Comparing the effects of ankle integral and conventional physiotherapy on pain, range of motion, balance, disability, and treatment effectiveness in patients with chronic ankle instability: Randomized controlled trial

Objective To compare the effects of ankle integral and conventional physiotherapy on pain, range of motion, balance, disability, and treatment effectiveness in patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Design Two-arm, parallel-group, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Participants 60 patients with unilateral CAI. Intervention integral physiotherapy (n = 30) or conventional physiotherapy (n = 30). Outcomes Visual Analog Scale (VAS), dorsiflexion and plantarflexion range of motion, Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), Single Leg Hop (SLH) test, Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), Lower Extremity Functional Score (LEFS), global rating of change, were gathered pre and post-intervention. Results The ANOVA results revealed statistically significant interaction for FAOS, and LEFS outcome measures (P < 0.05) and the mean change results showed there were a favorable clinical difference incline toward the integral group (mean(integral) = 20.14 (14.95-25.37), mean(Conventional) = 29.46 (24.09-34.83)). There were no interactions between group and time among other outcome measures (P > 0.05). The group main effect did not show any statistical significance (P > 0.05). Conclusion Hip strengthening and balance exercises added to ankle rehabilitation could be more favorable on improving the patients' functional ability.