Variable schedules of ibuprofen for ankle sprains

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Ankle inversion injuries are common in sports.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are frequently used for pain and inflammation management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of high-dose ibuprofen in treating Grade 1 and 2 ankle inversion injuries.
• To compare the effectiveness of ibuprofen administered twice daily versus four times daily.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, placebo-controlled study involving 144 patients with ankle inversion injuries.
• Patients received either ibuprofen (2400 mg/day) in two or four divided doses, or a placebo.
• Outcomes assessed included joint tenderness, level of training, and injury severity.

Main Results:

• Ibuprofen treatment was significantly superior to placebo in reducing joint tenderness, improving training levels, and decreasing injury severity.
• No significant difference in efficacy was observed between ibuprofen administered twice daily versus four times daily.
• Ten patients withdrew due to side effects, with a slightly higher incidence in the ibuprofen groups compared to placebo.

Conclusions:

• High-dose ibuprofen (2400 mg/day) is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for ankle inversion injuries.
• Flexible dosing regimens (twice or four times daily) of ibuprofen show comparable efficacy.
• NSAIDs like ibuprofen offer a viable therapeutic option for athletes with ankle sprains.