Abstract

Football is a sport involving dynamic movements, and ankle sprains are common sports injuries experienced by football players. Ankle sprains exhibit a high recurrence rate, and rehabilitation training is effective; however, expert-supervised rehabilitation (SVR) at training centers is difficult due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated the effects of mobile-based rehabilitation (MBR) performed at home by high school football players. Sixty players (SVR: 30 and MBR: 30) with recurrent ankle sprains were analyzed. The rehabilitation program consisted of strength and balance training, and the training intensity was gradually increased from week 1 to week 8. The SVR group underwent training at the center with experts, and the BMR group were provided with programs and feedback using mobile devices. Ankle muscle strength was evaluated by measuring isometric eversion, inversion, plantarflexion, and dorsiflexion contraction using a hand-held dynamometer, and dynamic balance was assessed using the Y-balance test (YBT; anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral); the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) was used for the subjective evaluation. Measurements were conducted at weeks 1, 4, and 8. The patients visited the clinic within 1 week after the injury, and the first test was conducted after consent to participate in the research. Patients underwent the second test at an average of 3.2 weeks after the first test, and the last test at an average of 4.4 weeks after the second test. Although only the SVR group exhibited improvement in strength (eversion and dorsiflexion), YBT and subjective satisfaction at week 4, these measurements improved in both the SVR and MBR groups at week 8. Therefore, mobile–based rehabilitation could be a suitable alternative for high school athletes with ankle sprains who cannot undergo supervised rehabilitation.

Highlights

  • Football is a popular sport globally, with active participation by many countries and individuals

  • Comparisons were made between the supervised rehabilitation (SVR) and mobile-based rehabilitation (MBR) groups, and there were no significant differences in age (p = 0.390), height (p = 0.528), weight (p = 0.805), and body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.255)

  • The main results of this study indicated that both supervised and at-home rehabilitation training were effective in improving muscle strength, dynamic balance, and subjective satisfaction

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Summary

Introduction

Football is a popular sport globally, with active participation by many countries and individuals. The mechanism of injury in lateral ankle sprains is usually caused by ankle inversion and supination on landing, and the anterior talofibular ligament or calcaneofeluar ligament on the lateral side is often injured The primary characteristic of ankle sprains is that the initial injury is acute, but it can become chronic [6]. The recurrence rate of ankle sprains is 12–47%, and 20–32% of patients with sprains progress to chronic ankle instability [7,8]. Mechanical instability, such as ligament laxity, is a typical intrinsic cause and appears to occur frequently during adolescence [8,9]. According to a study by Vuurberg et al [11], an ankle sprain prevention program reduced the risk of recurrence by 38%

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