Rehabilitation of The Ankle After Acute Sprain or Chronic Instability

Journal of Athletic Training
2002;37(4):413429
q by the National Athletic Trainers Association, Inc
www.journalofathletictraining.org
Rehabilitation of the Ankle After Acute

Sprain or Chronic Instability
Carl G. Mattacola; Maureen K. Dwyer
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Carl G. Mattacola, PhD, ATC, provided conception and design; analysis and interpretation of the data; and drafting, critical
revision, and final approval of the article. Maureen K. Dwyer, MS, ATC, provided analysis and interpretation of the data and
drafting, critical revision, and final approval of the article.
Address correspondence to Carl G. Mattacola, PhD, ATC, University of Kentucky, College of Health Sciences, Room 210E,
900 South Limestone, Lexington, KY 40536-0200. Address e-mail to [email protected].
Objective: To outline rehabilitation concepts that are applicable to acute and chronic injury of the ankle, to provide evidence for current techniques used in the rehabilitation of the
ankle, and to describe a functional rehabilitation program that
progresses from basic to advanced, while taking into consideration empirical data from the literature and clinical practice.
Background: Important considerations in the rehabilitation of
ankle injuries include controlling the acute inflammatory process, regaining full ankle range of motion, increasing muscle
strength and power, and improving proprioceptive abilities.
These goals can be achieved through various modalities, flexibility exercises, and progressive strength- and balance-training
exercises. In this article, we discuss the deleterious effects of
ankle injury on ankle-joint proprioception and muscular strength
and how these variables can be quantifiably measured to follow
progress through a rehabilitation program. Evidence to support

the effectiveness of applying orthotics and ankle braces during
the acute and subacute phases of ankle rehabilitation is provided, along with recommendations for functional rehabilitation of
ankle injuries, including a structured progression of exercises.
Recommendations: Early functional rehabilitation of the ankle should include range-of-motion exercises and isometric and
isotonic strength-training exercises. In the intermediate stage of
rehabilitation, a progression of proprioception-training exercises
should be incorporated. Advanced rehabilitation should focus
on sport-specific activities to prepare the athlete for return to
competition. Although it is important to individualize each rehabilitation program, this well-structured template for ankle rehabilitation can be adapted as needed.
Key Words: ankle sprain, neuromuscular rehabilitation, proprioception, functional ankle instability
return the athlete to participation as quickly as possible, while

allowing the injured tissue to heal without compromising it by
further injury.
The following goals are important for any rehabilitation program: decreased swelling, pain, and initial inflammatory response and protection of the joint so that a secondary inflammatory response does not develop from overly aggressive
rehabilitation. Similarly, ROM, muscular strength, power, and
endurance must be returned to preinjury levels so that full,
asymptomatic functional activities may be performed to the
preinjury level and beyond.1
The application of specific functional exercises is important
to stress the healing tissue. The specific adaptation to imposed
demand (SAID) principle is helpful when designing functional
progression.4 The activities and stresses placed on the tissue
must be specific to those of the activities at hand. Nonetheless,
development of the higher levels of the rehabilitation spectrum
must incorporate a working knowledge of the specific activity.
If the athletic trainers knowledge of the specific activity is
vague, incorporating the aid of a member of the coaching staff
often results in a welcome collaboration and improved therapy.
Chronic instability (CAI) is thought to be the result of neural (proprioception, reflexes, muscular reaction time), muscular
(strength, power, and endurance), and mechanical mechanisms
(ligamentous laxity).5 Therefore, we will address each of these
areas in this manuscript.
ehabilitation of athletic injuries requires the prescription of sport-specific exercise and activities that challenge the recovering tendons, ligaments, bones, and
muscle fibers without overstressing them. The goal of rehabilitation is to return an athlete to the same or higher level of
competition as before the injury. Rehabilitation must take into
consideration normal tissue size, flexibility, muscular strength,
power, and endurance. Control of swelling and effusion must
be accomplished with frequent application of external pressure, modalities such as cryotherapy, and active range of motion (ROM).
The effectiveness of the rehabilitation program after injury
(Figure 1) or surgery often determines the success of future
function and athletic performance.1 An understanding of the
bodys response to injury is paramount to designing a rehabilitation approach. Ligamentous and soft tissue injury results
in biochemical changes similar to those seen after an injury.2
Injury results in bleeding and damage to tissue, which produces pain. After the initial insult, the inflammatory response
is initiated, followed by the proliferative phase and the maturation phase3 (Figure 2).
Stress to collagen fibers results in fiber orientation along
these specific lines of stress. Specifically, rehabilitation during
days 1 through 5 should focus on protection of the injured
tissue, then supervised and protected stress may be applied
from days 6 to 42. The goal of athletic rehabilitation is to
413
Figure 2. Phases of wound healing. Reprinted with permission.3
The multifaceted musculoskeletal system offers various

ways that proprioception can be affected. Deficits in proprioception have been demonstrated after injury6 and with articular
disease7 and increasing age.8,9 As a joint moves, impulses
must arise from muscular, fascial, tendon, and articular receptors. Injury to any or all of these receptors can result in a
sensory deficit.
Evaluating balance or postural stability is one method of
assessing sensory deficits after injury. Postural stability is
commonly measured as postural sway, the degree or amplitude
that a person sways away from his or her center of balance.
After injury, a patient must be able to maintain posture against
gravity before progressing to more complicated functional activities. Therefore, it is essential that evaluation and rehabilitation for deficits in postural sway be used more frequently
after musculoskeletal injuries.
Freeman et al10 were the first to report that exercises on a
wobble board could reduce the incidence of instability after
ankle sprain as measured with a modified Romberg test. Since
then, various methods have been used to assess the function
of postural stability before and after ankle injury. Tropp et al11
compared 127 soccer players with CAI with 30 normally active individuals. Players showing abnormal stabilometric values were at higher risk for sustaining an ankle injury during
the next season. Specifically, they found that the overall incidence of ankle injury was 18% whether the player had suffered a previous injury or not. Twenty-three players sustained
an ankle joint injury; 12 of 29 (42%) of those had a pathologic
stabilometry value, while 11 of 98 (11%) of those players who
had normal values suffered an ankle-joint injury. Therefore,
the risk of sustaining an ankle injury was significantly lower
if stabilometric recordings were within normal limits.11
Specifically, deficits in postural stability have been reported
in the unstable ankle12,13 and after an acute ankle sprain.14
However, when subjects with chronically unstable and uninvolved ankles15 were compared with subjects with chronically
unstable ankles and controls,16 no statistical difference was
reported.
Injury to the ankle and CAI may result in deficits in postural stability. Assessment of postural stability using rela
Figure 1. Three grades of an ankle injury. A, The grade I sprain is
characterized by stretching of the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments. B, In the grade II sprain, the anterior talofibular ligament tears partially, and the calcaneofibular ligament
stretches. C, The grade III sprain is characterized by rupture of the
anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments, with partial tearing of the posterior talofibular and tibiofibular ligaments.
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Number 4 December 2002
Figure 3. Use of external ankle support to provide stability and

sensorimotor feedback during exercise (DJ Orthopaedics, Vista,
CA).
tively inexpensive balance devices and equipment that is

more sophisticated should be a standard part of the anklerehabilitation program. Documentation of progress and accurate assessment throughout the process makes setting
goals for the athlete easier to document while providing
quantitative data for the supporting athletic staff and insurance companies.
One goal of rehabilitation is to develop strength and neuromuscular control so that the ankle and foot are better con-
trolled and protected during stance and impact. Injury to the

ankle may result in neuromuscular compromise.17,18 Nitz et
al17 demonstrated electromyographic abnormalities of the peripheral nerves in the legs of patients with acute grade II and
III ankle sprains 2 weeks after injury. The possible causes of
nerve injury after ankle sprain include compartment syndrome,
epineural hematoma, and nerve traction.17
Peroneal nerve-conduction velocities may be reduced 4
to 22 days after inversion trauma. Kleinrensink et al18
showed that superficial and deep peroneal motor nerve-conduction velocity was reduced for 4 to 8 days after inversion
trauma. Careful attention must be given to protecting the
ankle while progressing the patient through ROM, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, and functional exercise
during the acute phase of injury. Atrophy and compromised
performance resulting from nerve injury should be considered.
Adequate strength is necessary for normal movement patterns. The importance of developing correct motor patterns
while subjects perform flexibility and strength exercises cannot
be overemphasized. The ability or inability to perform multiple tasks depends on our conscious awareness unless the tasks
are automated.19 Regaining strength bilaterally is accepted
clinical practice and is thought to be important for the prevention of ligamentous injuries at the ankle20; however, agreement on which strength factors are most important is still lacking. While some authors reported peroneal weakness as a
factor in ankle sprains,21,22 others have noted no measurable
difference13,2325
Wilkerson et al26 and Baumhauer et al27 have shown that
eversion-to-inversion strength ratios are often different in subjects with ankle instability when compared with normal subjects. An eversion-inversion strength ratio of .1.0 is consid-
Figure 4. Achilles stretching, A, weight bearing, and B, nonweight bearing.
415
Table 1. Recommended Guidelines for Early Functional Rehabilitation*

Component
Procedure
Range of Motion
Passive range of motion
Frequency, Duration
Clinician applies light pressure to facilitate

stretch
Achilles tendon, stretch, non- Use towel to pull foot toward face
weight bearing
Achilles tendon stretch

weight bearing
Alphabet exercises
Strength Training (Isometric)
Plantar flexion
Pain-free stretch for 1530 s 3

10 repetitions, 353/d
Pain-free stretch for 1530 s 3
10 repetitions, 353/day
Stand with heel on the floor and bend at the Pain-free stretch for 1530 s,
knees
353/day
Move the ankle in multiple planes of motion 23 times per hr 453/day
by drawing the alphabet in lowercase and
uppercase motions
Resistance can be provided by an immovable object (eg, wall or floor) or the contralateral foot
Push foot downward (away from the head) Hold muscle contraction for
510 s
Comments
Maintain extremity in a nongravity position with compression
Can be performed in conjunction with heat or cold therapy
Strengthening can be accomplished in a pain-free range

of motion
Dorsiflexion
Inversion
Pull foot upward (toward the head)

510 repetitions per direction
Push foot inward (toward the midline of the Repeat 353/day
body)
Eversion
Push foot outward (away from the midline of
the body)
Strength Training (Isotonic)
Resistance can be provided by the contralateral foot, rubber tubing, weights, or the
clinician
Plantar flexion
Push foot downward (away from the head) Maintain muscle contraction for Strengthening can be accom410 s for concentric and ecplished in full range of motion
centric components
and incorporate concentric
and eccentric contractions in
nonweight-bearing position
Dorsiflexion
Pull foot upward (toward the head)
2 sets of 10 repetitions
Inversion
Push foot inward (toward the midline of the per direction
body)
Eversion
Push foot outward (away from the midline of Repeat 353/day
the body)
Toe curls and marble pick-ups 1. Place foot on a towel. Curl toes, moving 2 sets of 10 repetitions, 353/ Strengthening can be accomthe towel toward the body.
day
plished throughout the day at
2. Use toes to pick up marbles or other small
work or at home
objects.
Toe raises, heel walks, toe
Lift the body by rising up on the toes
3 sets of 10 repetitions; proStrengthening can be accomwalks
Walk forward and backward on the toes and
gress walking as tolerated
plished using the body as reheels
sistance in a weight-bearing
position
*Athlete can perform activities with varying external support to stimulate sensory and proprioceptive feedback. Use of a semirigid orthotic may
provide somatosensory benefits and neutral alignment for proper muscle activation and reduce unnecessary strain on already stressed soft tissue.
ered an important indicator of ankle-sprain susceptibility.26,27

Kaminski et al24 examined ankle eversion concentric, eccentric, and isometric strength and found no difference between
subjects with CAI and matched-paired controls. Further study
has led to the investigation of reciprocal muscle-group ratios.
Specifically, concentric eversion-to-eccentric inversion and eccentric eversion-to-concentric inversion muscle-group ratios
have recently been examined in subjects with CAI and, while
no differences were found between the involved and uninvolved ankles,28 eversion-to-inversion ratios were improved
after a 6-week strength and proprioception training protocol.29
If the rehabilitation process is effective and the athlete regains preinjury ROM, strength, proprioceptive function, and
motor control, then one would assume the risk of injury is
reduced. If the rehabilitation process is not complete or a major component was not incorporated, then the athlete may be
at an increased risk of reinjury.
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Volume 37
PROPHYLACTIC ANKLE BRACING AND ORTHOTIC

INTERVENTION
A prophylactic ankle brace is used to provide mechanical
stability. Advantages include ease of use, no need for professional assistance with application, and cost effectiveness when
compared with tape over an extended period of time.30 Ankle
braces can be classified as lace-up, stirrup, or elastic type of
configuration.30 In addition to providing mechanical stabilization, an ankle brace offers proprioceptive stimulation.3032
Jerosch et al30 found improvement in single-leg stance, singleleg jumping, and angle reproduction when stirrup and lace-up
brace conditions were compared with a no-tape condition. Interestingly, angle-reproduction error was better in the uninjured ankle than the injured ankle for the no-brace condition
but better in the injured ankle when braced with a stirrup, laceup, or tape than no brace. This implies that the application of
Figure 6. Manually applied perturbation into inversion and plantar

flexion. Athlete is asked to quickly and forcefully resist the perturbation, and move the ankle into dorsiflexion and eversion.
the brace improved proprioceptive and sensory feedback such

that accuracy was better in the injured ankle than the uninjured
ankle with no external application.30
Friden et al14 examined 14 patients with unilateral injury to
the lateral ligaments of the ankle and compared them with a
group of 55 healthy individuals.14 Subjects were tested in single-leg stance for 25.6 seconds. They recorded movement in
the frontal plane with the following variables: mean value of
the distance between the center of pressure and the reference
line, its standard deviation, average speed in frontal-sway
Table 2. Strength-Training Progression*
1st Set: 10
Repetitions
2nd Set: 10
Repetitions
0 lbs (0 kg)
1 (.45)
2 (.91)
3 (1.36)
4 (1.81)
5 (2.27)
7.5 (3.40)
10 (4.54)
12.5 (5.67)
15 (6.80)
17.5 (7.94)
20 (9.07)
22.5 (10.21)
25 (11.34)
27.5 (12.47)
30 (13.61)
32.5 (14.74)
.5 lbs (.23 kg)

1.5 (.68)
3 (1.36)
4.5 (2.04)
6 (2.72)
7.5 (3.40)
11.25 (5.10)
15 (6.80)
18.75 (8.51)
22.5 (10.21)
26.25 (11.91)
30 (13.61)
33.75 (15.31)
37.5 (17.01)
41.25 (18.71)
45 (20.41)
48.75 (22.11)
3rd Set: 10
Repetitions
1
2
4
6
8
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
lb (.45 kg)
(.91)
(1.81)
(2.72)
(3.63)
(4.54)
(6.80)
(9.07)
(11.34)
(13.61)
(15.88)
(18.14)
(20.41)
(22.68)
(24.95)
(27.22)
(29.48)
4th Set: 10
Repetitions
1.5 lbs (.68 kg)
3 (1.36)
5 (2.27)
8 (3.63)
10 (4.54)
15 (6.80)
20 (9.07)
25 (11.34)
30 (13.61)
35 (15.88)
40 (18.14)
45 (20.41)
50 (22.68)
55 (24.95)
60 (27.22)
65 (29.48)
70 (31.75)
*This strength-training program is a modification of Knights DAPRE program67 as revised by Perrin and Gieck.68
Patient should proceed to next line when he or she can lock out (complete with correct form) the 4th set 10 times.
Figure 5. Clinician-assisted manual resistance performed in painfree range of motion. A, plantar flexion and dorsiflexion, B, eversion, and C, inversion.
417
Figure 7. Walking on the heel, A, and toes, B, for assessment of ability to bear weight and maintain balance. This can be used as a
gross measure of functional status and as an intermediate rehabilitation exercise.
movements, mean sway amplitude, and number of movements

exceeding defined amplitude levels of 5 mm and 10 mm. The
standard deviation was significantly higher in the injured
group measured without braces when compared with the reference group, the injured group with brace, and the uninjured
side. A significant difference was also noted between the uninjured side in the braced group and the reference group. Friden et al14 made a significant contribution by demonstrating
that postural-sway values were sensitive enough to distinguish
differences between subjects with the injured leg and a reference group. They found that when the injured legs were tested
without a brace, they were significantly different than the reference group for the following variables: number of sway
movements exceeding 5 mm and 10 mm, mean sway amplitude, and standard deviation of center of pressure.
Baier and Hopf31 evaluated the effect of a rigid or flexible
ankle orthosis on postural sway in subjects with CAI. They
tested 22 subjects with CAI and 22 normal subjects. CAI was
defined as more than 5 ankle sprains per year and feelings of
giving way. In athletes with CAI, both rigid and flexible ankle
orthoses significantly reduced mediolateral sway velocity, an
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effect that was not apparent for the control group. While not
significant, there was a trend toward decreased mediolateral
sway in the control group when wearing the rigid orthosis
versus no orthosis. Subjects were tested in single-leg stance
for 25 seconds. Baier and Hopf31 speculated that the differences in the ankle-brace group were due not just to mechanical
instability but also to a proprioceptive effect.
The study of braces to prevent injuries has been undertaken
by Garrick and Requa,33 Sitler et al,34 and Surve et al.35 Sitler
et al34 demonstrated a 3-fold decrease in ankle injuries among
braced cadets when compared with nonbraced controls, and
Surve et al35 reported a 5-fold reduction in ankle sprains when
braced athletes were compared with nonbraced athletes who
had previous ankle injuries. Therefore, the use of ankle taping
and bracing has proprioceptive, mechanical, and injury-protection benefits and causes minimal to no performance decrements.3638
Because the application of an ankle brace has been shown
to increase joint position sense, it may be suggested that after
an acute ankle sprain, initial exercises and ROM should be
performed with some prophylactic support in an attempt to
Table 3. Proprioceptive Training Components of Intermediate Functional Rehabilitation*

Component
Circular wobble board
Walking on different surfaces
Manual proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation exercises
Procedure
Rotate board in clockwise and counterclockwise directions nonweight-bearing and weight-bearing for bilateral and unilateral stance
Walk in normal or heel-to-toe fashion over various surfaces (eg, hard floor, uneven carpet, different foam
pads)
Clinician provides degrees of resistance and random
perturbations as athlete moves the foot through functional patterns
Frequency, Duration
2050 ft (6.1015.24 m), 5

103/d
520 repetitions 123/day
Comments
Exercises can be performed with
eyes open or closed and with or
without resistance
Exercises can be performed with
eyes open or closed and with or
without resistance
Velocity and resistance can be varied
to stimulate sensory feedback
*Manual strengthening program is progressed with modified Daily Adjustable Resistance Exercise technique.
Table 4. Return to Activity Components of Advanced Functional Rehabilitation

Component
Procedure
Frequency, Duration
Wobble-board exercises
Athlete balances on wobble board with rubber-tubing resistance or after light perturbations from the clinician
Functional exercise on different surfaces

and with resistance
Athlete performs functional activities on variable surfaces, eg, trampoline, foam, in water with resistance
Walk-jog
50% walking and 50% jogging in straight direction, forward, backward, and pattern running
50% jogging and 50% running in straight direction, forward, backward and pattern running
Increase distance by -mile

(.2-km) increments
Increase distance by -mile
(.2-km) increments
Jog-run
Comments
Increase difficulty by varying surfaces
and alternating eyes open and eyes
closed
Increase difficulty by performing skills
on unstable surfaces and with varied velocity of movement
Increase intensity and incorporate activity-specific training
Increase intensity and incorporate activity-specific training
419
Figure 8. Balance exercises can be performed on different surfaces, A and B, and with eyes open or closed, C, and can be progressed
to active movements that invoke perturbations while maintaining balance, D, and perturbations invoked externally, E.
improve sensory and proprioceptive feedback. While this is

