The National Athletic Trainer’s Association met for its annual conference last month, and one of the group’s main focuses was to update their “best practices” for treating ankle sprains.
In developing their guidelines, the association looked into methods and health practices supported by either Level A or Level B evidence. Level A evidence is considered “consistent, high quality evidence,” while Level B evidence is categorized as ”inconsistent, or limited evidence.” The association did not consider Level C evidence, which is defined as “lacking direct evidence.”
New Guidelines Supported by Level A Evidence
Below is a list of some of the most pertinent findings published by the National Athletic Trainer’s Association that was supported by Level A evidence:
- Athletes who want to prevent injuries should participate in a three-month balance and nuero-muscular control program.
- Balance training, by standing on one foot or preforming one-footed exercises, was shown to reduce the likelihood of ankle injuries.
- Balance training should be preformed during ankle rehabilitation to reduce the likelihood of re-injury.
As you can tell by the Level A evidence, balance training is important during all stages of ankle health. Not only can balance training prevent injuries, but it can also aid you during rehab and decrease the likelihood of re-spraining your ankle.
New Guidelines Supported by Level B Evidence
The association was able to draw more conclusions using Level B evidence, but they would like to conduct more studies to support the following conclusions with Level A evidence:
- MRI techniques should be used over diagnostic ultrasound tests when trying to determine if a patient has an acute tear of the anterior telofibular ligament and calcaneofibular ligament because an MRI is more accurate and less sensitive.
- Range of motion and flexibility exercises are crucial to re-strengthening the affected area during the rehabilitation period.
- Grade III ankle sprains should be immobilized for at least 10 days with a brace or cast before therapeutic exercises begin.
- An MRI is a highly specific and accurate way to determine the level of injury to the ankle syndesmotic ligaments after acute trauma.
- A patient’s injured ankle should exhibit at least 80% functional performance of the uninjured ankle before returning to sport-specific tasks.
Doctors in the association urged physicians and clinics across the nation to use this data to help treat patients suffering from a sprained ankle. Dr. Thomas Kaminski, director of athletic training at the University of Delaware, said these guidelines could help keep people out of the doctor’s office.
“It’s amazing how much better we are at treatment, especially prevention.”
Related source: Reuters, Medscape
