Prediction of Recurrent Lateral Ankle Sprain and Ankle Pain Using Applied Care Strategies and Patient-Reported...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Lateral ankle sprains (LASs) frequently result in poor patient-reported outcomes (PROs) upon return to activity (RTA).
• This can elevate the risk of recurrent LAS and chronic ankle pain.
• The effectiveness of applied care strategies in preventing long-term consequences is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if applied care strategies and PRO scores predict recurrent LAS and ankle pain.
• To assess these predictions at RTA and 6 months post-RTA for outcomes at 12 months after an acute LAS.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study involving 63 individuals within one week of sustaining an acute LAS.
• Data collected via online surveys at RTA, 6 months, and 12 months post-RTA.
• Utilized chi-square analyses, independent t tests, logistic regression, and ROC analyses to identify predictive factors.

Main Results:

• Participants with recurrent LAS were taller and used walking boots less frequently.
• Increased height and lack of walking boot use significantly predicted recurrent LAS (P < .01).
• The model including height and walking boot use achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic of 0.81.

Conclusions:

• Taller individuals and those not using a walking boot are at higher risk for recurrent LAS within 12 months of RTA.
• These findings highlight potential risk factors for long-term outcomes after LAS.
• Further research may explore targeted interventions for high-risk individuals.