About
Scope & Aims
Editorial office
Editorial board
Reviewers
Ethical standards and procedures
Abstracting and indexing
Contact
Articles & Issues
Current issue
Articles in press
Archive
For Authors
General rules
Guide for authors
Templates
Publication charge
For Reviewers
Guide for reviewers
Our reviewers
ORIGINAL PAPER
Immediate effects of ultrasound therapy on pain and plantar pressure in individuals with subacute ankle sprains: a randomized controlled trial
1
Human Movement Performance Enhancement Research Unit, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health
Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
2
Department of Physical Therapy, Medical Division of Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School, Nakhon Nayok,
Thailand
Submission date: 2022-12-03
Acceptance date: 2023-07-04
Online publication date: 2024-07-17
Publication date: 2024-09-09
Corresponding author
Sujitra Boonyong
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, 154 Rama 1 Road, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, 154 Rama 1 Road, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Physiother Quart. 2024;32(3):15-20
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Despite the fact that ultrasound (US) therapy is not advised for acute ankle sprains, its therapeutic effects may be beneficial for other stages of ankle sprains, such as a subacute ankle sprain. There is, however, a lack of evidence regarding the effects of US on pain relief and functional improvement in subacute ankle sprains. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the immediate effects of US on pain and plantar pressure in individuals with unilateral subacute ankle sprains.
Methods:
Fifty-four participants with unilateral subacute ankle sprains (aged 16–55 years) were recruited and randomly allocated into a treatment group (n = 27) and a control group (n = 27). The treatment and control groups received a single intervention session of US and an ineffectual US, respectively. Pain intensity during weight-bearing and static and dynamic plantar pressures were assessed before and after receiving the intervention.
Results:
In both groups, pain intensity was statistically reduced (p < 0.05) and clinically relevant. Although the maximum plantar pressure in the hindfoot during static conditions was statistically higher in the control group (p = 0.024), the values were still lower than MDC95.
Conclusions:
A single treatment of US could clinically reduce pain, but it had no effect on altering plantar pressure in individuals with unilateral subacute ankle sprains.
Despite the fact that ultrasound (US) therapy is not advised for acute ankle sprains, its therapeutic effects may be beneficial for other stages of ankle sprains, such as a subacute ankle sprain. There is, however, a lack of evidence regarding the effects of US on pain relief and functional improvement in subacute ankle sprains. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the immediate effects of US on pain and plantar pressure in individuals with unilateral subacute ankle sprains.
Methods:
Fifty-four participants with unilateral subacute ankle sprains (aged 16–55 years) were recruited and randomly allocated into a treatment group (n = 27) and a control group (n = 27). The treatment and control groups received a single intervention session of US and an ineffectual US, respectively. Pain intensity during weight-bearing and static and dynamic plantar pressures were assessed before and after receiving the intervention.
Results:
In both groups, pain intensity was statistically reduced (p < 0.05) and clinically relevant. Although the maximum plantar pressure in the hindfoot during static conditions was statistically higher in the control group (p = 0.024), the values were still lower than MDC95.
Conclusions:
A single treatment of US could clinically reduce pain, but it had no effect on altering plantar pressure in individuals with unilateral subacute ankle sprains.
REFERENCES (39)
1.
Ferran NA, Maffulli N. Epidemiology of sprains of the lateral ankle ligament complex. Foot Ankle Clin. 2006; 11(3):659–62; doi: 10.1016/j.fcl.2006.07.002.
2.
Gerber JP, Williams GN, Scoville CR, Arciero RA, Taylor DC. Persistent disability associated with ankle sprains: a prospective examination of an athletic population. Foot Ankle Int. 1998;19(10):653–60; doi: 10.1177/1071100 79801901002.
3.
Konradsen L, Bech L, Ehrenbjerg M, Nickelsen T. Seven years follow-up after ankle inversion trauma. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2002;12(3):129–35; doi: 10.1034/j.16 00-0838.2002.02104.x.
4.
Miklovic TM, Donovan L, Protzuk OA, Kang MS, Feger MA. Acute lateral ankle sprain to chronic ankle instability: a pathway of dysfunction. Phys Sportsmed. 2018;46(1): 116–22; doi: 10.1080/00913847.2018.1409604.
5.
Weerasekara RM, Tennakoon SU, Suraweera HJ. Contrast therapy and heat therapy in subacute stage of grade I and II lateral ankle sprains. Foot Ankle Spec. 2016;9(4):307–23; doi: 10.1177/1938640016640885.
