title: Gait and physical impairments in patients with acute ankle sprains who did not receive physical therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess ankle function 4 weeks after conservative management and to examine the correlation of function with gait.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective comparison study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients with grade I or II acute ankle sprains were followed up after 4 weeks of conservative management not involving physical therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants underwent a clinical assessment and had to walk at a normal self-selected walking speed. Their results were compared with the data of 15 healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants' joint swelling, muscle strength, passive mobility, and pain were assessed. In addition, patients' temporal-spatial, kinematic, and kinetic gait data were measured while walking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Muscle strength and passive mobility were significantly reduced on the injured side compared with the noninjured side (P < .001). During gait analysis, patients with ankle sprains showed slower walking speed, shorter step length, shorter single support time, reduced and delayed maximum plantar flexion, decreased maximum power, and decreased maximum moment (P < .050) compared with healthy persons. Decreased walking speed was mainly correlated with pain (R = -0.566, P = .001) and deficits in muscle strength of dorsiflexors (R = 0.506, P = .004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Four weeks after an ankle sprain, patients who did not receive physical therapy showed physical impairments of the ankle that were correlated with gait parameters. These findings might help fine-tune rehabilitation protocols.
authors.affiliation: University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland, HES-SO, Geneva, Switzerland; Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Care Service Directorate, Geneva, Switzerland.(∗). Electronic address: Ilona.punt@hesge.ch.
authors.forename: Ilona M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Punt
authors.affiliation: Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Physical Medicine and Orthopaedics Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Surgery, Geneva, Switzerland(†).
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ziltener
authors.affiliation: Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Willy Taillard Laboratory of Kinesiology, Geneva, Switzerland(‡).
authors.forename: Magali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laidet
authors.affiliation: Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Willy Taillard Laboratory of Kinesiology, Geneva, Switzerland(§).
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Armand
authors.affiliation: University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland, HES-SO, Geneva, Switzerland; Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Care Service Directorate, Geneva, Switzerland(¶).
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Allet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult