Ankle instability as a prognostic factor associated with the recurrence of ankle sprain: A systematic review.

DESIGN

Systematic review using PRISMA guidelines.

PURPOSE: To explore Relationship between ankle instability and ankle sprain recurrence in preventing recurrence of ankle sprains and to provide appropriate treatment.

METHODS

MEDLINE (the Cochrane Library) and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) were explored using key words related to ankle instability and ankle sprains in for April 2022. According to the inclusion criteria, studies that 1) targeted patients with ankle sprains, 2) assessed ankle instability, and 3) investigated ankle sprain recurrence rates, were extracted. The author names, publication year, patient characteristics, comparison groups, intervention methods, and outcome data (ankle instability and recurrence) were extracted. A correlation analysis between recurrence rate and ankle instability was conducted. In addition, A meta-analysis was performed on the correlation coefficients within each article.

RESULTS

Eight studies were extracted from 149 studies. A correlation analysis was conducted on five studies and meta-analysis was on three studies with the same post-intervention follow-up period and the same assessment methods for ankle instability and recurrence rate. Strong positive correlations were found for the same follow-up periods (r = 0.95: 95%CI [0.62-0.99]; 3-month, r = 0.97: 95%CI [0.75-0.10]; 1 year, p < .05). The correlation became stronger as the follow-up period increased. Furthermore, the meta-analysis showed that ankle instability as well as the main symptoms of sprain, such as pain and swelling, tended to be positively correlated with the recurrent rate of ankle sprains. These results suggest that ankle instability is strongly related to recurrence, and the longer the time since onset, the stronger the relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

Ankle instability was a prognostic factor associated with recurrence of ankle sprains in patients with ankle sprains. Therefore, ankle instability is one of important factor in preventing recurrence of ankle sprains.