The effect of molded and unmolded orthotics on balance and pain while jogging following inversion ankle sprain.

During this study, we examined the effects of using molded orthotics on persons who had suffered an inversion ankle sprain. We assessed standing balance with a digital balance evaluator for a group of 15 subjects who had no history of ankle sprains and for a group of nine subjects with acute ankle sprains. Then, we assessed the subjective pain experienced by ten subjects with acute ankle sprains while they jogged. During each part of the study, we tested the subjects while they were using a molded orthotic, an unmolded orthotic, and no orthotic in their shoes. We alternated the order of these treatments with each consecutive subject. The results indicate that subjects with a history of recent inversion ankle sprains had poorer balance than uninjured subjects. Molded orthotics had no effect on balance scores in the uninjured group, but their use improved balance scores in the ankle sprain group. Unmolded orthotics did not improve balance scores. Molded orthotics helped to decrease ankle pain during jogging for those with an ankle sprain, but unmolded orthotics did not. These findings suggest that molded orthotics may play a role in the treatment of inversion ankle sprains.