common when preparing an athlete to return home or before
competition, we recommend using a prophylactic stabilizer
(neoprene, softshell, or hardshell) intermittently during functional rehabilitation to provide feedback, compression, and
support (Figure 3). The presumed efficacy of this technique is
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based on clinical interpretation of the literature, and justification of rehabilitation outcomes needs further investigation.
The use of orthotics shows promise in the treatment of ankle
instability, particularly in response to improving balance after
injury39 or fatigue,40 when rearfoot motion is altered,41 and in
normal subjects.42 In the clinical setting, orthotics are com-
Figure 9. A and B, Advanced balance and functional exercise with internal provoked perturbations while performing dynamic activities.
monly prescribed for many reasons: to alter the rearfoot motion in the gait cycle, assist in shock absorption, and provide
proprioceptive benefits. Recently, some authors have suggested that orthotics can be used clinically as an aid to postural
stability. Guskiewicz and Perrin39 evaluated the use of orthotics after an acute ankle sprain. Orthotics significantly reduced
postural sway between the orthotic and nonorthotic conditions
during anteroposterior and mediolateral sway. Orteza et al43
assessed the effects of molded and unmolded orthotics on balance and pain after an inversion ankle sprain. Subjects reported significantly less pain during jogging while wearing
molded orthotics compared with unmolded orthotics and no
orthotics. Similarly, Ochsendorf et al40 reported a significant
reduction in postural sway after orthotic intervention. The authors fatigued the plantar-flexor and dorsiflexor muscle groups
and noted that postural-stability values for the orthotic conditions (prefatigue and postfatigue) were less (better) than for
the nonorthotic conditions (prefatigue and postfatigue). Miller
et al41 studied control subjects and subjects with malaligned
rearfoot motion (.58 of rearfoot motion) for changes in postural sway during a 6-week period. Postural sway in the malaligned group with orthotics was initially worse than in the
control group with orthotics. However, the use of orthotics
improved bilateral (eyes-closed) postural sway in the malaligned group when values from baseline were compared with
weeks 2, 4, and 6 (P , .05).
Therefore, we recommend the use of orthotics during the
acute and subacute phases for subjects after an ankle sprain.
The use of orthotics provides somatosensory benefits because
cutaneous afferents contribute to human balance control44,45
and may provide neutral alignment for proper muscle activation and reduce unnecessary strain on already stressed soft
tissue.45 If the athlete has abnormal rearfoot or forefoot alignment, the use of orthotics is justified for all activities. There
is a paucity of information describing the use of orthotics for
CAI and limited information describing long-term effectiveness in normal individuals and individuals with malalignment.
This area needs further study to document functional outcome
after an intervention.
FUNCTIONAL REHABILITATION
Many researchers have examined the effects of various
training regimens on the characteristics of CAI and the symptoms of acute ankle sprains (Appendix). The available research
regarding rehabilitation of ankle injuries and CAI ankle instability focuses on a wide variety of exercises and programs.
Many experts have succeeded using a type of balance board
to improve strength and balance measures in subjects with
acute injury and CAI.4650,57,59,60 Others have found that incorporating a variety of coordination-training exercises produces significant improvements in measures of strength and
proprioception.52,54,56 And still others have found that strength
training can be helpful in increasing not only ankle
strength53,55 but also ankle-joint proprioception.53,56 While
various investigators have shown that strength and balance
training can be effective, a definitive series of outcome studies
that document the number of treatments, the combination, and
the volume of exercise necessary to return athletes to full function is lacking. The implications of such research are paramount as evidence for the effectiveness of management.
A secondary purpose of this manuscript was to present a
functional-rehabilitation program drawing on concepts from
the available literature. A rehabilitation program must be in-
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Figure 10. Exercise in water reduces compressive forces and supports injured tissue. A and B, Exercises can be initiated without
resistance and then progressed, C, to resistance until D, functional exercises can be performed.
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dividualized to meet the needs of each athlete.1 While the importance of creating an individualized rehabilitation program
cannot be overstressed, it is our opinion that an individualized
rehabilitation program cannot be instituted without prior experience with a structured and well-designed rehabilitation
program. Although the educational aims of many undergraduate and graduate programs are to develop clinicians who can
be critical thinkers and decision makers, a health care professional can only design an individualized program for a particular patient after gaining substantial experience with a variety
of well-structured, progressive rehabilitation programs. Therefore, we provide a structured rehabilitation program that is
based on previous experience and empirical evidence. In addition, we supply some alternative concepts that are based on
a review of the neuromuscular literature dealing with ankle
rehabilitation, bracing, and postural control.
The significance of proper rehabilitation after an ankle
sprain cannot be overemphasized, especially when considering
the debilitating consequences of decreased ankle ROM, persistent pain, swelling, and CAI. Neglecting appropriate therapy
may also precipitate the loss of work hours. In one study, a
lack of rehabilitation resulted in several months delay in return to military duty.61 A regimen of Achilles tendon stretching, progressive muscle strengthening, and proprioceptive
training after acute treatment plays a pivotal role in hastening
return to activity and preventing CAI.
Prolonged immobilization of ankle sprains is a common
treatment error.6264 Kerkhoffs et al62 recently examined the
variation of practice with respect to the treatment of the acutely sprained ankle. They performed a formal, systematic review
of the literature to scrutinize evidence-based management
strategies for the treatment of the acute ankle sprain. Inclusion
of the potential studies was independently assessed by 2 reviewers and, when appropriate, results of comparable studies
were pooled. They found that immobilization alone should not
be used to manage acute lateral ankle-ligament injuries. Kerkoffs et al62 reported statistically significant differences for the
following outcomes when treatment with immobilization was
compared with a functional treatment (based on the available
literature): higher percentage of patients returned to work, the
length of time elapsed before returning to work was shorter,
fewer patients suffered from persistent swelling, fewer patients
suffered from objective instability at follow-up, ROM was limited in fewer patients, and subjective satisfaction was higher.
Functional stress stimulates the incorporation of stronger replacement collagen.63 Functional rehabilitation begins on the
day of injury and continues until pain-free gait and activities
are attained. Functional rehabilitation has 4 aspects: ROM,
strengthening, proprioception, and activity-specific training. Ankle-joint stability is a prerequisite to the institution of functional
rehabilitation. Since grade I and grade II injuries are considered
stable, functional rehabilitation should begin immediately.
ing of weakened muscles is essential to rapid recovery and is

