OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Aquatic therapy as an early rehabilitation protocol for elite athletes with acute lateral ankle sprain grade III on back-to-sport time, dynamic balance, pain, Athletic performance, and muscle power compared to land-based exercise training.
METHODS: Thirty elite athletes have ankle sprain grade III with sprain onset from 1 to 7 days, their age ranges from 18-30 years old were recruited. All participants are professional athletes; mainly participating in above-head sports such as volleyball and basketball. The patients were randomly allocated into two treatment groups: Group I (control group): 15 patients received a conventional physical therapy program of structured therapeutic exercise program, manual therapy and land-based exercises, in addition to external support, and Group II (Aquatic therapy group): 15 patients received aquatic training. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to measure the pain intensity, while the dynamic balance was measured by the Star Excursion Balance Test. Athletic performance was measured by HOP Tests (Single, Triple, 6-m, and Cross-over hops) aided by the Agility T-Test (ATT) and Illinois Agility Test (IAT). Muscle power was tested by a Single Leg Press. Finally, back to sports time was recorded for each participant in both groups.
RESULTS: There was a significant interaction effect of Aquatic therapy and time for VAS (p < 0.001), single hop (p < 0.001), triple hop (p < 0.001), cross-over hop (p < 0.001), IAT (p = 0.019) and ATT (p < 0.001) of both affected and nonaffected. There was no significant interaction effect of Aquatic therapy and time for 6-MHT of affected (p = 0.923), and nonaffected (p = 0.140). There was a significant main effect of time for all dependent variables (p < 0.001) except for 6-MHT of affected (p = 0.939), nonaffected (p = 0.109), and IAT (p = 0.099). The Star excursion dynamic balance test (SEBT) and Single leg press revealed a significant difference between groups on affected and non-affected sides (p < 0.001*). Lastly and most importantly the back-to-sport time revealed a significant difference in the return-to-sport time in favor of the Aquatic therapy group who returned faster than the control group (p < 0.001*).
CONCLUSIONS: Aquatic therapy is more effective than traditional protocols regarding early rehabilitation of acute ankle sprain grade III in Elite professional athletes for reducing pain intensity, improving dynamic balance and athletic performance and power and accelerating their return to sports time. Because aquatic therapy produces better outcomes, it is advised to be included in the rehabilitation programs of athletic patients with acute ankle sprains grade III.
目的:探讨水上运动疗法作为急性踝关节外侧扭伤Ⅲ级精英运动员早期康复方案对回到运动时间的影响,动平衡,疼痛,运动表现,与陆上运动训练相比,肌肉力量。
方法:30名精英运动员脚踝扭伤III级,扭伤发作1至7天,他们的年龄范围为18-30岁。所有参与者都是专业运动员;主要参加排球和篮球等头顶运动。将患者随机分为两个治疗组:I组(对照组):15例患者接受结构化治疗性锻炼方案的常规物理治疗方案,手工治疗和陆上练习,除了外部支持,和II组(水生疗法组):15名患者接受了水生训练。视觉模拟量表(VAS)用于测量疼痛强度,而动态平衡是通过StarExcursion平衡测试来测量的。运动表现通过HOP测试(单次,三倍,6-m,和交叉跳)由敏捷性T测试(ATT)和伊利诺伊州敏捷性测试(IAT)辅助。通过单腿压力机测试肌肉力量。最后,记录两组每位参与者的回到运动时间.
结果:水上疗法和时间对VAS有显著的交互作用(p<0.001),单跳(p<0.001),三跳(p<0.001),交叉跳(p<0.001),受影响和未受影响的IAT(p=0.019)和ATT(p<0.001)。水生疗法和受影响的6-MHT时间没有显著的交互作用(p=0.923),并且未受影响(p=0.140)。除了受影响的6-MHT(p=0.939)外,所有因变量的时间都有显着的主要影响(p<0.001),未受影响(p=0.109),和IAT(p=0.099)。星形偏移动态平衡测试(SEBT)和单腿按压显示受影响侧和未受影响侧的组之间存在显着差异(p<0.001*)。最后,也是最重要的是,回到运动时间显示出恢复运动时间的显着差异,有利于水上运动疗法组的恢复速度比对照组快(p<0.001*)。
结论:关于精英专业运动员急性踝关节扭伤III级早期康复,水生疗法比传统方案更有效,改善动态平衡和运动表现和力量,加快他们回归运动时间。因为水生疗法产生更好的结果,建议将其纳入III级急性踝关节扭伤运动患者的康复计划。