Physical activity and in particular sport is beneficial to health. Nevertheless, some of these activities may create a risk of injury. Ankle sprain is the most common sport related injury. Sports that are causing the highest number of ankle sprains are: football (30%), handball-basketball-volleyball-rugby (24%), gymnastics sports (6%), skiing (6%), cycling (6%), athletics (4%) and contact sports (4%). A recent study in the Netherlands identified a total of 1.3 million sports injuries. 47% of these patients required medical care. The total costs (direct and indirect) were assessed 84.240.000 EUR per year. Prospective studies demonstrated that athletes with a ankle sprain have a twofold risk of re-injury during the first year after the trauma, and in half of patients with an ankle sprain recurrence this could lead to instability or chronic pain of the ankle. The Wii Balance Board ® is a tool that is increasingly used in the field of health. In some hospitals, therapists are beginning to use it for the rehabilitation of patients after surgery, fractures or strokes. Patients are asked to complete their physical therapy session by practicing "sports" via video games such as skiing, bowling or hula hoop. Currently, there are no randomized controlled studies that publish on the effectiveness of this tool. Recently, a study investigated the efficacy of the Wii Balance Board ® to improve balance, strength, joint mobility and level of physical activity. After 10 weeks of training, people an increased strength and balance was found. However, these results still require statistical confirmation. Thus this objectives of this study are * To assess the efficacy of exercise training with the Wii Balance Board ® Platform * To evaluate the effectiveness of physical therapy (based on current guidelines) * To compare these two types of care (conventional physiotherapy versus Wii) to a control group (non-treatment).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
90
These patients have a standardized conventional therapy (i.e. 9 sessions of physical therapy over 6 weeks)
These patients get an instruction about how to install and use the Wii Balance Board ®. After the instruction they get the equipment for 6 weeks.
University Hospitals Geneva
Geneva, Switzerland
Change in the balance performance(COP displacement in ML and AP direction)
Change in the range of COP displacement during a single leg stance of 30 sec Change in the velocity of COP displacement during a single leg stance of 30 sec
Time frame: 6 Weeks after the ankle sprain occured, after treatment (6 weeks) and in a 6 month follow up
Change in several functional parameters
* pain (VAS) * delay in return to work * delay in return to sport * passive joint mobility of the ankle in flexion and extension * isometric strength of the inverters and evertors, plantar and dorsal flexors * functional ankle instability evaluated with FAAM questionnaire * gait parameters (kinematics and electromyographic activity of peroneus, gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior) * performance during a forwrd jump "monopodal": distance and time to stabilize the ankle * incidence of recurrent sprains side: 12-month prospective follow-up
Time frame: 6 weeks after ankle sprain, after treatment (6 weeks) and 6 month follow up
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.