@article{ref1,
title="The "Strengthen your ankle" program to prevent recurrent injuries: a randomized controlled trial aimed at long-term effectiveness",
journal="Journal of science and medicine in sport",
year="2016",
author="Van Reijen, M. and Vriend, I. and Zuidema, V. and van Mechelen, W. and Verhagen, E. A.",
volume="20",
number="6",
pages="549-554",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: Recurrent ankle sprains can be reduced by a neuromuscular training program (NMT). The way NMT is delivered may influence the incidence of long term recurrent injuries, residual pain and disability. <br><br>DESIGN: This RCT with a follow-up of twelve months, evaluated whether the implementation method of a proven effective NMT program delivered by a mobile application or a written instruction booklet, resulted in differences in injury incidence rates, functional ankle disability/pain in the long term, assuming equal compliance - as is shown in previous research - with the 8-week intervention. <br><br>METHODS: 220 athletes with a history of ankle sprain were recruited for this RCT. 110 athletes were offered the freely available &quot;Strengthen your ankle App&quot; and the other 110 received a printed Booklet. Primary outcome measure was incidence density of ankle sprains. Secondary outcome measures were residual pain/disability and the individual cumulative number of ankle sprains during follow-up. <br><br>RESULTS: The incidence densities of self-reported ankle sprain recurrences were not significantly different between both groups (HR 1.06; 95% CI 0.76-1.49). Median FADI (Functional Ankle and Disability Index) scores increased equally over time in both groups, indicating a lower rate of limitation and pain in both groups at follow-up. Neither FADI scores nor cumulative recurrent injuries were significantly different between groups. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the implementation method of a NMT program by using an App or a Booklet did neither lead to different injury incidence rates in the long term nor did it influence residual functional disability/pain. Assuming equal compliance during the 8-week intervention, both methods show similar effectiveness in twelve-month follow-up.<br><br>Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1440-2440",
doi="10.1016/j.jsams.2016.12.001",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2016.12.001"
}