OBJECTIVE: To proof that functional treatment is better than the orthopedic one in the slight ankle sprain. DESIGN: Clinical trial. SETTING: A primary care center, a outpatient clinic and a teaching hospital in Malaga. PATIENTS: 80 patients treated in emergence room for ankle ligament injuries. They were systematically sampled, 40 in each group of treatment. INTERVENTIONS: Functional stabilization or elastic adhesive bandaging during 7 days without support. Immobilization after the acute phase permitting then the support. Orthopedic stabilization or subsequent ferule during 21 days, followed by ankle rehabilitation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We compared the healing time, treatment acceptance, absent of work time and need of rehabilitation in both groups. Functional stability is more effective than the orthopedic one: 1.39 times better in terms of curing, 7 times in terms of personal hygiene, 4.25 times in terms of need of rest, 5.5 times better in terms of need of rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: We confirm the initial hypothesis of the advantage of the functional treatment.
OBJECTIVE: To proof that functional treatment is better than the orthopedic one in the slight ankle sprain. DESIGN: Clinical trial. SETTING: A primary care center, a outpatient clinic and a teaching hospital in Malaga. PATIENTS: 80 patients treated in emergence room for ankle ligament injuries. They were systematically sampled, 40 in each group of treatment. INTERVENTIONS: Functional stabilization or elastic adhesive bandaging during 7 days without support. Immobilization after the acute phase permitting then the support. Orthopedic stabilization or subsequent ferule during 21 days, followed by ankle rehabilitation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We compared the healing time, treatment acceptance, absent of work time and need of rehabilitation in both groups. Functional stability is more effective than the orthopedic one: 1.39 times better in terms of curing, 7 times in terms of personal hygiene, 4.25 times in terms of need of rest, 5.5 times better in terms of need of rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: We confirm the initial hypothesis of the advantage of the functional treatment.