Article

Longitudinal research on musculoskeletal disorders often makes use of
a single measure of recovery, despite the large variation in reported recovery
that exists. Patients with an acute ankle sprain often experience no pain or
functional disability following treatment, yet report not being fully recovered,
or vice versa. The purpose of this study was to find explanatory
variables for reporting recovery by analyzing the extent to which different
outcomes (eg, pain intensity) were associated with recovery and how baseline
scores of different variables influence this association in adult patients after
acute lateral ankle sprain. DESIGN: This was a cohort study based on data
collected in a randomized controlled trial (RCT).
METHODS: This study was
constructed within the framework of an RCT. One hundred two patients who incurred
an acute ankle sprain were included. Recovery, pain intensity, giving way of the
ankle, and Ankle Function Score (AFS) were assessed during the RCT at baseline
and at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 3 months, and 12 months postinjury. Mean differences
were calculated between baseline and follow-up. Associations were calculated
using linear mixed models, and the influence of baseline scores on these
associations was determined using linear regression with interaction. RESULTS:
Associations were found between recovery and the mean differences of pain during
running on flat and rough surfaces (4 and 8 weeks, 3 months) and between recovery
and the mean difference of giving way of the ankle during walking on a rough
surface (8 weeks, 3 months). LIMITATIONS: This study used data collected from an
RCT. Therefore, the study was limited to the outcomes measured in that trial, and
some explanatory factors easily could have been missed. CONCLUSIONS: This study
is the first to identify explanatory variables for reporting recovery in adults
after ankle sprain. Pain intensity and giving way of the ankle measured during
high ankle load activities make it easier to measure and to generalize recovery
in this population and should be the primary outcome measures of interest. This
study indicates the huge need to reach consensus about primary outcome measures
for research in patients sustaining ankle sprains.

Langue : ANGLAIS