FUNCTIONAL STABILIZATION IMPROVES ANKLE RANGE OF MOTION

Abstract

The aim of this study was to search the effect of immobilization on ankle range of motion (ROM) in the conservative treatment of ankle ligamentous lesions (lateral ligament sprain) which is a common injury still having a controversy about the treatment. The patients were assigned into one of the groups; an above ankle Soft Cast® bandage for functional immobilization was applied in Group 1, and a conventional rigid below knee walking cast with Plaster of Paris or semi-synthetic material was applied in Group 2. The groups were comparable statistically. Sixteen of the patients were male and four were female with a mean age of 34-years for Group 1. Group 2 consisted of 15 male and five female subjects with a mean age of 33-years. Duration of immobilization was three weeks for both groups and ankle ROM (dorsal and plantar flexion) was measured with a goniometer at the day of the cast removal. Functional immobilization group showed significantly better results for plantarflexion, dorsiflexion, and total ROM values (32 to 25 degrees, 11 to eight degrees and 44 to 33 degrees, respectively). As a result, Soft Cast® ankle bandage which proved its efficiency on ankle stability by previous studies, is a safe and beneficial technique in the treatment of ankle lesions bringing a better ankle mobility immediately after treatment.