a preventive measure against reinjury.65 Exercises should focus on the conditioning of the peroneal muscles because insufficient strength in this group has been associated with CAI
and recurrent injury.66 However, all muscles of the ankle
should be targeted and all exercises performed bilaterally. If
the training is performed bilaterally, we would expect substantial strength gains in both extremities, while the cross-over
effect of training only 1 limb may equal only 1.5% to 3.5%.67
Strengthening begins with isometric exercises performed
against an immovable object in 4 directions of ankle movement and progresses to dynamic resistive exercises using ankle
weights, surgical tubing, or resistance bands.
Our opinion is that the strength components of many exercise programs would be more effective if performed with
clinician-assisted manual resistance. It is common to see athletes perform hundreds of repetitions with various grades of
exercise tubing, yet the targeted musculature is hardly fatigued
(Figure 5). We recommend that manual resistance be applied
for 3 to 5 seconds for 10 to 12 repetitions in each cardinal
plane. While controlling the time that a maximal contraction
is maintained, the clinician can be assured that the targeted
musculature is being maximally loaded in a pain-free arc. Advanced exercises include asking the athlete to maximally resist
randomly applied perturbations (Figure 6).
If time is an issue and clinician-assisted manual resistance
is not feasible, we recommend a progressive resistive program
with weights rather than tubing. Table 2 provides a Daily Adjustable Progressive Resistance Exercise (DAPRE) strength
progression for the ankle that was originally described by
Knight68 and later modified by Perrin and Gieck.69 In this
progression, the athlete performs 4 sets of 10 repetitions while
increasing the applied weight for each set. The athlete can
advance to the next level when he or she can lock out (complete with correct form) the 4th set 10 times. With a structured
progression, the athlete can create continuous goals and more
easily appreciate improvements. These exercises should be
performed with an emphasis on the eccentric component.66
Patients should be instructed to pause 1 second between the
concentric and eccentric phases of exercise and perform the
eccentric component over a 4-second period. Concentric contraction refers to the active shortening of muscle with resultant
lengthening of the resistance band, while eccentric contraction
involves the passive lengthening of the muscle by the elastic
pull of the band. Resistive exercises should be performed (2
to 3 sets of 10 to 12 repetitions) in all 4 directions twice a
day. Toe raises, heel walks, and toe walks may also be attempted to regain strength and coordination (Figure 7). Continual monitoring of strength is important. Isokinetic strength
testing is an accepted method of assessing ankle strength.24,7072
Less expensive, yet often overlooked, is the use of hand-held
dynamometry for consistent monitoring of strength performance.73
RANGE-OF-MOTION AND STRENGTHENING

EXERCISES
PROPRIOCEPTIVE AND BALANCE TRAINING
Range of motion must be regained before functional rehabilitation is initiated (Table 1). Achilles tendon stretching
should be instituted within 48 to 72 hours of injury, regardless
of weight-bearing capacity, in light of the tissues tendency to
contract after trauma (Figure 4). Once ROM is achieved and
swelling and pain are controlled, the patient is ready to progress to the strengthening phase of rehabilitation. Strengthen-
As the patient achieves full weight bearing without pain, proprioceptive training is initiated for the recovery of balance and
postural control (Table 3). Various devices have been specifically designed for this phase of rehabilitation, and their use in
concert with a series of progressive drills has effectively returned patients to a high functional level.51,74 The simplest device for proprioceptive training is the wobble board, a small
423
discoid platform attached to a hemispheric base.75 The patient

is instructed to stand on the wobble board on 1 foot and shift
his or her weight, causing the discs edge to scribe a continuous
circular path (Figure 8). These exercises can be progressed by
having the patient use different-sized hemispheres and by varying visual input. In addition, the athlete can be tested under
various visual and support conditions (Figure 9). As somatosensory and visual feedback is altered, the athlete must develop
consistent motor patterns despite inconsistent feedback. A common progression when performing balance exercise is to move
from a position of nonweight bearing to weight bearing, bilateral stance to unilateral stance, eyes open to eyes closed, firm
surface to soft surface, uneven or moving surface (Table 4).
The variation of surfaces and conditions is vast, allowing the
clinician ample opportunity to offer fresh challenges during the
rehabilitation process. For example, the use of turbine-produced
resistance in water offers an unstable yet forgiving environment
(Figure 10). If time is available, the clinician can manually
move the ankle and foot through various positions and then
request that the athlete actively and passively replicate joint angles. While the body reacts to perturbations in various ways
(feed-forward versus feedback response), sensory input is received from all parts of the body and sent to the central nervous
system via afferent pathways. Therefore, conscious and unconscious appreciation is important to protect functional joint stability. Proprioception is useful for preventing injury in slow,
moderately rapid, or even rapid tasks; however, it may not be
adequate for forces that challenge the neuromuscular system at
the highest levels.76 A common mistake when performing proprioception and balance exercises is the lack of variability in
speed and intensity. There are various methods of assessing improvements in joint position sense, postural stability, and threshold to detection of motion.77,78
RETURN TO ACTIVITY-SPECIFIC TRAINING

When the distance walked by the patient is no longer limited
by pain, he or she may progress to a regimen of 50% walking
and 50% jogging (see Table 4). Using the same criteria, jogging eventually progresses to running, backward running, and
pattern running. Circles and figures of 8 are commonly employed patterns. The final phase of the rehabilitation process
is documentation that the athlete can perform sport-specific
exercises pain free and at a level consistent with preinjury
status. Although time consuming, these routines represent the
final phase of ankle-joint rehabilitation, and completion of this
program is essential for the recovery of ankle stability. In
short, clinicians need to create exercises and movement patterns that will increasingly challenge the neuromuscular coordination of the injured athlete.
CONCLUSIONS
Rehabilitation of ankle injuries should be structured and individualized. In the acute phase, the focus should be on controlling inflammation, reestablishing full range of motion, and
gaining strength. Once pain-free range of motion and weight
bearing have been established, balance-training exercises
should be incorporated to normalize neuromuscular control.
Advanced-phase rehabilitation activities should focus on regaining normal function. This includes exercises specific to
those that will be performed during sport. While having a basic template to follow for the rehabilitation of ankle injuries
is important, clinicians must remember that individuals respond differently to exercises. Therefore, each program needs
to be modified to fit the individuals needs.
Appendix. Rehabilitation Articles on Acute and Chronic Ankle Instability