6.
Watson T, Young SR. Therapeutic ultrasound. In: Watson T (ed.) Electrotherapy. Evidence Based Practice. 12th ed. Warsaw: Churchill Livingstone; 2008, pp. 179–200.
7.
Zammit E, Herrington L. Ultrasound therapy in the management of acute lateral ligament sprains of the ankle joint. Phys Ther Sport. 2005;6(3):116–21; doi: 10.1016/ j.ptsp.2005.05.002.
8.
Rose S, Draper DO, Schulthies SS, Durrant E. The stretching window part two: rate of thermal decay in deep muscle following 1-MHz ultrasound. J Athl Train. 1996;31(2):139–43.
9.
van den Bekerom MP J, van der Windt DAWM, ter Riet G, van der Heijden GJ, Bouter LM. Therapeutic ultrasound for acute ankle sprains. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;2011(6): CD001250.
10.
Malta I, Moraes T, Elisei L, Novaes R, Galdino G. Investigation of the effects of therapeutic ultrasound or photobiomodulation and the role of spinal glial cells in osteoarthritis- induced nociception in mice. Lasers Med Sci. 2022;37(3):1687–98; doi: 10.1007/s10103-021-03418-7.
11.
Yadollahpour A, Rashidi S. A review of mechanism of actions of ultrasound waves for treatment of soft tissue injuries. Int J Green Pharm. 2017;11(1):13–20.
12.
Merrick MA, Mihalyov MR, Roethemeier JL, Cordova ML, Ingersoll CD. A comparison of intramuscular tempera tures during ultrasound treatments with coupling gel or gel pads. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2002;32(5):216– 20; doi: 10.2519/jospt.2002.32.5.216.
13.
Draper DO, Mahaffey C, Kaiser D, Eggett D, Jarmin J. Thermal ultrasound decreases tissue stiffness of trigger points in upper trapezius muscles. Physiother Theory Pract. 2010;26(3):167–72; doi: 10.3109/09593980903423079.
14.
De Deyne PG, Kirsch-Volders M. In vitro effects of therapeutic ultrasound on the nucleus of human fibroblasts. Phys Ther. 1995;75(7):629–34; doi: 10.1093/ptj/75.7.629.
15.
Sparrow KJ, Finucane SD, Owen JR, Wayne JS. The effects of low-intensity ultrasound on medial collateral ligament healing in the rabbit model. Am J Sports Med. 2005;33(7):1048–56; doi: 10.1177/0363546504267356.
16.
Ozgönenel L, Aytekin E, Durmuşoglu G. A double-blind trial of clinical effects of therapeutic ultrasound in knee osteoarthritis. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2009;35(1):44–9; doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2008.07.009.
17.
Katzap Y, Haidukov M, Berland OM, Itzhak RB, Kalichman L. Additive effect of therapeutic ultrasound in the treatment of plantar fasciitis: a randomized controlled trial. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2018;48(11):847–55.
18.
Waterman BR, Owens BD, Davey S, Zacchilli MA, Belmont PJ, Jr. The epidemiology of ankle sprains in the United States. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2010;92(13):2279– 84; doi: 10.2106/JBJS.I.01537.
19.
Suksri T, Gaogasigam C, Boonyong S. Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability and minimum detectable change of visual analog scale and digital goniometer in patients with subacute unilateral lateral ankle sprain. Chula Med J. 2022;66(4):411–17; doi: 10.58837/CHULA.CMJ.66.4.5.
20.
Draper DO. Facts and misfits in ultrasound therapy: steps to improve your treatment outcomes. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2014;50(2):209–16.
21.
Baker KG, Robertson VJ, Duck FA. A review of therapeutic ultrasound: biophysical effects. Phys Ther. 2001;81(7):1351–8.
22.
Draper DO, Ricard MD. Rate of temperature decay in human muscle following 3 MHz ultrasound: the stretching window revealed. J Athl Train. 1995;30(4):304–7.
23.
Chan AK, Myrer JW, Measom GJ, Draper DO. Temperature changes in human patellar tendon in response to therapeutic ultrasound. J Athl Train. 1998;33(2):130–5.
24.
