Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

STUDY DESIGN: Randomized 3-treatment, 3-period crossover trial. BACKGROUND: There is variation in clinical practice regarding the type of ankle support used to aid recovery after ankle fracture internal fixation surgery. OBJECTIVE: To determine the immediate effects of different ankle supports commonly issued to patients 6 weeks after surgery. METHODS: Participants were 18 adults, 6 weeks after internal fixation for transsyndesmotic/infrasyndesmotic fracture, in a major trauma center in the UK. Interventions were a stirrup brace and walker boot compared with Tubigrip. Outcomes were (1) step-length and single-limb support time asymmetry (percentage comparing injured and uninjured limbs), (2) step width, (3) gait velocity, and (4) pain during walking (visual analog scale, 0-100). RESULTS: Participants (mean ± SD age, 47 ± 14 years) included 8 women and 10 men, 6 weeks after surgical internal fixation for ankle fracture. Single-limb support time asymmetry reduced by 3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0%, 6%; P = .02) in the stirrup brace and by 5% (95% CI: 2%, 7%; P = .001) in the walker boot compared with Tubigrip. Step width was 1.2 cm (95% CI: 0.6, 1.7; P

Original publication

DOI

10.2519/jospt.2016.6212

Type

Journal article

Journal

J orthop sports phys ther

Publication Date

03/2016

Volume

46

Pages

157 - 167

Keywords

Tubigrip, ankle brace, rehabilitation, stirrup brace, walker boot, Adult, Aged, Ankle Fractures, Braces, Cross-Over Studies, Female, Fracture Fixation, Internal, Gait, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Muscle Strength, Pain, Postoperative, Range of Motion, Articular, Walking, Young Adult