Authors (Year)
Title
Specific Training Protocol
Tropp et al (1984)
Factors affecting stabilometry recordings of single

limb stance
Balance training: Single-leg stance for 15

min, each leg, 13/d
Tropp and Askling

(1985)47
Effects of ankle disk training on muscular strength

and postural control
Gauffin et al (1988)48
Effect of ankle disk training

on postural control in patients with functional instability of the ankle joint
The effects of proprioceptive ankle disk training on
healthy subjects
Balance training
Single-leg stance on ankle disk:
week 110: 10 min/foot, 53/wk
week 1120: 5 min/foot, 33/wk
Strength training
Ankle-disk training on unstable ankle
only, 10 min, 53/wk for 8 wk
46
Hoffman and Payne

(1995)49
Wester et al (1996)50
424
Volume 37
Wobble board training after

partial sprains of the lateral ligaments of the ankle: a prospective randomized study
Balance training
Biomechanical Ankle Platform System
(Spectrum Therapy Products, Jasper,
MI): 33/wk for 10 wk, 10-min length, 5
trials/session: 40 s long; change clockwise to counterclockwise every 10 s
Balance training
Weeks 13: 15 min/d
Wobble board: move front to back 103,
board not touching floor, for 15 s, rest
10 s;
Wobble board: move left to right 103,
board not touching floor, for 15 s, rest
10 s
Wobble board move in circle 53, 60 s,
rest 20 s
Results
No significant differences between acute
and nonacute, tape and no tape. Significant changes in pre-post results.
Results stabilized and subjective giving-way feeling improved with ankledisc coordination training.
Ankle-disk training (10 wk) improved
isokinetic pronator muscle strength
and postural control.
Ankle-disk training decreased postural
sway, restored pattern for postural
corrections.
Proprioceptive ankle-disk training (10
wk) decreased postural sway in
healthy subjects.
Fewer recurrent sprains and chronic instability episodes in training group

versus control group. No differences
in time to return to activities of daily
living pain free, no differences in
speed of reduction of hematoma and
edema.
Appendix. Continued
Authors (Year)
Mattacola and Lloyd

(1997)51
Title
Effects of a 6-week
strength and proprioception training program on
measures of dynamic balance: a single-case design
Bernier and Perrin

(1998)52
Effect of coordination training on proprioception of

the functionally unstable
ankle
Docherty et al (1998)53
Effects of strength training on

strength development and
joint position sense in functionally unstable ankles

Weeks 46: 15 min/d
Wobble board: knees flexed, repeat exercises from wk 13 for 30 s, rest 20
s, 3 5;
Wobble board: single-leg stance for 7 s
35
Wobble board: single-leg stance, eyes
closed, for 4 s 3 5
Said training was for 12 wk but only
gave 6 wk?
Balance and strength training: 33/wk for
6 wk
Strength training: 3 sets of 10, isotonic
contractions for ankle PF, DF, EV,
INV: manual resistance for 3 s
Proprioception training 3 sets 3 25
reps, single-leg stance on KAB (Kinesthetic Ankle Board), counterclockwise, clockwise, bilateral
Balance training
Week 1: 15 s each, 45-s rest
Fixed surface, eyes open
Fixed surface, eyes closed
Fixed surface, pick up objects
Tilt board, DF, PF, eyes open
Tilt board, DF, PF, eyes closed
Tilt board, INV, EV, eyes open
Tilt board, INV, EV, eyes closed
Tilt board, diagonal, eyes open
Tilt board, diagonal, eyes closed
Week 2: 20 s, 40-s rest
Same as week 1
Add wobble board, eyes open, 3 2
Same as week 2
Add wobble board, PF, DF, eyes closed
Remove tilt board diagonal, eyes open
and eyes closed
Tilt board, PF, DF, eyes open
Tilt board, PF, DF, eyes closed
Wobble board, eyes open, 3 2
Wobble board, eyes closed, 3 2
Same as week 4
Add wobble board, eyes closed, 3 2
Functional hop, eyes open, 3 2
Tilt board, PF, DF, eyes open
Tilt board, PF, DF, eyes closed
Wobble board, eyes open
Wobble board, eyes closed
Functional hop, eyes open, 3 2
Functional hop, eyes closed, 3 2
Strength training
Week 1: 33/wk for 10 min/d, blue tubing (extra heavy), 3310 repetitions,
PF, DF, EV, INV
Week 2: 33/wk for 10 min; blue tubing
(extra heavy), 4310 reps, PF, DF,
EV, INV
Week 3: 3/wk for 10 min; black tubing
(special heavy), 3310 reps, PF, DF,
EV, INV
Results
Strength and proprioception training (6

wk) effective in improving dynamic
balance abilities assessed on a single-plane balance device.
Equilibrium balance scores (anteroposterior, mediolateral) improved after 6week coordination-training program.
No effect on sway index or joint position sense.
Ankle strength-training exercises (6 wk)

improved DF and eversion strength
and INV and PF joint position sense.
425
Appendix. Continued
Authors (Year)
Holme et al (1999)54
Kern-Steiner et al
(1999)55
426
Volume 37
Title
The effect of supervised

rehabilitation on strength,
postural sway, position
sense and re-injury risk
after acute ankle ligament
sprain
Strategy of exercise prescription using an unloading technique for functional rehabilitation of an
athlete with an inversion
ankle sprain