Draper DO, Castel JC, Castel D. Rate of temperature increase in human muscle during 1 MHz and 3 MHz continuous ultrasound. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1995; 22(4):142–50; doi: 10.2519/jospt.1995.22.4.142.
25.
Baker RJ, Bell GW. The effect of therapeutic modalities on blood flow in the human calf. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1991;13(1):23–7; doi: 10.2519/jospt.1991.13.1.23.
26.
Baker KG, Robertson VJ, Duck FA. A review of therapeutic ultrasound: biophysical effects. Phys Ther. 2001; 81(7):1351–8.
27.
Draper DO, Prentice WE. Therapeutic ultrasound. In: Prentice WE, Quillen WS, Underwood F (eds.) Therapeutic Modalities in Rehabilitation. 4th ed. New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2011, pp. 363–85.
28.
Hsieh Y-L. Reduction in induced pain by ultrasound maybe caused by altered expression of spinal neuronal nitric oxide synthase-producing neurons. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2005;86(7):1311–7; doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2004.12.035.
29.
Binder A, Hodge G, Greenwood AM, Hazleman BL, Page Thomas DP. Is therapeutic ultrasound effective in treating soft tissue lesions? Br Med J. 1985;290:512–4; doi:10.1136/bmj.290.6467.512.
30.
Ebenbichler GR, Resch KL, Nicolakis P, Wiesinger GF, Uhl F, Ghanem AH, Fialka V. Ultrasound treatment for treating the carpal tunnel syndrome: randomised “sham” controlled trial. BMJ. 1998;316(7133):731–5; doi: 10.1136/bmj.316.7133.731.
31.
Ebenbichler GR, Erdogmus CB, Resch KL, Funovics MA, Kainberger F, Barisani G, Aringer M, Nicolakis P, Wiesinger GF, Baghestanian M, Preisinger E, Weinstabl R, Fialka-Moser V. Ultrasound therapy for calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. N Engl JMed. 1999;340(20):1533–8; doi: 10.1056/NEJM199905203402002.
32.
Cullum N, Liu Z. Therapeutic ultrasound for venous legulcers. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;5:CD001180; doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001180.pub4.
33.
Parker R, Madden V. Ultrasound v. sham ultrasound for experimentally induced delayed-onset muscle soreness: a double-blind, randomised controlled trial. S Afr J Sports Med. 2014;26(4):99–103.
34.
Castelnuovo G, Giusti EM, Manzoni GM, Saviola D, Gabrielli S, Lacerenza M, Pietrabissa G, Cattivelli R, Spatola CAM, Rossi A, Varallo G, Novelli M, Villa V, Luzzati F, Cottini A, Lai C, Volpato E, Cavalera C, Pagnini F, Tesio V, Castelli L, Tavola M, Torta R, Arreghini M, Zanini L, Brunani A, Seitanidis I, Ventura G, Capodaglio P, D’Aniello GE, Scarpina F, Brioschi A, Bigoni M, Priano L, Mauro A, Riva G, Di Lernia D, Repetto C, Regalia C, Molinari E, Notaro P, Paolucci S, Sandrini G, Simpson S, Wiederhold BK, Gaudio S, Jackson JB, Tamburin S, BenedettiF, on behalf of the Italian Consensus Conference on Pain in Neurorehabilitation. What is the role of the placebo effect for pain relief in neurorehabilitation? Clinical implications from the italian consensus conference on pain in neurorehabilitation. Front Neurol. 2018;9:310; doi: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00310.
35.
Medoff ZM, Colloca L. Placebo analgesia: understanding the mechanisms. Pain Manag. 2015;5(2):89–96; doi:10.2217/pmt.15.3.
36.
Geri T, Viceconti A, Minacci M, Testa M, Rossettini G. Manual therapy: exploiting the role of human touch. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2019;44:102044; doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2019.07.008.
37.
Melzack R. Gate control theory: on the evolution of pain concepts. Pain Forum. 1996;5(2):128–38; doi: 10.1016/ S1082-3174(96)80050-X.
38.
Sluka KA, Walsh DM. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and interferential therapy. In: Sluka KA (ed.) Mechanisms and Management of Pain for the Physical Therapist. 2nd ed. Hong Kong: Wolters Kluwer; 2016, pp. 314–48.
39.
Wright A. Exploring the evidence for using TENS to relieve pain. Nurs Times. 2012;108(11):20–3.
Share
RELATED ARTICLE
| eISSN: | 2544-4395 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
