Comparing Manipulation and Rehabilitation to Rehabilitation Only, in the Management of Chronic Ankle Instability

It is hypothesized that a combination approach would produce increased clinically and statistically significant outcomes as opposed to standard single intervention, inclusive of comparatively greater reduction in pain, improvement in range of motion, proprioception and function with an associated quicker recovery time. Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a frequently encountered condition of the musculoskeletal system. Various individual treatment options have previously been compared to one another in clinical trials, however there is paucity of literature with regards to combined treatment choices versus individual therapy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relative effectiveness of combined manipulation and rehabilitation versus rehabilitation only, in the management of CAI. The study will be conducted as a single blinded randomised and comparative clinical trial at Cleveland Chiropractic College and Durban University of Technology.

Rationale 1. Inversion ankle sprains are the most frequently encountered injury to the ankle (Ferran and Maffulli, 2006) especially in the realm of the sporting arena (Balint et al, 2003; Delahunt, 2007; Bozzelle and Kishner, 2008). Up to 40 % of these acutely injured participants will progress to a state of chronic ankle instability (CAI) (Verhagen et al, 1995; Balint et al, 2003; Ajis and Maffulli, 2006; Ajis et al, 2006). Therefore the lateral ankle as well as the management of CAI requires further investigation with regard to treatment options. 2. Peroneal muscle weaknesses as well as proprioceptive deficits have been universally encountered in cases of CAI (Reid, 1992; Delahunt, 2007). Studies have indicated that coupled peroneal muscle strengthening and proprioception training of the ankle are seen as the most efficient means of rehabilitation for CAI (Reid, 1992; Ajis et al, 2006; Ajis and Maffulli, 2006; McBride and Ramamurthy, 2006; Caulfield, 2007; Lee and Lin, 2008). Pellow and Brantingham, (2001) and Gillman, (2004) have reported that manipulation is also a successful intervention tool for the treatment of CAI, documenting a statistically significant reduction in pain (p=0.007), improved range of motion (p=0.199) in the ankle joint as well as improved general functioning of the ankle (p=0.004). It has been identified that there are three components (Richie, 2001; Sefton et al, 2008) that contribute to the persistence of CAI namely joint fixations (in the mortise and subtalar joint) as well as muscular (Richie, 2001) and proprioceptive alterations (Richie, 2001; Delahunt, 2007). 3. It is hypothesised that a combination approach would produce increased clinically and statistically significant outcomes as opposed to standard single intervention, inclusive of comparatively greater reduction in pain, improvement in range of motion, proprioception and function with an associated quicker recovery time (Green et al, 2001; Eisenhart et al, 2003; Collins,2004; Vicenzino et al, 2006). There are insufficient studies, particularly high quality studies, with the required methodology, to make a definitive decision regarding whether this is supported (Van der Wees et al, 2006; Whitman et al, 2009). Additionally chiropractors will typically manage a participant with CAI with a combination of manipulation and rehabilitation, at present no research using such combined therapy by chiropractors has yet been published (Brantingham et al, 2009). 3\. Research Problem and Aims The aim of the study is to investigate the relative effectiveness of a combination of manipulation and rehabilitation as compared to rehabilitation only in the treatment for CAI, in terms of participantive and objective clinical assessments. The specific objectives of the study are: 1. To determine the relative effectiveness of manipulation and rehabilitation versus rehabilitation only, to the ankle joint in terms of objective assessments (algometer, berg balance scale, weight bearing ankle dorsiflexion test and foot and ankle disability index in participants experiencing CAI syndrome). 2. To determine the relative effectiveness of manipulation and rehabilitation versus rehabilitation only, to the ankle joint in terms of participantive assessments (visual analogue scale and motion palpation) in participants experiencing CAI syndrome.