Week 4: 3/wk for 10 min, black tubing
(special heavy), 4310, PF, DF, EV, INV
Week 5: 3/wk for 10 min; silver tubing
(super heavy), 3310 reps, PF, DF,
EV, INV
Week 6: 3/wk for 10 min; silver tubing
(super heavy), 4310, PF, DF, EV, INV
Coordination training: 1 h, 23/week; ;6
wk includes comprehensive balance
exercises, both legs; figure-of-8 running; standing on outside of feet,
eyes open, eyes closed; standing on
inside of feet, eyes open, eyes closed
Session 1:
Bilateral squat: 333 min, 1-min rest @
20% BW
Heel raise: 333 min, 1-min rest @
21% BW
Unilateral hop: 5330, 1-min rest @
17% BW
Walk/run: 2.0 m/s, 15 min @ 80% BW
Shuffle: 0.9 m/s, 4 sets 3 1 min @
77% BW
Stretching: 4315 s, 15-s rest
Unilateral squat: 5330, 1-min rest @
77% BW
Session 2:
Bilateral squat: same
Heel raise: same
Unilateral hop: same
Walk/run: 3.4 m/s for 15 min @ 82% BW
87% BW
Stretching: same
82% BW
Session 3:
Heel raise: same
Unilateral hop: same but @ 21% BW
89% BW
Stretching: same
94% BW
Session 4:
Heel raise: 333 min, 1-min rest @
21% BW
100% BW
Stretching: same
103% BW
Session 5:
Bilateral squat: same but @ 26% BW
Heel raise: same as session 4
100% BW
Stretching: same
Unilateral squat: same as session 4
Results
After injury (6 wk), side-to-side differences in isometric strength and postural control. After 4 mos, both variables normalized in both the training
and control group. After 12 mos,
training group had fewer reinjuries.
Improved active range of motion, painfree isometric strength, average unilateral peak vertical force production,
unilateral hop test performance. Return to full activity, pain free.
Appendix. Continued
Authors (Year)
Title
Blackburn et al (2000)56
Balance and joint stability:

the relative contributions
of proprioception and
muscular strength
Soderman et al (2000)57
Balance board training:

prevention of traumatic
injuries of the lower extremities in female soccer
players? A prospective
randomized study
Hess et al (2001)58
Effect of a 4-week agilitytraining program on postural sway in the functionally unstable ankle
Matsusaka et al
(2001)59
Effect of ankle disk training

combined with tactile
stimulation to the leg and
foot on functional instability of the ankle
Osborne et al (2001)60
The effect of ankle disk

training on muscle reaction time in subjects with
a history of ankle sprain

Session 6:
Bilateral squat: same as session 5
Heel raise: same as session 5
Unilateral hop: same as session 5
Walk/run: 4.0 m/s for 15 min @
100% BW
Shuffle: same as session 5
Stretching: same
Unilateral squat: same as session 5
Strength training:
Gray Theraband (Hygenic Corp, Akron,
OH): 3310 reps, PF, DF, EV, INV
Free weights: 3310 reps
Standing calf raises: 3310 reps
Proprioception Training
Theraband kicks: 50 reps, 4 positions;
4-square hops: 4 patterns, 1 rep, 20 s
Single-leg stance (with ball): 3320 s
Biomechanical Ankle Platform System
(BAPS) (Spectrum Therapy Products,
Inc, Jasper, MI) (level 3): single-leg
stance, 3320 s
Combination training
BAPS: single-leg stance, clockwise 10
s, counterclockwise 10 s
4-square hops: 4 patterns, 1 rep, 20 s
Standing calf raises: 3310
Gray Theraband: 3310, PF, DF, INV, EV
Balance training:
3315 s each leg, each exercise, 1015
min/d 3 30 d, then 33/wk for rest of
season
Exercises include
Single-leg stance, arms out to side
Single-leg stance, arms across chest
Single-leg stance, bouncing ball or
throwing against wall
Single-leg stance, drawing figures in air
with opposite leg
Agility training
4-wk training using the ABC Agility
Ladder (MF Athletic Co, Cranston,
RI), 33/wk for 20 min/session; 35min warm-up followed by series of 7
drills, separated by 15-s rest
Seven drills included
Forward, 2 feet in
Lateral, 2 feet in
Forward shuffle
One-foot-in-Ali shuffle
Forward slalom jumps
Forward cross-steps, 908 ankle
Balance training
Single-leg stance on ankle disc, remaining upright for as long as possible, 10
min/d, 53/wk for 10 wk; one group
taped from the lateral malleolus to the
sole of the foot, other group untaped
Balance training
Ankle-disk training 3 15 min/d for 8 wk,
injured side only
Results
No significant differences in static balance measures. Significant differences in semidynamic and dynamic balance for all training groups versus
control group. No one training program more effective in improving
healthy subjects balance.
No significant differences between

groups as to number, incidence, type
of traumatic lower extremity injuries.
Incidence rate of major injuries
higher in the intervention group. More
anterior cruciate ligament injuries, so
knee injury not prevented with balance-board training. Of athletes with
prior injury, more control-group subjects with reinjuries or new injuries.
Agility training (4 wk) using ABC Agility

Ladder did not significantly affect postural sway in subjects with chronic ankle instability. Conversely, trained
subjects reported more stability and
better able to perform activities.
Improved postural sway in all subjects

who trained using ankle disk; taped
subjects improved 2 weeks earlier,
perhaps due to increased afferent input.
Ankle-disk training (8 wk) decreased anterior tibialis muscle latency in both
trained and untrained extremities,
suggesting a proprioceptive crossover effect.
*PF indicates plantar flexion; DF, dorsiflexion; EV, eversion; INV, inversion; BW, body weight; rep, repetition.
427
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Rehabilitation of The Ankle After Acute Sprain or Chronic Instability

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Journal of Athletic Training