compression

Treatment:

Other: Mobilization therapy in addition to standard therapy