Ultrasound in the treatment of ankle sprains.

Ultrasound is commonly used in association with other forms of treatment in the management of sprains of the lateral ligament of the ankle. Despite its widespread use there is little scientific evidence to support its role in the management of sprained ankles. We have conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial to compare the results of physiotherapy for sprains of the lateral ligament of the ankle without the use of ultrasound with physiotherapy which included ultrasound. The results in the 154 patients who entered the trial demonstrate that there was no significant difference between the results achieved by the group treated with ultrasound and by those managed without.